Developing Very Old Film

old-film-question · Dec 16, 2015

When our grandmother died in the 1980s, my brother photographed every room in her home.

He found the film rolls in a drawer, undeveloped. He used a twin-lens reflex camera, black-and-white film.

They are probably gone, but we're willing to pay a custom lab more to give them extra-special care. Even faded images would be valuable. Any advice?

Designer · Dec 16, 2015

Ask your lab to show you some examples of old film that they have processed.

tirediron · Dec 16, 2015

As long as there is no issue with light fogging, chances are they'll be fine and develop nicely. If there's a custom lab in your area, just bring them, and explain the situation. Alternatively, if there isn't look for a local camera club. There is almost certainly at least one member who is a B&W expert and willing to do this for a small fee.

vintagesnaps · Dec 16, 2015

If it's B&W film it might be fine, I got some film out of a family camera that turned out to have pictures of some of my relatives when they were kids (that was in that camera a long time! lol). Color film can shift and the color can be wonky but B&W lasts often indefinitely, depends on how/where it was stored (still in the camera OK unless it was in a hot attic for years) but often some adjustment and restoration can be done.

If it's important you might want to look up Film Recue International, that's what they specialize in. But I agree a good photo lab (probably not the drug or discount store kind) may be able to develop it, and many labs now do mail order.

Derrel · Dec 16, 2015

Old film sometimes develops "fogging", as I understand it. How to develop a old film of the 70's [Archive] - Rangefinderforum.com

I personallyt developed a 30-year old B&W film roll last year, made a video of it, put it on my YouTube channel, Derrelator. It developed fine in D-76 diluted 1:1 with water.

480sparky · Dec 16, 2015

If there's more than one roll, you can develop one and see how it comes out. That will help in how to adjust development for the other rolls.

old-film-question · Dec 16, 2015

Thank you, I appreciate the advice!

gsgary · Dec 16, 2015

Soup it in Rodinal and you will get photos

Light Guru · Dec 16, 2015

480sparky said:
If there's more than one roll, you can develop one and see how it comes out. That will help in how to adjust development for the other rolls.

I've heard that a really good way to develop old film is stand developing.

480sparky · Dec 16, 2015

Light Guru said:
480sparky said:

If there's more than one roll, you can develop one and see how it comes out. That will help in how to adjust development for the other rolls.

Click to expand...

I've heard that a really good way to develop old film is stand developing.

Maybe........ if one is willing to possibly sacrifice enough old rolls to characterize how best to do so. However, if the OP would list what kind of film it is, perhaps we could narrow down the suggestions.

Light Guru · Dec 16, 2015

480sparky said:
Maybe........ if one is willing to possibly sacrifice enough old rolls to characterize how best to do so. However, if the OP would list what kind of film it is, perhaps we could narrow down the suggestions.

Thats the beauty of stand development type or speed of the film does not matter they all get the same development time with stand developing.
Workflow Tutorial #2: Stand Development with Rodinal | J B Hildebrand Photography