neil_miller2 Posted March 10, 2003 Share Posted March 10, 2003 Hi,Following the posts by several others re: Foto-Impex (based in Germany) and Efke film, I recently ordered some PL 100 4x5 b&w sheet film over the internet. It arrived today, but I am a bit concerned that it has "Develop before 210584" stamped on the back. This means 21st May 1984, surely?! I just wondered if anyone else has had a similar experience with Foto-Impex. I have emailed them about this, but they haven't replied yet. I'm half expecting them to tell me that it has come out of a freezer, but I still don't think it very acceptable. Just wondered if anyone had any observations.... Regards,Neil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alec1 Posted March 10, 2003 Share Posted March 10, 2003 Here's a US source for that film. http://www.jandcphotography.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pvp Posted March 10, 2003 Share Posted March 10, 2003 I've got an unopened package of 5x7 B&W paper, expiration date sometime in 1947.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_f._stein Posted March 10, 2003 Share Posted March 10, 2003 2105 Isn't that more likely the year; otherwise, I expect it is part of the emulsion number. I have never seen any sensitized material be so explicit as to name a DAY of expiration, so what 84 stands for eludes me. Fomapan uses a III.2005 type of nomenclature and B&G NP film a 7/2005 type for whomever is interested. And I think I have a package of AZO from 1940 somewhere! I'm sure it's good film. GOOD LUCK... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tedharris Posted March 10, 2003 Share Posted March 10, 2003 Thinking back, there are two easy ways to tell: 1) Look at the country of origin on the box. If it says Yugoslavia or anything other than Crotia then you might be right. 2) EFKE boxes were a rather stodgy solid green 20 years ago. In any event they are a very reputable dealer and iwould guess it is current dated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephen hazelton Posted March 10, 2003 Share Posted March 10, 2003 Well, doing a quick search on German date formats, I find no real surprises. There are several different ways to write the date, but the ONLY one that fits your example is to take the year as 1984. I would guess it's some sort of typo, rather than 19 year-old film. What is the return policy? Certainly, if they don't have some very good explanations, it appears they have sold you expired film. It would not be at all unreasonable to return it and request current film. Offering to do so is much more like to get an explanation than just asking for an explanation. By the way, does the box LOOK old? If it has been sitting around for 20 years, I would think the box would show it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil_miller2 Posted March 11, 2003 Author Share Posted March 11, 2003 Well, the box doesn't look old - looks quite new, in fact. It is white with a green label and has "Zagreb - Croatia" typed on the front. I tend to agree - now - with the last post, that it is probably a typo. Maybe it is an emulsion number, but it has been placed in the "develop before" area. I agree with a previous poster that using a day as well as a month in the expiry date is a bit too explicit. Oh well, wonder what Foto Impex will say...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janko_belaj Posted March 11, 2003 Share Posted March 11, 2003 <p>Neil, box of film you got isn't the newest one. Fotokemika moved from Zagreb to Samobor few years ago so the last boxes are labeled "Samobor - Croatia". (Samobor is one nice small medieval and baroque town 20 km from Zagreb... pretty place to rest for a while... as Fotokemika is resting right now:))<br> On my boxes from days when Fotokemika was in Zagreb, "Develop before" is marked yyyy-m and yyyy-mm (like 2002-4 meaning April, and 2001-11 meaning november). On the last box I bought (few months ago) date is in format: MM-YYYY.<br> At least, that is how Fotokemika is labeling boxes for Croatian market.</p> <p>Janko</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janko_belaj Posted March 11, 2003 Share Posted March 11, 2003 Oh, btw - I have few boxes of Efke PL-100 which had to be developed before 1997. And film is still in good shape (just need little bit more contrasty developer). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ole_tjugen Posted March 11, 2003 Share Posted March 11, 2003 The last roll of EFKE R17 I used (old names) expired in 1993 - but you couldn't tell the difference between this roll and the one I actually used and developed in 1992. I used the film this summer after keeping it as a "backup" in my camera case for several years, and in the fridge the last three. I brought it out again as a backup - and needed it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wieslaw1 Posted March 11, 2003 Share Posted March 11, 2003 "I have a package of AZO from 1940 somewhere! I'm sure it's good film." David: Sell it at international wine auction, with profit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janko_belaj Posted March 11, 2003 Share Posted March 11, 2003 <p>Niel, I'm now back at home so I have seen my boxes of Efke film: the number which is on your box isn't "end-date" but emulsion number. My last box (develop before 2004-2) have Em. No. 210579, if you want, I can call Fotokemika and ask when your box have been produced and what is his expiration date.<br> Janko</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil_miller2 Posted March 11, 2003 Author Share Posted March 11, 2003 Thanks everyone - for the laughs as well as the advice, especially Janko. I have had a message from Foto Impex that explains it all to me. There is a number under the "emulsion type" area, but it is not the emulsion type number, it is the number of the label itself. There is also a number under the "develop before" area, but this is not the develop before date - it is the emulsion number. There is no longer any develop before info on the label. Foto Impex say that EU laws do not demand an expiry date, so they no longer print one, although they used to. The emulsion type number has gravitated over to the develop before side of the label, hence the confusion. I'm not sure if I follow all that myself, but there it is, hot from Foto Impex. Regards, Neil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jukka_korhonen Posted March 13, 2003 Share Posted March 13, 2003 Neil, After you have shot some sheets, please tell us how do you like the film. I myself have been thinking of ordering that very same PL100. Thanks, Jukka Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harry_seldon_____aka____fl Posted September 19, 2003 Share Posted September 19, 2003 The obvoius question is how old is Croatia? Since Croatia didn't exist as such in 1984 that should be a clue. I also am interested in hearing about this film. I just shot my first roll of efke 35 mm film. Let's take our own advice and "shut up and shoot" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allan_warner Posted February 21, 2004 Share Posted February 21, 2004 I am looking at current 127 size green boxes of Efke R-100 (Croatia, Samobor) film "R-100" and also at black MACOPHOT UP 100. Both appear to have passed thru Efke as both have the same plastic spools with brass winding slots on one side. MACO says "develop before 2006-9" and has "Charge" # 210573. The Efke says " develop before 2005-9" and has emulsion number 210561. Both are stamped with what appears to be the same stamp machine. Trouble is, the spools are too wide for my baby Rollei's and no one else seems to be making 127 film now. Somehow this problem needs to get the the factory, but I have not been able to through US firms selling the film or through Mahn, the German company selling MACO film. HELP! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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