A question about how to use old film stock

Post by **cdg** » Sat Dec 08, 2007 9:54 pm

Hey everybody! It's been a long time since I've posted here, primarily because I've been involved in my other expensive hobby - motorcycles. I rebuilt a 1974 Suzuki TS 125 in my dorm room with nothing more than a $20 tool kit and a craftsman impact driver. Now that it's running good and I've financially recovered from the shock of buying all those parts and tools, I'm going to try and get back into some film shooting.

First things first, I recently bought on ebay a spool of Kodak TriX with an expiration of 1985. It's a 100 foot spool of double 8mm, and I plan on hand spooling it onto some 25 foot spools and exposing it through my cameras.

According to the seller, he had recently used similar stock with good results exposed at ASA 10. This could be a load of crap, but I give this guy some benefit of the doubt given that he has like 400 perfect feedbacks.

So does anybody have any suggestions as to how to expose this film? I don't hand develop my film - I just want to send it to Film and Video services and get it developed. I have already emailed FVS and hope to get a response about their recommendations.

I will conclude by adding that over my fast approaching Christmas break, I plan on trying to hand slit and shoot some film stock through my Univex miniature 8mm camera to see if I can get anything to come out.

Post by **robbie** » Sat Dec 08, 2007 10:09 pm

asa 10 from 200? that doesnt seem right. i doubt it lost that much sensitivity.
perhaps good idea take 25' for exposure test. let us know regardless of your results and also inform to FVS response.

Post by **cdg** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 12:13 am

I think I remember properly TriX wasn't always 200 ASA back in those days - it was 125. In fact looking at the auction pictures, it is 125 ASA film.

But if I'm getting what you're saying, maybe the best course of action is just to test the film by metering for several different ASA ratings - for example, trying it at 125, 100, 50 and 25 ASA and seeing which comes out?

Post by **Jim Carlile** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 4:05 am

From what I remember, MP Tri-X has always been ASA 200. The film may have lost a little speed, but it should be fine if used like new.

Post by **Will2** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 4:39 am

I thought Tri-X was just bumped up when they changed chemistries a few years ago from 125 to 200.

Post by **robbie** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 9:07 pm

the older just before chem change and i believe remains..? 160 under tungsten and 200 daylight w/ filter.
but still, i doubt 5asa from even asa 125.
so, yeah, bracket a test.

Post by **Jim Carlile** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 12:07 pm

I think Tri-X has always been ASA 200 in MP format. It was Plus-X that was bumped from ASA 50 to 100 a few years ago, and they started putting it in a notchless cartridge, with a speed notch of 160T/100D.

The still form of Tri-X was always different-- ASA 400 I believe. That was always confusing. Same name, different film. Either way old B/W film comes out well unless it was stored in a hot garage for 20 years or something like that. Maybe a little speed change, 1/2 stop or so but not much.

Post by **cdg** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 9:42 am

Let me solve this riddle by posting the stuff I actually bought:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... :IT&ih=020

Hopefully you can still see the link. I don't have very much to lose, as I want to make a machine to re wind 100 foot spools onto 25 foot spools anyway, so I can buy film in larger bulk quantities for myself that way...

Post by **cdg** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 4:47 am

OK, let me update this post - it's been quite a while I know, but I finally found something to film and sent it out to Film and Video Services. Shooting this TriX, emulsion number 7207, I found best results lie between 40 and 80 ASA. This is actually pretty nice film stock, so I think I'll shoot out the other rolls I have and get them processed as well.

Just thought I'd put it out there - TriX that expired in 1985 can most likely be tried at 40-80 ASA with good results. Exposure latitude on this stock is still pretty incredible, as I find it works pretty good at either ASA rating, best if shot a half stop higher than ASA 40.

Hopefully this helps somebody someday...