IMO the only reason to shoot expired film would be to save on film cost, or rarely, to try a discontinued film stock. (I do not personally believe that many folks actually go to this trouble, but who really knows?) If otherwise motivated, I'd buy expired film for about a dollar a roll. No more, because you never know how that film has been stored or degraded. I think people who pay as much on ebay as the film cost new or more are just plain stupid. Folks bitch a lot about the cost of film. So, how much do you value your time taken for photography, or the opportunity cost of a given location, lighting and subject circumstance, many of which you cannot return to and reshoot if the film used was crap. I shoot mostly landscapes. The cost of transportation to and from locations is usually more than the total cost of any film I shoot on that location. That said, I shoot expired film constantly. Why? I bought it new. It's been frozen solid ever since. It's the remaining part of a stock of film purchased for a particular project or trip. If I want to shoot a newer film, say Ektar 100, I budget my purchase to expected need. If I'm just heading out for a day or weekend of shooting whatever I find, I have 100 foot bulk rolls of FP-4+, HP-5+ and dozens of 120 rolls, and Ektachrome 100 (the original stock) along with some Fuji Reala, which was a very nice film if pricey. So long as I thaw, shoot and process that film within a few months, I've never seen a difference between old and new. I never modify the film speed.
Hi Randall, that Fuji Reala makes me jealous. Used to be one of my favorite films to shoot. I guess we all have our own reasons to shoot expired film, at least for those who are interested in shooting it. I definitely enjoy some of the characteristics of some of those expired stocks and sometimes you can indeed get really great deals on it. I never pay more for an expired stock used than its price new. With one exception that is the Fuji Pro 160s. I’m still fortunate enough to be able to afford shooting film and some of those older stocks are fun. Don’t get me wrong, love shooting new stock just as much. It’s all part of the fun. Thanks so much for watching!
IMO the only reason to shoot expired film would be to save on film cost, or rarely, to try a discontinued film stock. (I do not personally believe that many folks actually go to this trouble, but who really knows?) If otherwise motivated, I'd buy expired film for about a dollar a roll. No more, because you never know how that film has been stored or degraded. I think people who pay as much on ebay as the film cost new or more are just plain stupid. Folks bitch a lot about the cost of film. So, how much do you value your time taken for photography, or the opportunity cost of a given location, lighting and subject circumstance, many of which you cannot return to and reshoot if the film used was crap. I shoot mostly landscapes. The cost of transportation to and from locations is usually more than the total cost of any film I shoot on that location. That said, I shoot expired film constantly. Why? I bought it new. It's been frozen solid ever since. It's the remaining part of a stock of film purchased for a particular project or trip. If I want to shoot a newer film, say Ektar 100, I budget my purchase to expected need. If I'm just heading out for a day or weekend of shooting whatever I find, I have 100 foot bulk rolls of FP-4+, HP-5+ and dozens of 120 rolls, and Ektachrome 100 (the original stock) along with some Fuji Reala, which was a very nice film if pricey. So long as I thaw, shoot and process that film within a few months, I've never seen a difference between old and new. I never modify the film speed.
Hi Randall, that Fuji Reala makes me jealous. Used to be one of my favorite films to shoot. I guess we all have our own reasons to shoot expired film, at least for those who are interested in shooting it. I definitely enjoy some of the characteristics of some of those expired stocks and sometimes you can indeed get really great deals on it. I never pay more for an expired stock used than its price new. With one exception that is the Fuji Pro 160s. I’m still fortunate enough to be able to afford shooting film and some of those older stocks are fun.
Don’t get me wrong, love shooting new stock just as much. It’s all part of the fun. Thanks so much for watching!