18 year old Velvia 50 stored at 37°F / 3°C

Life got in the way. lol

I have #50 36/rolls of assorted Color (negative+slide) and B&W 35mm film stored constantly (from date of purchase) at the above temperature, with expiry (best before) dates of 2005 /2006

Never having shot expired film before I have had a look around the net and I’m finding lots of opinions, but none for my exact situation.
Should I shoot it at box-speed?
Or would it be best to rattle off some of the Ilford range first?
It all smells great / lovely, no vinegar odor.

I have a darkroom with an LPL C6700 but I’ve only D&P B&W and some Color Negative. I might be a bit rusty!

Hope that the RC paper has survived at UK room temperature.

Assuming you’ve got enough I’d shoot a test roll of each, taking each photo at box speed, box + 1 stop, box + 2 stops. But if it’s been stored refrigerated you may well find that box speed is OK.

I have some colour 126 film from a similar time that I shoot +2 stops, but I’ve also had some Fujifilm C200 which was slightly younger that I shot at box speed after testing. Thats probably why you get lots of differing opinions of the internet - it depends very much on the film and how it’s been stored. If you’ve only got one roll then I’d expose it +2 stops.

Slide films different and I’ve never had much success with old slide film developing as E6. I did do some 20 year old slide film at pretty much box speed and then have it cross processed in C41 and that came out very well.

My gut feeling is that the Velvia is fine. I would shoot a roll at box speed and get it developed. After seeing the results adjust if necessary. If you need help I'd be happy to shoot a roll for you :)

I appreciate the the replies and advice. There are ten rolls of Velvia 50
Talk later, gotta sort out the honey do list.

Six quid for three rolls of HP5 400 ...lol

Edit: images updated Wed 19 Apr

Velvia should be just fine. Maybe try a couple shots at 1/2 stop over…but the old 1 stop per decade doesn’t really apply to E6 films.

I found a box in my attic from my last move, with a few rolls of Ektachrome 100 120 exp 2004 and a 100 ft roll of TMax100 exp 2002. The TMax 100 was fine at 100, the Ektachrome had lost DMax but colors were fine. These weren't refridgerated at all, an attic in a house pushing 200 years old. I would use box speed and you should be fine.