If you have no patience with idiot spouses who have freezers full of film, no idea what it is, and the need to sort "the good" from "the bad" and "the ugly," please stop reading now... also, I'll ask the mods to put this where it belongs if not here.
I'm starting to sort through all Ted's film in preparation for selling it, and wonder if there is some "master" reference somewhere that can help me figure out expiration dates and whether the fact that all of this has been kept refrigerated (yes, he had an entire freezer and a refrigerator dedicated to film) somehow mitigates those dates, so that the film is still usable.
It's an eclectic collection of Kodak color rolls and sheets, Fuji color same thing, some "no-name" B&W sheets... names I recognize like Provia, Velvia, TMax100, sheets of 4x5, 5x7, 13x18, and expiration dates from as early as '01 all the way to next year! I haven't even finished going through the rolls yet.
So, I'm looking for "Film for Dummies," if such a thing exists. Anyone? Thanks for any help you can offer.
Simply make up a list of film type, format size, expiration date, and quantity.
The shooters who want to buy this film will know what they want.
Most film manufacturers have lists of the film they sell, with descriptions of the films characteristics, on-line. I suggest simply going to Fuji's and Kodak's web site to start learning.
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When I grow up, I want to be a photographer.
Thank you... of course, I'll start with the manufacturers' websites and see what I can learn... I'm just trying to reconcile the expiration dates on the boxes with the fact that Ted still had them!
Maybe if you listed all the film available,adding dates where applicable,and let fellow APUGers figure out it's usability? You've already mentioned that the film has been frozen.
I am sure that other members will have better advice but it's the only thing I could come up with.
Thanks, Mike... I don't want Sean and the mods to think I'm trying to sell stuff anyplace but the Classifieds, where it belongs and will go when I have a better understanding of what's there. Sort of a Catch-22, but I appreciate your advice, thanks!
Please don't post any Kodachrome 25 in the classifieds here. Please instead send me a private email. Nobody here likes Kodachrome 25, so it wouldn't sell. Kodachrome 25 is hard to type, so please just don't even post it. I am trully concerned for your health and wouldn't want carpal tunnel to be the result. So let's just keep any of THAT stuff between us, okay?
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whether the fact that all of this has been kept refrigerated (yes, he had an entire freezer and a refrigerator dedicated to film) somehow mitigates those dates, so that the film is still usable.
Amy
What may not have come across in the previous answers is that freezing or cooling the film does extend the life, in some cases by years. If he stored printing papers the same way they may also be usable long after the expiration date.
Ted helped a whole lot of people in person and online. I am sure many of us would like to return the same with good information to you.
Just FYI, "cold stored" is a very good thing from a usability standpoint (there should be little-to-no time/temp-related degredation of the film), but in my experience doesn't really increase selling price. To give you some idea on what to expect for pricing, I bought a fair bit of expired 35mm and 120 format films last year. As a general rule, if the expiry date was 2005 or before, on average I paid US$1-1.50 per roll (35mm or 120, the brand/type/speed didn't matter). For expiry dates in 2006-2007, US$2 per roll (I bought them in the latter part of the year). It's all still perfectly usable, it's just that the perceived value drops signficantly if it's expired, even if properly stored.
There are a few exceptions for rare "cult" films that are no longer in production, and I have no idea what expired large-format film (or photo paper) is worth - you might have to search eBay's completed auctions for a better idea of what the market is doing these days. ("Cult" films would be things like Kodachrome 25 in any format or any Kodachrome in formats larger than 35mm or old Kodak film such as Panatomic-X or Verichrome or Verichrome Pan. I'm sure there are some I'm missing here as well, but anything currently produced doesn't usually fall into this category.)
Best of luck - looking forward to seeing if there's anything interesting in 35mm or 120
Ted helped a whole lot of people in person and online. I am sure many of us would like to return the same with good information to you.
John Powers
Thanks, John... especially for the note about papers... he has TONS in his studio, and that inventory will get done next. Thanks also for the kind words... I'm a pretty fast learner, and nothing will happen til I'm sure of what I'm doing. Certainly I'll try to offer these things first to those who've helped with the "good info" I need... thanks!
Is there a "Film for Dummies"? 
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