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Shooting Expired Agfa Portrait 160

Agfa Portrait 160 color negative film was discontinued long before I picked up a film camera, but I found 3 rolls in a lot I purchased. The Film didn’t have an expiration date on it but it was at least 20 years old expired because the rest of the lot was from around 1999-2001. After having shot two of the rolls I will long for the hard to find film due to its amazing color rendition, fine grain (even after being expired over 20 years), and the overall look of the film. I didn’t feel any need to have to try to color correct any of the photos, nor was their any blemishes that some expired films can have. 


Shooting expired film is an exciting experience and daunting task, the color shifts are unpredictable, the slowly eroding emulsion mixed with the unknown conditions the film was truly kept in forces you to just guess what ISO the film should be exposed for. This Agfa I was told was cold stored and the rule of thumb with expired films is for every decade to overexpose by 1 stop. Color negative does take well to being overexposed and shooting at mid-day(Yes I shoot at mid day, all the time, I enjoy it) I shot the film at 25-35 iso. Having shot the film once before it was where I believe the film takes light the best. 

Agfa I believe no longer makes color film and I now just scour the web looking for unused rolls of the film, but if you do get your hands on the film I highly suggest shooting it outdoors, in bright light and colorful circumstances, its a really fun film and it produces some of my favorite colors.


Brand of film: Agfa 

Portrait professional 160

Exposed at 25-35 ISO

20 years at least

Would highly recommend 


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