Is it a waste of time to have expired film processed? Will the pics still be there?

Answer 1

Unless this film has been in very poor envoirnmental conditions (extreme heat -- extreme moisture, ect) you more than likely will have usable prints on this film
Expiration dates are usually a guide for the seller to turn their stock over in a timely manner -- and for the user to get absolute Best results from ! However, these dates are set with a Large latitude in time !
I have shot film (for shear hobby / goof-off stuff only) that was as much as five years out of date -- and got absolutely strong prints from it !!
If there is one outrageously good photo on the whole roll it is worth your cost -- but I'm sure (depending on proper exposure etc) that you will have far more than a single shot there !!

►To the poster just before me here -- this is a color shift known as reticulation -- and it comes from the film having been in conditions of extreme heat for far too long -- film can also take on a hard red tint when this happens ◄

Answer 2

I'm a professional Photographer, so I will help you out with this question based on my experience and knowledge about film.

Expired film, if kept in the refrigerator (not the freezer) should be fine, and can often last for years past its' expiration date. More so with black and white than color film. Color film is far more sensitive to climate changes.

If the film is expired, and you shot images on it, and left the film both prior to exposing it and after exposing it sitting in a hot room or hot car, then chances are the colors in the film will have been exposed to heat, and the images will appear yellow and not flattering.

If you are unsure, your best bet is just to pay the lab for a "develop only" process, which should be about $4.00 depending on the lab. Ask the lab to do a "do not cut" the negatives. It is often cheaper to print them after you view the negatives, when the film remains uncut.

You can view the negatives on a light box, prior to paying for prints, to see if you notice a color shift. If the film is black & white, you will notice the negatives to have a foggy appearance to them, if the film was exposed to high heat. Sometimes black & white film when old and exposed to climate changes can have an artsy effect.

So, in answer to your question, the images will most likely still be there, but the condition of them is the question.

Good luck.

Answer 3

Out Of Date Film

Answer 4

Depends on how far back the expiration date is. The older the film, the greater the degredation of the image. I'm not writing about some product that expired last month. I mean expiration dates a year or more in the past.

What you CAN do, to save money, is to have the lab develop the film, only, with no prints. If it is slides, with no mounting, you can look at the results, directly. If it is negatives, and you have some experience reading negs, you can see the results and then decide if you want any of the images printed. For easiest reading, have them do a single, contact print of the entire role on one sheet of paper. Again, if any images look "worth it," you can select only those for printing.

I have, archived, thousands of negs that I had developed, for which I have never seen prints. I plan to spend my old age, looking over these negs and reliving my lost youth.

Answer 5

If it's slide film, good luck finding someone to process it. From my experiences, if the film was no good and nothing came out, there was no charge.

If it's a size film that isn't processed much anymore send it to Dwayne's photo, providing you're in the U.S.

They process Kodacrome movie film and are one of the few places in this country that does so for under an arm and a leg.

Answer 6

I recently had developed, scores of film, mostly of the cheapest, no name brand film I could buy. It is less costly to shoot than process. Some rolls could have been 15 yrs old.
I always stored them in the fridge, next to the moldy stuff at the back. All where good, 100's of images, & on a disk, I couldn't get that last century. Heat affected photos can be cool though.

Answer 7

I hade some expired film .. hade it processed and the pics came out yellow

Answer 8

It no longer the enormous term. problems heavily isn't, i think of. If the action picture become saved in a chilly place, then there should not be a huge loss of high quality. If the action picture become saved in a heat place, then colour stability infringement can take place, notwithstanding it no longer if truth be told for fan. you are able to maximum superb colour stability on the clicking technique.

Answer 9

Aside from the answers already received, its only takes a few bucks to process a roll, so go ahead and see if there is anything there if you can afford it.

Answer 10

The likelihood for success is good, especially if you have not stored the exposed film in a hot environment. Go for it!