Expired TMAX 100 or in-date HP5?

[poco]

I've got some night shots I want to do and my film choices are either in-date HP5 or two batches of tmax 100 dated 1993 and 2003 -- which would give me better reciprocity characteristics? I'd imagine the tmax 100, 2003 would still be okay and give me better exposure times than the HP5, but the 1993 stuff? All the film has been stored at room temps.

[evan clarke]

Test the sheets of Tmax...EC

[poco]

Yes, someone with foresight would have done that prior to tonight's shoot.

[Ash]

At a guess, you should rate the expired film as much slower.... maybe EI 50-75 for the 2003 stuff and EI 25-50 for the 1993. You may see more grain/etc in the expired film.

If the shoot is important, use the in-date stuff.

I only use expired film after a test shot or two to determine speed loss (if any). You could always develop for longer to push the film instead of rating the speed lower/exposing for longer. you could also take the shots on any of the film, but keep enough sheets to do a test AFTER taking the photo's of the night. Run the development tests on the spares (take some shots at the same rating, then develop strips to see what the adequate dev time is for the important ones).

[BarryS]

I got a bunch of TMAX 100 8x10 film with the Kodak 2D I bought. It dated from the early 90's and had been stored in a basement. I shot it at EI 64 and it looks gorgeous. The TMAX will have better reciprocity characteristics than the HP5 and I'd guess that it's still fine.

[poco]

Thanks guys.

I'll give the 2003 a try and will test the 1993 for later.

This is actually a reshoot of a scene I bagged last year on HP5 so all isn't lost if it's a total balls-up. The HP5 shot turned out fine, but there's lots of sky in the shot and I was hoping to get finer grain with the tmax.

[j.e.simmons]

I was given a case of TMX that expired in 1996. Works fine, although mine has probably been frozen most of the time.
juan

[paulr]

I've used 10+ year old tmx (stored in fridge). Couldn't tell the difference. Maybe the speed was a touch off or there was more fog, but I couldn't tell. I'm more worried about mold growing on sheets that had been in opened paper envelopes inside the box.

[Gregg Cook]

delta 100

better reciprocity makes it more better for night work.