Kodak Professional BW400CN - Expired

Exposing an expired roll of 35m film is like playing the lottery; you most often lose, but when you win, it's exhilarating.

A friend gave me a few rolls of expired 35mm film cartridges in a box. In the box was a Kodak BW400CN cartridge.

Kodak Professional BW400CN was a chromogenic black-and-white 35mm film with an ISO rating of 400. The film used colour dyes to produce a black-and-white image and was designed to be processed in standard C-41 colour-negative chemistry. This means that it could be developed using the same process as colour-negative films, making it more accessible to photographers who did not have access to traditional black-and-white processing facilities.

The 35mm film was versatile, creating sharp, fine-grained images, making it suitable for various shooting conditions and styles, from landscapes to portraiture.

Kodak Professional BW400CN film had a nominal sensitivity of ISO 400, making it a versatile choice for various lighting conditions. It was known for its fine grain and smooth tonal gradations, which produced images with excellent detail and contrast. The film also had a broad exposure latitude, meaning it could capture a wide range of tones in bright and shadow areas.

One of the benefits of using Kodak Professional BW400CN was that it could be scanned and printed using standard colour printing processes. This made it an attractive option for photographers who preferred to work digitally or who wanted to make prints using traditional colour printing services. It was popular among photographers who wished for a black-and-white film's look-and-feel without needing specialised processing equipment. Kodak Professional BW400CN was the successor to Kodak Professional Portra 400BW.

Exposing an expired roll of 35mm film can result in unpredictable results, as the film's sensitivity to light may have degraded over time. I read on the Internet that to ensure the best possible outcome, it is recommended to overexpose the film by 1 to 2 stops to compensate for its decreased sensitivity. Expired film can be more prone to graininess and other anomalies. I set realistic expectations and was open to the possibility of unexpected results.

I waited for a sunny day to ensure I had opportunities to test the film in various lighting and see how it performed. On a cold day in February, I grabbed my camera, set the ISO to 80, inserted a roll of Kodak BW400CN, and drove to Princeton University. I did my best to take notes, but I expected the worst. Exposing an expired roll of 35m film is like playing the lottery; you most often lose, but when you win, it's exhilarating. When I sent the cartridge to Boutique Film Lab, I expected that I might be wasting $14.

I parked the car on campus and started walking toward the Firestone Library. The air was colder than I expected. I checked the weather app on my iPhone. The outdoor temperature was about 0ºC. There was a strong breeze. I walked for about twenty minutes before I started to lose feeling in my fingers. I exposed a few frames near the John Witherspoon Statue and the Firestone Library before turning around and heading back home.

John Witherspoon was a Scottish-American Presbyterian minister and a Founding Father of the United States. He was a signatory of the United States Declaration of Independence and served as the sixth president of the College of New Jersey, now known as Princeton University.

I had a scheduled haircut on Friday afternoon at Revival Barber Shop in Hillsborough. Since we now have only one car, I dropped Bhavna off at work and kept the car. I used the opportunity to expose a few more frames outside her office complex. The orange American muscle car was the main attraction.

The next day, Bhavna, Shaan and I stopped at Flounder to try some of their new ales. I exposed two frames inside the brewery under challenging lighting conditions. The brewery was poorly lit, and at ISO 80, shooting indoors was challenging. After a few half-pints, we put returned home. I put the camera away and didn’t pick it up again until later in the week.

I mentioned it before. While 36-exposure 35mm film cartridges are more economical, I prefer the 24-exposure film cartridge. After about 24 frames, I am anxious to finish the film, and I often rush "to get it over with", exposing the last frames for the 36-exposure cartridge without much thought. In this case, I completed the cartridge, photographing subjects inside my home and on the street outside.

I am delighted with the results from the expired 36-exposure cartridge of Kodak Professional BW400CN. I have a few more, but I want to be patient and exposed when I have more interesting subject matter. That means waiting for another sunny day.

Name Kodak Professional BW400CN
Format 35mm
Features chromogenic black and white negative
Native ISO 400
Price FREE
Exposed ISO 100
Lab Boutique Film Lab
Process C41
Scanner Epson Perfection V600
Software VueScan 9, Negative Lab Pro, Adobe Lightroom
Saturday 4 February 2023 · Minolta XD-11 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2 · ISO 80
Saturday 4 February 2023 · Minolta XD-11 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2 · ISO 80
Saturday 4 February 2023 · Minolta XD-11 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2 · ISO 80
Saturday 4 February 2023 · Minolta XD-11 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2 · ISO 80
Saturday 4 February 2023 · Minolta XD-11 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2 · ISO 80
Saturday 4 February 2023 · Minolta XD-11 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2 · ISO 80
Saturday 4 February 2023 · Minolta XD-11 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2 · ISO 80
Saturday 4 February 2023 · Minolta XD-11 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2 · ISO 80
Saturday 4 February 2023 · Minolta XD-11 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2 · ISO 80
Sunday 5 February 2023 · Minolta XD-11 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2 · ISO 80
Sunday 5 February 2023 · Minolta XD-11 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2 · ISO 80
Friday 10 February 2023 · Minolta XD-11 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2 · ISO 80
Friday 10 February 2023 · Minolta XD-11 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2 · ISO 80
Friday 10 February 2023 · Minolta XD-11 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2 · ISO 80
Friday 10 February 2023 · Minolta XD-11 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2 · ISO 80
Friday 10 February 2023 · Minolta XD-11 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2 · ISO 80
Friday 10 February 2023 · Minolta XD-11 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2 · ISO 80
Friday 10 February 2023 · Minolta XD-11 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2 · ISO 80
Friday 10 February 2023 · Minolta XD-11 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2 · ISO 80
Friday 10 February 2023 · Minolta XD-11 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2 · ISO 80
Saturday 11 February 2023 · Minolta XD-11 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2 · ISO 80
Saturday 11 February 2023 · Minolta XD-11 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2 · ISO 80
Saturday 11 February 2023 · Minolta XD-11 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2 · ISO 80
Saturday 11 February 2023 · Minolta XD-11 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2 · ISO 80
Saturday 11 February 2023 · Minolta XD-11 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2 · ISO 80
Saturday 11 February 2023 · Minolta XD-11 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2 · ISO 80
Saturday 11 February 2023 · Minolta XD-11 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2 · ISO 80
Saturday 11 February 2023 · Minolta XD-11 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2 · ISO 80
Saturday 11 February 2023 · Minolta XD-11 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2 · ISO 80
Saturday 11 February 2023 · Minolta XD-11 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2 · ISO 80
Saturday 11 February 2023 · Minolta XD-11 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2 · ISO 80
Saturday 11 February 2023 · Minolta XD-11 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2 · ISO 80
Saturday 11 February 2023 · Minolta XD-11 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2 · ISO 80

Fujichrome PROVIA 400F - Expired

A long-expired cartridge of Fujichrome PROVIA 400F 35mm film delivers nostalgic, surprisingly usable photos.

One of the first rolls of film I exposed from the box of expired 35mm film I received last year is a 36-exposure cartridge of Fujichrome PROVIA 400F Professional [RHP III]. Fujichrome PROVIA 400F was a high-quality colour reversal film manufactured by Fujifilm. It was known for its excellent colour reproduction, fine grain, and sharpness, making it a popular choice among professional photographers. With a sensitivity of ISO 400, this film was ideal for shooting in low light conditions or for capturing fast-moving subjects. The film's advanced emulsion technology was known to produce vibrant colours and accurate skin tones, making it a popular choice for fashion and advertising photography. I did not know what to expect from a 10-year-old cartridge.

I didn't think much about what it means to expose expired 35mm film. My first, second and third attempts at using expired film stock could have been better. I loaded the cartridge in my Pentax P3n, and despite the cold weather, I hopped on my e-bike and headed off to Rocky Hill, a nearby borough in New Jersey.

Fujichrome PROVIA 400F - Expired · Wednesday 14 December 2022 · Pentax P3n · SMC Pentax-A 50mm F2

The sun shone brightly overhead, but I could still feel the cold as I set off on Salisbury Road towards the western end of Blue Spring Road. It was still early morning as I pedalled through the quiet residential streets of my neighbourhood. Just before entering the borough of Rocky Hill, I stopped on Princeton Avenue to expose a few frames before continuing along the more scenic route, passing through Van Horne Park.

Rocky Hill was incorporated in 1890 and had a rich history dating back to the colonial era. It was an important transportation hub during the Revolutionary War and was once home to the Van Horne estate, now a public park. Van Horne Park offers a variety of amenities, such as walking paths, playgrounds, sports fields, and picnic areas.

Today, Rocky Hill is a quiet residential community with a small-town feel. It has a few local businesses, including a general store, a post office, and a few restaurants.

Fujichrome PROVIA 400F - Expired · Wednesday 14 December 2022 · Pentax P3n · SMC Pentax-A 50mm F2
Fujichrome PROVIA 400F - Expired · Wednesday 14 December 2022 · Pentax P3n · SMC Pentax-A 50mm F2
Fujichrome PROVIA 400F - Expired · Wednesday 14 December 2022 · Pentax P3n · SMC Pentax-A 50mm F2

After leaving the park, I continued along Washington Road, a long stretch of a historic route that cuts through the heart of Rocky Hill. One of the most distinctive features of Washington Road is its historic homes and buildings. Many houses along the street were built in the 18th and 19th centuries and have been preserved as part of Rocky Hill's history. Some of the most notable buildings along Washington Road include the historic Rocky Hill Inn, which dates back to the early 1700s and now operates as a restaurant, and the Rocky Hill Schoolhouse, which was built in 1865 and is now home to the Rocky Hill Historical Society.

Fujichrome PROVIA 400F - Expired · Wednesday 14 December 2022 · Pentax P3n · SMC Pentax-A 50mm F2
Fujichrome PROVIA 400F - Expired · Wednesday 14 December 2022 · Pentax P3n · SMC Pentax-A 50mm F2
Rocky Hill Inn · Fujichrome PROVIA 400F - Expired · Wednesday 14 December 2022 · Pentax P3n · SMC Pentax-A 50mm F2

Originally built as a private residence, the Rocky Hill Inn building was converted into a tavern in the 1800s and has since operated as an American gastropub. The inn has been beautifully restored and retains many original features, including wide-plank flooring and exposed brick walls. It is a popular spot for locals, offering a cosy rural, small-town atmosphere, delicious food (my favourite is Fish n’ Chips with a crisp pilsner), and a wide selection of beer and wine.

Fujichrome PROVIA 400F - Expired · Wednesday 14 December 2022 · Pentax P3n · SMC Pentax-A 50mm F2

I turned off Washington Road, arriving at Crescent Avenue, a quiet road I often photograph due to its tree-lined sidewalks and charming historic homes. Many houses on the street were built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and have been carefully preserved. The homes' architecture varies, ranging from Victorian and colonial-style homes to more modern designs.

Crescent Avenue turns into River Road at the southeastern border with Montgomery Township. River Road head south toward the historic town of Kingston. It connects to the other end of Blue Spring Road in a loop that takes me back toward my home.

Fujichrome PROVIA 400F - Expired · Wednesday 14 December 2022 · Pentax P3n · SMC Pentax-A 50mm F2
Fujichrome PROVIA 400F - Expired · Wednesday 14 December 2022 · Pentax P3n · SMC Pentax-A 50mm F2

I think the opportunity to take photographs with expired 35mm film was a unique touch of nostalgia and vintage charm.

I exposed the Fujichrome PROVIA 400F at box speed. After I sent the film off for development, I read that the wisdom on the web is that expired film should be exposed at a lower ISO, one-stop every ten years after it expires. The film should also be pulled during development. I understand it just a bit, but I am stumped about what camera ISO or exposure compensation settings I should have used and what instructions to give the development lab.

  • Do I set the ISO dial at ISO 200 and tell the lab to pull one stop?
  • Do I set the ISO dial to 400 and the exposure compensation dial to +1 and tell the lab to pull one stop?
  • Do I set the ISO dial to 400 and the exposure compensation dial to +1 and tell the lab to develop normally?
  • Do I expose at ISO 400, EV0

It was too late to correct my potential mistake. I sent the cartridge off to Boutique Film Lab and waited. When the slides arrived, I nervously scanned them with VueScan using my Epson Perfection V600. As I watched the previews, my confidence grew. My efforts were not wasted.

I added camera and lens meta-data and imported the images to Adobe Lightroom to finalise things. I was excited when I saw that the scans produced usable photos. I was even more excited when the photos improved further when I adjusted the exposure,contrast, highlights and shadows.

I am so excited. This worked out better than I expected. While the colours are muted, almost all of the images are usable. This post includes the ones I consider the best of the 36 exposures. A few frames are underexposed, but I think that is primarily because of operator error (i.e. me). I have five more cartridges of expired Fujichrome PROVIA 400F, and I am excited to use them all.

Name Fujichrome PROVIA 400F
Format 35mm
Type Colour Reversal
Native ISO 400
Exposed ISO 400
Lab Boutique Film Labs
Process E-6
Scanner Epson Perfection V600
Software VueScan 9, Negative Lab Pro, Adobe Lightroom

Terra Momo Bread Co.

The fog and dim light seemed like a good day to use Kosmo Foto Agent Shadow.

A few weeks ago I completed a virtual workshp on the Zone System, led by photographer Ossian Lindholm. It's part of my efforts to nreak out of my pandmeic rut.

Ansel Adams developed the Zone System, a technique for translating perceived light into specific densities to allow better control over finished photographs. Though he lived well before the time of megapixels and monitors I think he would have embraced the creative possibilities of the digital age.