Shooting on Ilford Pan F (expired 1989) - Review

Film Photography

Mar 19

I got curious about shooting expired film and ended up buying a pack of 10 rolls of Ilford Pan F from 1989. It was cheap, but more than that, I just wanted to see what it would actually look like.

I shot the first roll in Bucharest over a few days, mixing street and a few portraits of friends. No plan, just taking the camera with me and shooting when something felt right.

SETUP

Camera: Minolta X-700
Lenses: MC Rokkor 50mm f1.4, MC Rokkor 28mm f2.8
Film: Ilford Pan F (expired 1989)
ISO: 50

SHOOTING

I used both natural and artificial light. Some frames were shot outside in daylight, others indoors or in mixed lighting conditions. I didn’t overthink it. I just followed what I usually do, observe, wait, and shoot when something feels natural.

There were no doubts while shooting. If anything, I was just excited to see what would come out of it.

RESULTS

What surprised me the most was how well the film held up. The exposures came out right, and the images have a distinct feel that’s hard to replicate digitally.

The contrast is strong, but I actually like that. It gives the images a certain presence. They feel more defined, more direct.

WHAT DIDN’T WORK

Highlights can get harsh. That’s probably the main thing I noticed.

In some frames, they feel a bit too strong, especially in brighter conditions. It’s not a dealbreaker, but something to keep in mind next time.

WHAT I LEARNED

Even with expired film, if you expose it properly, it can still deliver.

I’d shoot it again the same way, at ISO 50, but I’d pay more attention to highlights, especially in strong light.

PORTRAITS

I’m definitely interested in using this film for portraits, but not in a commercial context. It feels more suited for personal or artistic work.

There’s something about the contrast and the unpredictability that works better when there’s no pressure.

I also gave one roll to my friend Mihai, who recently started shooting film with a Smena 8M. He shot a few portraits of me, and I’ll probably include those here as well.

CLOSING

This was just the first roll, and I still have more to go through.

For now, it confirmed what I was hoping for. Expired film isn’t just a gimmick. If anything, it adds something you can’t fully control, and that’s part of the appeal.