The lab sent back the latest batch. Nothing too interesting in this lot except a couple of the kids and the dog which I’m pretty happy with, but I did test out a roll of the Fuji Superia 800 and the Kodak Portra 400VC to see how they held up considering how expired they are. I was pleasantly surprised with the Fuji, less so with the Kodak but it’s good enough for something I’m sure.
Exposure tests:
Fuji Superia Xtra 800, expired 2007 and stored in an under stairs closet since. Not refrigerated.
Shot with a Minolta X-700, Rokkor 50mm f/1.7.
Quite pleased with this, especially as I have another 19 rolls! It has a cyan cast in some lights, and needs 2-3 stops more light to get the best from it, which is still a useable speed. It responds well to flash too. I expected much more grain, but the properly exposed shots have similar or less grain than Kodak Gold 200 in 35mm for example.
Box speed (ISO 800)
+1 stop (ISO 400)
+2 stops (ISO 200)
+3 stops (ISO 100)
Some random examples metered at +2 stops (ISO 200)…
Kodak Portra 400 VC 220, expired 2003. As above, stored in an under stairs closet since around 2002 and not refrigerated.
Shot with Mamiya RB67 Pro S, Sekor C 180mm.
I didn’t bother to expose at 400 because it would have been predictably bad. It’s overall a bit flat, which isn’t surprising considering it’s over 20 years expired. It really needs +3 stops to get the most out of it so it’ll be of limited use outside a studio setting until the brighter days come back.
+1 stop (ISO 200)
+2 stops (ISO 100)
+3 stops (ISO 50)
Out in the wild, metered at ISO 100
And finally, some random shots using Kodak Gold 200 on the RB67, it’s awesome for £7 a roll in 120 format!
Exposure tests:
Fuji Superia Xtra 800, expired 2007 and stored in an under stairs closet since. Not refrigerated.
Shot with a Minolta X-700, Rokkor 50mm f/1.7.
Quite pleased with this, especially as I have another 19 rolls! It has a cyan cast in some lights, and needs 2-3 stops more light to get the best from it, which is still a useable speed. It responds well to flash too. I expected much more grain, but the properly exposed shots have similar or less grain than Kodak Gold 200 in 35mm for example.
Box speed (ISO 800)
+1 stop (ISO 400)
+2 stops (ISO 200)
+3 stops (ISO 100)
Some random examples metered at +2 stops (ISO 200)…
Kodak Portra 400 VC 220, expired 2003. As above, stored in an under stairs closet since around 2002 and not refrigerated.
Shot with Mamiya RB67 Pro S, Sekor C 180mm.
I didn’t bother to expose at 400 because it would have been predictably bad. It’s overall a bit flat, which isn’t surprising considering it’s over 20 years expired. It really needs +3 stops to get the most out of it so it’ll be of limited use outside a studio setting until the brighter days come back.
+1 stop (ISO 200)
+2 stops (ISO 100)
+3 stops (ISO 50)
Out in the wild, metered at ISO 100
And finally, some random shots using Kodak Gold 200 on the RB67, it’s awesome for £7 a roll in 120 format!