I am a big fan of the Hasselblad V-system, I tested many different models, many different film backs, but one model remained – the most iconic format 70, which was used during the first Apollo missions! If you’re lucky, you’ll find everything almost immediately, I wasn’t so it took me a while.
Finding a film and the right film back is not so difficult, but a proper developing tank is something completely different. It took me almost three years of searching – now I’m succeeded!! and I get this huge Nikor Stainless steel developing tank. After that I started searching the web I found not only film back but also a 46-year-old Kodak film from 1974! It’s a Kodak Plus-X Pan ASA 125 in 70mm format. And it’s just arrived to me!
The packaging was tightly closed, I did not see any damage or other signs of poor storage, but this is unknown will come out after developing the film. Let’s load the film into Hasselblad’s magazine and set out to search for frames.
So, the base ISO value is 125, but considering the age (almost 50 years) of this film I was working on ISO 50 – tripod needed, of course. Below are some selected frames, there were 56 in total.
After closer inspection, I must admit that for such an “age-old” film, it retains very good parameters. If the exposure is correct, the image is clear and sharp and the grain is really decent. Some frames have slight smoke, but this was unavoidable.
The second issue is the exposure itself. All photos were taken in not the best weather conditions and it can be seen from some frames, but I know that if the same photos were taken e.g. in summer – the quality would be definitely different, better. Such old material simply needs a lot of light to properly illuminate the emulsion.
I must admit that it was a great pleasure. A 50 year old film, thrills during developing and what frames will come out – this is what makes analog photography give me so much pleasure!
~ Lukasz
Development details
Developer: Kodak HC-110, Dilution B (1:31)
Temperature: 18 degrees (not 20 degrees to reduce film fog)
Dev Time: 5:45 min
Scan: Epson V700 + cleaning from dust and scratches
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2 responses to “5 Frames… Of 1974 expired Kodak Plus-X Pan (70mm format / EI 50 / Hasselblad 503CW)”
I was a photographer in the Navy in 1974 and I’m very familiar with this film and used it. We used the Beattie Portronic Vintage Mass Portrait Camera to shoot portraits with. We used this same film that we pulled from the camera every Monday to process and print work from the previous week. It was a good camera and excellent film that I think was gray balanced for proper skin tones when Developed in D-76 developer. The negatives can be easily retouched (which we didn’t bother with because most of our work was passports and ID photos) for the occasional official portrait. Thanks for sharing this, brought back memories..
These photos came out great.