What to expect from expired film?

[ant_nio_marques]

<p>Hi.</p>

<p>I realise these questions may seem spurious ('why don't you try it and see for yourself?'), but I'm just now beginning to look at these issues and I think it would be nice if there were answers somewhere for others to see.</p>

<p>Scenario A: Superia 100 film exposed about 10 years ago, well within expiry date, but left inside the camera since then. The camera has been stored at average room temperature. Can it even be developed now? Will it all be black, white, gray? Or can there be some image left?</p>

<p>Scenario B: color negative 100/200 ASA film never exposed, expired about 10 years ago. What would be the likely results of exposing it now? I know people do it all the time for 'lomo' effects, but I've yet to know what that means. I've looked at photos said to be from long-expired film and didm't notice anything much, other than colours in very high-speed film looking a bit washed out.</p>

<p>Thanks for your time.</p>

[Aoresteen]

<p>The film will process ok but the colors may shift a bit. Some are able to be corrected in PS. I'd give it a go.</p>

[craig_shearman1]

<p>The roll that's in the camera can certainly be developed but as Anthony says there will likely be color issues. As for the unused roll, you could use it for snapshots or playing around but I wouldn't use it for anything important.</p>

[JDMvW]

<p>In my experience too, already exposed film (latent images) can be pretty "color shifted", as said. I've had better luck with old, unexposed film, but in either case considerable post-processing work may be required. Look at it as a "Lomo" sort of experience. Do try it, it's fun.</p>

[JDMvW]

<p>The master of this is Gene M - his website is http://www.westfordcomp.com/ , but it is down right now for "maintenance" - I hope this is just what it says, since many of us would really miss Gene's images and accompanying texts.</p>

<p>At least this still is working http://westfordcomp.com/updated/found.htm </p>

[allancobb]

<p>This is a bit of an extreme case concerning color negative film, but this shot was taken on 120 size Kodacolor II film, circa 1975 at Andrews Air Force Base using a Zeiss Ikonta C 521/2. The film underwent less than ideal storage, in various boxes, never refrigerated, then I finally decided to try it in the Arista C-41 kit 2 weeks ago. The negatives themselves had a pronounced green cast over the orange mask; here's the result after levels and color correction after scanning:</p>

<p><img id="yui_3_11_0_3_1393469298097_431" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3758/12805435715_96d4b3b1c8_z.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>There are major color shifts along the edges, I assume to long-term radiation exposure near the spool ends, but the image structure itself remained intact. If anything, it was fun seeing what images were on film I exposed in my high school days.</p>

[ant_nio_marques]

<p>Thank you all! :)</p>

[plasma181]

<p>If you don't scan yourself, you are unlikely to get anything frame-able. If you do, definitely put a grey card in some of the shots. This will help you color correct when you scan. </p>