First shot with expired P/N 55

[Christopher Walrath]

Just cracked the shutter on some expired Polaroid P/N 55 4x5 sheets I got from an eBay seller in May. Expiration was in 2007. Rated for ISO50 I exposed it for 25 for a test shot. The neg looks pretty much spot on and the print had a lot of washing out. Made a second exposure rated at ISO100 and the print was sweet looking, the neg was very thin. So, as I would rather have the negs than the prints I am going with a EI of 25 for this film.

As to washing the print and finishing the negative. Well, I did this at work and figured I could rinse the print in water to arrest development. I then decided to rinse the paste away and stop and fix the neg with, you guessed it. Good old Tap water. In an automotive parts wharehouse. And dried them in the open with no moving air. No dust to speak of. I don't get it. Sometimes the most undeliberate of processes comes out like a rose.

I would post pics but it bites not having a scanner handy. Just thought I would post this so others might benefit from it.

[Alex Hawley]

HAH! Sounds like you may be getting a bit hooked Chris. After using Type 55, I came to regard tray processing 4x5 negs as a pain, never mind being able to do it "on the road".

Add obligatory lament for T55 here:

[Christopher Walrath]

OK. This has now officially turned into a WHAT THE HELL thread. Eight sheets later, I have but the one pic to show for. Everything else either the developer is not spreading evenly (could be due to expiration). Or the neg and print are holding up in the 545 holder (both in the P position and the L position holding down the release lever). I have to press the emulsion side of the envelope ever so slightly to place enough tension so that it slides out together. Or they hold up at the roller. This is really frickin' frustrating and I know it should be a hell of a lot simpler than this. If I can't figure it out I'm sure not gonna pay for GOOD film and kill it as well.

HHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLPPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!

[Alex Hawley]

Chris, make sure you 545 holder is clean throughout, especially the rollers. Yeah, little things can ruin it. Take some time and analyze what is going wrong.

[Richard Kelham]

It has always been a toss-up between a good print or a good negative – you could never have both. Recommended clearing agent for negs is Sodium Sulphite I believe, though water is almost as good.

If the filmis old the chemical goo can start to dry up even when still in its pod. This causes uneven development (bald patches). Plus you must keep your rollers clean.

My last box of T55 will also expire soon, damn it!




Richard