Advice on older Kodak stock?

[Jerry Mao]

Hi,

 

I'm new to 35mm, I'm looking to buy some cheaper raw stock for practice.

Is it safe to get the older stock like Kodak EXR or VISION?

The wiki page says they are discontinued a long time ago.

Can labs still process them?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_motion_picture_film_stocks

 

Anyone had any experience with older stocks?

 

Thanks,

 

Jerry

[Charles MacDonald]

The EXP and Vison stocks all use the current process, ECN2 but the film does deteriorate in storage, More so if not refrigerated.

 

The faster stocks are more sensitive, the 50D probably is safe if it has been in the fridge, even the first vison 500T may have a lot of dmin.

 

A lab can take 10 feet of the end of a roll and process it for you, and tell you how much fog it has picked up, and sometimes they will even be equiped to use a sensitometer to run a more through test. Any roll that the lab says is toast is probably not a great buy, and few sellers will offer a refund under that situation..

[Jerry Mao]

Thanks for your response!

I'll be very careful on that.

 

and take a mid-range ASA 250D in the case, what is the average length of life of raw stock if kept refrigerated?

 

Much appreciated!

Jerry

[Adrian Sierkowski]

If you are going to work with much older stocks, then make sure your over-expose them. I normally go about 1 stop over just to be safe and to try to get above the base-fog and tighten up grain.

[Indiefilmstock]

If you are looking for cheap film stock to experiment with, you don't need to look for older EXR or Vision stock.

 

We've got a great supply of cheap newer Vision 2 and Vision 3 stock in ends and recans.

 

Richard Kaufman

Comtel Pro Media

818-450-1122

richard@comtepm.com

www.comtelpm.com

Edited March 9, 2012 by Indiefilmstock