Advice needed re outdated b/w films

I have been clearing up my photographic supplies and found a number of
films I'd like some expert advice about. There are 3 lots that
interest me:

1. Ilford XP2 chromogenic film dated 09/03 and refrigerated throughout

2. As above but kept at room temperature

3. Ilford Delta 400 conventional film dated 09/03 and refrigerated
throughout

I have now put all of the films in the refrigerator. Which (if any)
would you consider safe to use in late Nov/early Dec? All will be lab
processed, right after use.

 

B&W films are very stable because the lack of the complex color encoding
chemistry involved.
Besides, you are only out of date by a couple months according to your use
dates. No need to refrigerate if you don't want.
bg

 

I'm sure they'll be fine. Those expiration dates are usually *very*
conservative.

 

i have worked at Sac Peak Solar Observatory, NM, where in the 1980's
they were using film out dated by decades. it was kept frozen and
used for "flare patrol", a fairly not critical use for 35mm (90?)
b&w film.

the only gotcha was you had to develop it within a few hours of
exposure to prevent degradation. if it sat 24hrs, it was toast.

--Loren

 

Now, that is something new to me, and very interesting.. Anyone on the
group have some really old B&W film that has been kept frozen that they can
use replicate Loren's observations of immediate developing versus delayed?
Denny

 

Not quite the same situation, but years ago I finished up a roll in a
camera I had put away sometime before, then got the film processed -
E6. The portion that had been exposed was about a year old and the
transparencies were all badly color shifted toward pink. The freshly
exposed portions of the film were fine.

The camera was neither refrigerated nor frozen during the period it housed
the exposed film. :-> I wouldn't be surprised if the exposed film failed if
not promptly exposed, although that short a time is surprising.

 

No but I've pulled film out of old cameras after finishing the roll. The
only real problem were the frames directly under the shutter. I'm not saying
the other ones were perfect but easily printable. This for film that must
have been in the camera well over 10 years.

Nick

 

You should be OK on all of these. It's only October, but I'd use them ASAP.

 

For the CV entry, I purposely used a roll of Tri-X outdated in "82, and a
Rollei from "61. An attempt at authenticity. The film was fogged out beyond
belief. But printable. The only thing that saved the shot was that it was
raining, so there was a very narrow range of lite. Bob
Hickey

 

So basically, NONE of them are really outdated. Just store everything in the
refrig until use, and remove and let come up to room temperature for @ an
hour before loading. If you take several rolls, put those you don't use back
in refrig. You know, you can go to Ilford's site and ask the experts. On the
other hand, silliest question I've read in quite a while.

 

Silliest answer I've read in quite a while, from a self proclaimed expert
at that.

--
Leicaddict

ASAP.

 

Age dates are usually conservative, so he should be OK if he uses them
very soon, provided he has stored them properly. As B&W film ages, it
loses contrast and speed, and gathers fog from cosmic radiation.