Camera Film

[funkylad20]

The expiry dates on camera film (b&w specifically) - how important is it to stick to these? i.e can they be used after the date printed on them, or will the photos developed really look all that bad?

[Kos]

Just like food, the expiry date is a warning after which the supplier is no longer responsible for any defects. However in my experience foto film can last for 2 or 3 years after its Use by date.

[romano]

like the previous answer, film is like food in the sense that it will go 'off'. For the price of a new film why bother taking the risk of ruining a superb picture or event?

[Headtime]

I wouldn't worry about it. One of my favourite photographers is Wilfred Thesiger; http://www.prm.ox.ac.uk/thesiger.html He spent long periods living in the Gulf in the 1930's 40's and 50's and took photographs of the pre-oil Gulf Arabs. He kept his undeveloped, but exposed, films in a leather pouch in temperatures of 50 degrees C+ for months, if not years, and his pictures were fine.