Film surprise
Agfa Agfacolor Optima 100 Professional, expired Apr 2000
In early September, I got a question via Instagram if I was interested in an analog film subscription. The ones reaching out was called Analogheld, and I had just recently seen a section on the news about analog photography where their product was presented. A nice, simple box for storing film. One for three pieces of 35mm and one for 120 films, and then you can fit four rolls.
The idea they presented was a subscription where once a quarter, one of their boxes was filled with film and shipped to me. It could be a new and a bit experimental film, but also older expired rolls.
This suited me perfectly. I love shooting film and to try new things at the same time. Giving myself challenges is something I really try to do as often as I can. So without any hesitation, I jumped on board, and a little less than two weeks ago, I got my first delivery of four 120 films.
Two new films that I have not tried before. One black/white film, Kosmo Foto Mono 100, and one Lomography Color 100. The other two were inspiring, one with an expiration date of March 2004 and the other in April 2000.
Kosmo Foto Mono 100 @ ISO 200
So far, I only have had the time shooting two of the films—Agfa Agfacolor Optima 100 Professional, which expired in 09/2000, and the Mono 100. The result with Agfa, I think, was above expectations. When you do not know much about an expired film, a rule of thumb is to add one stop of light per decade. So I set my Pentax 645NII to ISO 25 but to be completely sure, I took three pictures, one stop of light above ISO 25 and one below.
I was not so worried about the other film, although I rarely shoot a film at ISO 100 when I just walk around and take pictures. I think it was good but not a film I will buy a stock of.
Now I hope for a little better weather than dark clouds and autumn rain. Once we get it, I'm excited to try Lomography Color 100, which I had not used before but even more the slide film Ektachrome E100 VS, released in March 2004. VS stands for the most vivid, saturated colors…
