9 year old FP4+ film

I got 20 or 30 rolls of film in the fridge with expiration dates of 9 or 10 years ago.

 

Will ir expose and develop normally?

I'd suggest shooting a roll to see if normal development is appropriate.

 

Had the film been in the freezer, I would think it would be okay.

I second Vincent Peri --- When removing from cold storage, allow to come to room temperature, maybe 2 to 4 hours -- otherwise water will condense on the film and damage it. I think you should start at the box ISO for your test.

A short time at high temperature can kill film, but normal room temperature for nine years should be fine for most black and white films.

 

Color films are more sensitive, but refrigerated or frozen will last many years.

 

I have good results from Verichrome Pan at box speed, or maybe one stop more exposure, after 40 years.

 

Since you have many rolls, the first one will give a good idea for the state of the others.

My guess would be there would be some small loss in the film's sensitivity to light which can easily be compensated by some small amount of over exposure and possibly, some small amount of over development to bring up the contrast. I think that after doing a test to adjust exposure and development appropriately that this film should work fine for you. As per normal, expose for the shadows and develop for the highlight. In the end, my guess is that you might possibly notice some small increase in grain due to having to possibly increase the contrast of the film either by development or in scanning.

 

B&W film stands up very well over time undeveloped when compared to color film. As another poster mentioned here, with Verichrome Pan, you can shoot this decades beyond it's process before date but Verichrome Pan is at the apex of all films in terms of how it stands up over time undeveloped. Ilford films have not stood up as well but still, 9 years isn't all that old for a B&W film, especially if it was refrigerated.

 

Greg Miller

Film Rescue International

I've shot Tri-X and HP5+ that was that old or older and stored at room temperature for a couple of years and unknown storage prior to that.

 

I usually shoot at box speed, and see a small increase in base fog but get perfectly usable results.

 

I have a 15 year old bulk roll of FP4+ with unknown storage conditions-I'm not worried about it when I get it out and shoot it. I also have some FP4+ sheet film that I bought in-date and froze(about 3 years expired), and I notice NO difference between it and the box I bought 6 months ago.

 

In short, I agree-shoot at box speed and see what happens. You will likely find it fine.

Both color and black and white negative films do well with. a little more exposure, new or old.

 

With manual meter cameras, I tend to round up the exposure a half stop or so.

 

Cold or temperate room temperature, I don't worry much about it.

Tropical room temperature, or a short time in a car in the sun, then I start

to wonder about it.

 

I have some color negative film (110 size) that has been refrigerated since I bought

it, and I am not worried about it.

I was given a roll of 30yr old expired Kodak Plus X 125 in a metal bulk roll container (!). I exposed it 10% longer time so if the development time is 500 seconds, I did it 550 seconds. Rating was the same box speed.