Leading Holiday Item on Amazon in the Camera Category: Film

Specifically, Fuji Instax Mini 8 film. From the Amazon year end press release, to quote:

Holiday Best Sellers (Amazon.com only):
...
Camera: Fujifilm INSTAX Mini Instant Film Twin Pack - White; GoPro HERO4 SILVER; AmazonBasics Head Strap Camera Mount for GoPro

Thanks again to the eagle eyes at Petapixel for finding this nugget. These cameras are inexpensive and easier to find at retail than the 8x10 large format cameras. As reported earlier, the Impossible Project is producing instant film for large format cameras.

The Instax film is about 6x4.5cm in image size and costs around a dollar a frame. The colours appear realistic and the camera is easy to use. The exposure is adjusted by a ring on the front of the camera to a position that the exposure system on the camera lights up with a small LED to indicate where to set the exposure ring. The shutter is fixed at 1/60th of a second. There are 10 exposures in a pack and the camera can be had for under $100. More upscale models are available, like the Mini 90 Neo Classic, for slightly more. The Neo Classic models feature settings more advanced photographers would prefer, such as Bulb exposure, double exposure, macro mode and more. Also, unlike the Mini 8 Models, the Mini 90 has a tripod mount.

Check out the Wide Instax film, at 10.6x8.4cm (just over 4x3.25in), this is a larger format film for the Instax wide format cameras, Models 300, 210, 200. The Model 300 camera is oriented more for intermediate to advanced photographers and is well under $200.

An Affordable 4x5 Development Tank

Timothy Gilbert of Stearman Press has devised a simple and effective system for developing 4x5 large format sheets. If you have been looking at large format, there is certainly an abundance of 4x5 cameras and gear available at retail and auction alike. Their experiments using 3D printing has produced a model that is thought to work effectively with only 400ml of solution. The loading system is straightforward, just two film holders, similar to what is used to load the camera. From these prototypes, a Kickstarter campaign to fund, develop and produce the tank is underway and now fully funded.

As with any Kickstarter campaign, there is risk that the project might fail. Reading through the proposal, it seems that the project has a grasp on what needs to be done, just not the details to make it a success yet. There are some tricky plastic moldings that have to be done to complete the tank. The initial price per tank is US$47, with an estimated US$90 per tank after the initial run.

Man Sees Snow, Loads Camera with Film

Before going to bed, Pavel Kosenko looks out the window and sees snow falling. In a flurry of activity, he loads his camera with HP5+ film and goes out on a photo shoot of Moscow. Talk about dedication to the art and to silver film. Photography is just something one does, even on a moments notice. Thanks for the photos Pavel Kosenko.

Wet Plate Portraiture, The Auckland Project

Our friends in photography, Petapixel, reported on The Auckland Project. A collaborative project between Paul Alsop, an alternative process photographer, and Luke White, a commercial photographer, both in New Zealand. Checkout some of the collodion wet plates from the sittings.

Amongst the obstacles to be overcome are, the effective ISO 0.5 of collodial plates, setting up 12,000W of lighting, getting the space (provided by Luke White) to set up a large format camera and temporary darkroom, and the elusory nature of the collodion process.

The story at Petapixel offers a slight variation on the original blog posting.

Posting for Ansel Adams' Former Position

The US National Park Service is posting a position for a large format, B&W film photographer to document the parks and landscapes of the country. This is similar to the task the Ansel Adams himself carried out over 60 years ago. The applicant must be a US citizen. The job entails travel and about 5 to 10 nights overnight travel a month. For more information, see theposting online.

Update from the LRF - December, 2015

The continuing saga of Film Ferrania continues, with Making the Rewards - Part 3. After many months, the Big Chiller and Little Chiller are installed, new fencing around the factory perimeter is installed and a power transformer with line conditioner is also installed. These are all the remaining touches to the next step of inspection by the Italian government. The project did not reveal when it might start production of transparency film yet, but one can only suspect that that will be next.

Many a Kickstarter project has been felled by fewer problems, so there is still risk. While the initial Kickstarter rewards were first released in January, no film has been produced yet. If the founders stay strong, one can expect production to start as soon as possible. Hopefully, Film Ferrania will put Italy back on the map for producing silver gelatin film.

Previous news on the Film Ferrania project:

• October, 2015: LRF Engines Restarted!
• July, 2015: News form the LRF
• April, 2015: Film Ferrania Delayed By Harsh Winter
• March, 2015: Film Ferrania Starts Toward Making Film
• February, 2015: Film Ferrania in the News

B&H Flash and Lens Sale

Until December 5th, 2015, B&H has a Friday Flash and Lens sale. Checkout the deep discounts on lenses, like the Lens Baby Composer Pro, or the Rokinon 8mm Ultra Wide Angle fish-eye lens. The latter will cast a circular image on 35mm film. Be sure to check compatibility of the lens with your camera body.

The sale is over Friday, so take advantage while you can!

Quentin Tarantino Roadshow on 70mm Film

The famed director has produced a film, The Hateful Eight, entirely on actual silver gelatin film. Filmed on 65mm celluloid and to be shown in 70mm, the movie uses the 2.76:1 format of a long disused Ultra-Panavision lens retrofitted to modern cameras. The width is twice as wide as the usual movie and the widest format for motion pictures. The colours and grain on this ultra-wide format are uniquely those of film. The roadshow will be featured in only a few hundred movie houses in the States starting Christmas Day. Another long lost tradition, the roadshow itself is a swank event with extra footage, an intermission and well dressed movie goers - a real social event around film.

Check out the Fandango Featurette (YouTube) on this Tarantino Western:
 

Log Books for the Film Photographer

A Kickstarter campaign for the Galaxy Handbook, a log book for film photographers, is underway. This log book is inspired by a find of the 1910 expedition to Antartica, the Terra Nova, a British expedition named after its supply ship, led by Robert Falcon Scott. In 2013, a photographer's log book from the expedition was found and restored by the Antarctic Heritage Trust in New Zealand. Every Galaxy Handbook purchased through Kickstarter will include a $5 donation to the group. The book will feature photos from the doomed expedition. It has many features for a wide variety of film photographers, including spaces for view camera photographers, darkroom work, and professionals and amateurs alike. Check it out.

If your film camera is new enough, there is an automatic means to log exposure information. Some late model film cameras from Nikon, Canon and Minolta record EXIF data. The Meta 35 project provides a way to program and download EXIF data and more from these cameras. It is possible to tag scanned images with the data or use the data later to log exposures.

Impossible 8x10 Colour Instant Film

The Impossible Project has done it again. Now, a colour version of its 8x10 instant film is available for purchase. On sale for only $18 a frame in multi-pack purchase. If you are one to hold off from large format photography due to the difficulty obtaining colour prints, now is the chance to dive in. Compared to Kodak Portra 8x10 sheets at almost $16 a sheet or Fujichrome Provia 100F at nearly $25 a sheet, it is fairly competitive (comparisons at B&H Photo as of November 12, 2015).

Impossible claims: "Tones are accurate, contrast is rich and vivid, and the finish is clear and sharp." The film uses a second generation chemistry and comes with a glossy surface. The film is rated at ISO 640. An 8x10 Polaroid processor will be required in addition to an 8x10 back. Impossible redirects to CatLabs darkroom resources for these parts, it may be possible to find them on eBay or other sites.

Addendum

According to an interview with one of the Impossible Project founders, the reason that the project is producing 8x10 format instant film instead of, say, 4x5 film, is that Polaroid dismantled and stored the equipment for 8x10 project, then apparently forgot about it. This meant that the 8x10 equipment was saved, while equipment for other large formats was lost. More coming on this topic.

Profile - Adox Fotowerke of Berlin, Germany

Adox is a film manufacturer that caters to film enthusiasts and artists. They plan to be around for the years to come with a complete line of B&W films, papers and chemistry, and even an experimental colour film called Implosion, designed for the look of 70s film. Lets take a brief look at where the company came from and what the it has to offer.
Adox is a brand that has been around since 1860, founded by Dr. C.  Schleussner. By 1956, they introduced a colour film and soon after a colour reversal film. Adox cameras were manufactured from the 1920s to the 1960s. Adox produced a full line of papers, films and cameras in Germany.
Eventually, the company was sold to Agfa, then production ceased when Agfa closed down its consumer film line. In 2005, the brand was revived and the Agfa MCP, MCC, APX (Silvermax) films and the entire Agfa B&W chemical line were revived.
Today, a small micro-factory brings us Adox films, papers and chemistry. There is a research lab used to formulate emulsions, sensitization dyes and prepare coatings. A sample preparation area has machines for preparing film samples by hand.
A production area has an Agfa precipitation machine that can prepare any emulsion in 35 liter batches, a coater, a film sheeter for sheet film, a master roll slitter for roll film, 35mm and 120 spooling machines and a 35mm film perforating machine [YouTube] that is accurate to cinema film specifications. The room is absent any visible light in production, but is instead lit with IR light. Workers wear goggles to ``see'' in the room.
It is worthwhile to list their B&W films as an example of the breadth Adox has. The Adox SilverMax film is a high silver content film with a clear base that offers both negative and positive (slide) options for processing. This film is available in 35mm and Super8 format.
Adox CHS 100 Type II is a classic emulsion film with two emulsions in one layer, giving a wide exposure latitude.
Adox claims that CMS 20 II developed in ADOTECH II developer has an up to 800 lp/mm of resolution at ISO 20(!). With a good enough lens, Adox claims the equivalent of 500 megapixels resolution from 35mm film! Handheld shots are possible in daylight with a sufficiently open lens, preferably an f/1.4 lens stopped down one or two stops. The developer is expensive though, at US$26 for enough to develop 6 rolls. Fans of the former Kodak TechPan may want to try this film.
See this 90MP scan of CMS 20 II depicting a Porsche [Adox], processed with Scala reversal process, that demonstrates what the film is capable of.
Similarly, the company offers traditional B&W papers and inkjet papers, a full line of chemistry including developers, stop baths, fixer and toners. Of special note, is a B&W paper that the company is working on, Polywarmtone. This is a resurrection of the Forte Polywarmtone paper, with warm blacks and a potential for lith processing. This paper will be formulated to print identically to the original Polywarmtone paper, but have greater choice of gradations.
With this depth and breadth in product line, they will be around for a while.
ADOX - Lets make film!

LRF Engines Restarted!

Film Ferrania is pleased to announce that its engines are restarted! The Big Chiller and Little Chiller are being prepared for permanent installation. This is the final step and the elimination of a huge roadblock in the progress of making film. Both Chillers are involved in the climate control of various rooms in the LRF building and for cooling the film after coating. The film is coated with chemistry in a gelatin suspension (called the emulsion). Like supermarket gelatin, the emulsion must cool and set before the film is wound onto a spool for cutting.

The next major hurdle to overcome is accreditation of building's services by the Italian government. More surprises are expected, so a there is no schedule for delivery of Kickstarter rewards yet. The Domino effect that has delayed production so far is being righted, so stay tuned for more developments.

News from the Front

Tim Rudman issued his latest Lith printing newsletter, with news of the latest happenings in the anolog photography market. Being that film photography mostly requires someone to make the materials we use, this is always interesting. First up, was the acquisition of Ilford Photo by Pmeberstone. Tim notes that the announcement may have caused some shortages in the market as people stocked up, but that Ilford will continue to produce film and paper for osme time to come.

Next up is news from Adox, who have purchased a medium-scale coating machine to produce sufficient papers and films for their market on their own. Note that Ilford Switzerland, which sold the machinery, is a separate entity from Ilford Photo/Harman in England. Tim speculates that Adox will be able to produce a paper similar to Forte's Polywarmtone variable contrast paper. The plant will also be able to produce film, so coating their own CHS 100 film (review) may be a possibility.

Mr. Rudman is now back on schedule in publishing his photo book 'Iceland. An Uneasy Calm'. His book should start shipping mid-October for the first edition and should be released for all editions in time for Christmas. Due to the slippage in release, Tim has printed extra books, which are available for order here.

If you like Tim's photo books, he recommends his fellow photographer, Craig Alan Huber, who has a Kickstarter campaign for his latest book, 'The Spirit Within Saint Junipero'.

Visit Tim Rudman on on Facebook for more info and tips.

Voigtlander Rangefinder Cameras Discontinued

It has been widely reported that the Voigtlander flim cameras are being discontinued due to declining sales. Rangefinder Forum reports the loss. These cameras were known for their wide angle capabilities and for covering four of the major lens mounting systems, including Leica screw, Leica M, Nikon Rangefinder, and Zeiss Contax Rangefinder. The cameras, sold under license by Cosina have a storied history. Founded by bJohann Christoph Voigtländer in 1756. company was sold to Rollei, then a company called Ringfoto that in turn licensed the Voigtlander name to Cosina.

The Physics of Multi-coated Filters

A part of nearly every photographer's kit are lens filters. These simple, but effective items transform the light entering the lens for effects that are difficult to obtain otherwise. A UV or haze filter can penetrate haze and distance to bring in a clear image. A polarizer can darken blue sky and eliminate reflections from glass. However, cheaper filters can introduce a haze of their own, from stray light reflecting off the surface of the filter itself. This is one reason that many people recommend against stacking filters on the lens.

So, how can this problem of stray light be avoided? Simple, by applying special coatings to the filter. If one coating is added, the manufacturer usually refers to the filter as coated. If more than one coating is applied to the filter, the term multi-coated is often used. There is no way to easily tell if more than two layers are used, though better performance can be had with more coatings.

To understand why, Hoya FIlter, a maker of glass filters, explains the physics of coatings. While Hoya advertizes their solid glass filters, most filters have glass on the outer layers and so work similarly. The issue with light reflecting on the outer (front) surface of the filter is the main cause of issues. Ken Rockwell has a simple method to identify coated filters, simply hold a pen a few millimeters above the filter (not touching it). If you see the pen reflected twice in the surface, the filter is not coated. That is light that is not making it to the lens and a source of ghosting (usually not noticable, but it reduces the efficacy of the lens).

Ilford Bought Out by Pemberstone

Yesterday, Harman Technologies, which manufactures Ilford photographic materials, was sold to Pemberstone, a UK based investment company. Ilford was last bought out by the employees of the company, who have since maintained the profitable production of black and white photographic materials and even expanded the selection of materials available. One example of a new product is the positive image paper introduced recently. Pemberstone is impressed by the adoption of analogue photography by young people, and would like to reach out to this sector. A brief press release is available here.

Blog Desiderata, Cookies and the EU

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CineStill 800T Test Run

A quick note on the first roll of CineStill 800T run through my camera. The results showed well for interior shots, while some frames exposed outdoors at dusk had a blue cast that permeated the highlights. Scanning negative film means that eliminating the blue cast from most of the frame is fairly easy, but the highlights in some areas had a blueish tinge that is tougher to remove. The feared halos due to the lack of an anti-halation layer were not much of an issue. Another roll that may have more challenges in this respect is in processing. Unfortunately, the lack of facilities to get C-41 film processed is becoming apparent. Even the local photo store does not have a working lab anymore. Keep the local lab supplied, if you can!

News from the LRF

Film Ferrania has released more news. Sadly, a domino effect of cascading events is slowing them down. First, asbestos was found in the LRF building where the film will be manufactured. This led to the shutdown of the building until remediation could be completed. However, in that time, the supply of steam to the building was cut off, necessitating the installation of new boilers at the building. No steam, no power, so it was necessary. By this time, though, the emulsions that were prepared earlier had expired and the weather had changed.

The film needs to cool and solidify the emulsion layer before it can be wound into a roll for later cutting to size. Due to the warmer weather, this now requires chilling equipment to be installed that was not planned until September. The first run was planned for cooler temperatures that did not require this equipment.

Despite these setbacks, Ferrania continues to plan to release its Kickstarter products, just on a different timeline.

Tim Rudman's Photo Book on Iceland

Tim Rudman has announced the availability of his long-awaited book, 'Iceland. An Uneasy Calm', for pre-order. Printed by Opas Books, the book will have a collectors' edition in a black silk binding available in a limited run by September. The collectors' edition will include an handmade duo-toned silver-gelatin print.

Tim describes the Icelandic landscape as "a wonderful country of folklore and religion, of myth and magic and a land of awesome subterranean forces and stunning scenery." Tim is a leader and center of information for lith printing on silver-gelatin paper.

He also gives an excellent tip for an online photography magazine, the Looking Glass. Looking Glass covers all things in still film - large format, ambrotype, 35mm, you get it. While the zine does require Flash, it does feature artwork from notable film photographers.

The newsletter also mentions Ilford new Direct Positive printing paper. The paper is geared towards pinhole camera work, where a positive image is desired without an internegative or film negative. The paper can be used in any large format camera or LOMO cameras by cutting to size.

It is well worth signing up for Tim Rudman's newsletter.

CineStill Film

Yet another film makes an appearance on the market! CineStill offers three films based on movie film stock that can be processed using standard still film processes, hence the name CineStill. There are two colour films, an ISO 50 daylight film appropriately named 50Daylight, and a high speed ISO 800 tungsten balanced film called 800Tungsten. The latter is an exciting development, since it makes indoor photography in incandescent, flourescent and artificial light possible. A fast f/1.4 lens (any will do :) allows handheld shots with this film indoors. The film can be pushed to ISO 3200 and can be processed in either standard C-41 process or ECN-2 movie film process.
The color film is made by removing the remjet backing from movie film stock, then packaging the film in 35mm canisters for use in still film cameras. Because the antihalation layer (the remjet layer) has been removed, the film does show halation affects, or halos around bright objects. The film does offer cinematic color and the ability to work in daylight (50Daylight, or the 800T with an 85B filter) and low light situations (800T). This blogger is ordering a pack of this film to try out!
Also available from CineStill, is a B&W cinema film, based on Eastman Double-X 5222 film stock, called bwXX. It can be processed in a variety of developers and can be used indoors with tungsten light or outdoors in daylight.

Why waste water? Use the Ilford Archival Wash Method

After processing your film or printing paper, it is necessary to remove the chemicals from the photographic material. Mostly the fixer will remain, specifically the thiosulphate. While removing this is imperative for the longevity of the material, a small amount must remain for archival qualities. The Ilford method extracts the most thiosulfate for the least water, leaving just enough to ensure long life. Check out the paper at the Ilford site (PDF) describing the complete Ilford Archival Wash Method for most silver-based films and papers.

A brief description of the Ilford method for film developed in a spiral tank (including most roll films) taken from the previously mentioned document reads as follows:
• After fixing, [drain and -ed] fill the spiral tank with water at the same temperature, +/- 5ºC (9ºF), as the processing solutions. Invert the tank 5 times.
• Drain the water away and refill. Invert the tank 10 times.
• Once more, drain the water. Invert the tank twenty times and drain the water away.
• Finally rinse with a few drops of ILFORD ILFOTOL Wetting Agent (1:200) added to the rinse water.

This method works because the concentration of fixer in the film emulsion decreases rapidly with each change of water. Your blogger has used this method successfully for years. Checkout the data sheet from Ilford for complete details including washing RC and Fibre-Based prints.

R3 Monobath Developer

The New55 project, the purveyors of fine 4x5 instant film, have a convenient product for use with all B&W negative films. A one step solution to film processing, the R3 Monobath Developer. This developer simply needs to be warmed to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, then the film is placed in the developer for 6 minutes. No tank required, though the first 2 minutes of processing must be carried out in complete darkness.

A 32 ounce bottle of the potion costs US$20 for those in the Continental US. At this time, the developer is not available outside this region. At 8 ounces a roll, this one stop solution costs only $5 per use and requires no special preparation other than warming in a warm water bath. Push and pull effects can be achieved with the developer. Increase the working temperature to 90 degrees for 1.5 stops push.

A quick review of the MSDS sheet for R3 Monobath shows that it is a solution of Kodak HC-110 developer combined with Rapid Fixer. HC-110 is reknowned for its long shelf life, so New55's claim of "Keeps for a long time" is probably true. Helpful if you only process a roll or two now and then. Convenience does sell, and it certainly sounds more convenient than mixing up the chemistry from powders!

If you have never done your own darkroom work, but would like to try processing film with this developer, simply fill a dish pan with warm water at about 85 degrees (measure with an inexpensive thermometer, guessing is difficult to get right). Wear nitrile or latex gloves when handling the developer. Place the developing olution into a smaller container (preferably a film developing tank, but not necessary), then measure the temperature until the solution is up to 80 degrees. Use enough water so that when the film tank is set in the pan, it is 3/4s submerged. The water should not be near the top of the film tank, as it may contaminate the developer solution. Add more warm water if the water in the pan gets cool, but keep the level below the top of the film tank. When ready, lights out, pull the film off the spool and carefully dunk into the film tank. A film spool helps to keep the film from touching itself, where the developer will not get a chance to work. Use an audio timer on your phone for timing, but do not use the phone for the first 2 minutes; the light from the screen will fog the film.

One Hour Labs Fading Fast

This Bloomberg article documents the drastic loss of One Hour labs across the USA. From a height of over 3,900 labs to now only 190 such labs. The article is worth reading, as it includes graphs of the decline of One Hour labs and the pattern of camera sales over the last 60+ years. The One Hour lab sprang into existence once the minilab machines became popular. Instead of dropping off film and having it sent to a central lab for processing, customers could drop off film directly at a lab that turns around the job while they wait. In shopping malls or larger stores, customers could do their shopping then pick up the developed film when they leave.

With the decline of consumer use of film, the One Hour lab no longer has the influx of film to support the business. Pro labs were hit earlier in the cycle as pros moved away from film. Those that are still around, might be able to survive on the fine art photography or other businesses that pro labs may specialize in. Some of the pro labs may specialize in high end scanning, a service that consumer labs are unwilling to provide - consumers only ever got a scan suitable for a 4x6 print. Some minilabs could do higher resolution scans, but the function took so long most operators would not bother. Today, there may still be shops such as pharmacies that will send away film to a central lab. Turn around times may be a week or two, though.

Alternatives to colour print film, such as B&W or E6 slides, can be processed just as easily at pro labs as print film, giving a wider choice of materials. B&W is simple enough to process at home, negating a need for an outside lab in the first place. Shops likeB&H Photo, The Photo Formulary and others carry materials to process B&W film. There are even kits for E6 slide film and C41 colour print film to process colour film at home.

While it is sad to see a convenient and quick service for processing film go out of business, the film enthusiast of today still has plenty of choice in pro labs or do-it-yourself processing to make a go of it. There may even be a shop nearby that will do the job if one is willing to wait a week or two.

Tim Rudman, Spring Lith News

Tim Rudman, a well-known promoter and practitioner of lith printing techniques, has a number of projects in the pipeline for this summer. First, is his self-printed photo book of Iceland, done in conjunction with American photographic artist, Bill Schwab. Tim setup his own printing company to meet his exacting standards and requirements, Opas Books. The book is 'Iceland, an Uneasy Calm' and will be printed in hardcover and bound by cloth in Verona, Italy. The plan is for an initial run of 1,000 books with a limited run of deluxe copies housed in a silk or cloth clamshell case. The book will contain at least a 100 plates.

Tim also mentions that Foma has shipped to him several samples of updated printing material with updated technical notes for lith printers. He will be reporting on his results with these papers later in the summer.

Wolfgang Moersch, a powerhouse of darkroom chemistry, has also sent Tim a sample of a new product 'Lith G' for the enhancement and control of image colour. Tests of this product are also forthcoming.

Film Ferrania Delayed by Harsh Winter

The Film Ferrania project recently released a blognote with a new schedule to take into account a litany of setbacks that are slowing progress to the first batch of film. The project hopes to start film production around this month, with rewards delivered starting the end of May. See the revised schedule here.

Review of the Sigma 24mm f/1.4 Art lens

Roger Cicala of LensRentals compared and contrasted the new Sigma 24mm Art series lens with Nikon and Canon 24mm lenses along with a comparison to the Rokinon 24mm. While the Sigma may be as good as, if not marginally better than the Nikon or Canon lenses on the optical test bench, Roger concludes that "the old rule that the best 24mm f/1.4 is a 35mm f/1.4 and a few steps backwards is often true." The article has detailed MTF charts for all the lenses mentioned and pinhole test images of the Sigma.

The conclusion from all the testing is that the Sigma, Nikon and Canon lenses are all pretty sharp at the center, but focus and constrast fall off quickly towards the edges. The exception was the Rokinon, which had a fairly flat response to the edges, but was not as sharp and contrasty at the center. Roger says that in the "outer 1/4 of the image it [the Rokinon] is as good as the Sigma, or perhaps a bit better." Depending on price and what you want, the Sigma is a strong cnotender against the Nikon and Canon lenses, and the Rokinon may be more consistent overall and just as good off-center as the others.

If you are looking for newer designed lenses for your kit, Roger declares the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 lens to be the best 35mm wide. Being full-frame lenses, these lenses should work with compatible film cameras. To keep costs down, keep in mind eBay and the B&H Used Department.

The Passing of Rollei

While the world of film suppliers has been booming, with Film Ferrania, Bergger and more introducing new films for our photographing pleasure, the camera supply side has not been so good. The maker of the iconic Rollei twin-lens reflex camera has filed for bankruptcy. The receiver is auctioning off the factory and everything it contains. Photographs of the factory contents are available on the auctioneer's site.

Having seen a local pro lab being auctioned off years ago, it is a sad thing to see. Pros used up film and equipment in the pursuit of their vocation and a large industry built up around this. The decline of film use by pros means this industry must shrink. One can only hope it stabilises for those who produce art, life long images and memories with film cameras.

Link from Petapixel.

Bergger Film for Large Format

Bergger film is releasing a new large format film, Bergger Pancro 400. Available in 4x5, 5x7 and 8x10 sheets, they are introducing this film on the Bergger Facebook page. Founded in 1995, the company offers papers, chemistry and uncoated cotton rag paper for alternative processes. A selection of paper developers are available, including a lith developer. Also available are toners and a hypo test solution. Well worthwhile to visit for those in Asia, Europe and Mexico, there are dealers in those areas. While this blogger has never used their products, having a supplier with such depth for silver and alternate processes is fantastic.

"How film is made" Kodak 1958 factory documentary (part 1 of 2)

This is an overview of how Kodak made film for many years.  Later processes used similar equipment, just with more automation and greater sophistication.  The giant iron wheel was used to make film base up to the end of Kodak's production.  Note that Kodak tested film throughout its production, which can be seen in this video.

Film Ferrania Starts Towards Making the Rewards

The Film Ferrania team is making progress to produce the rewards, that is actual film. The first step is to clean the precision film coater, Little Boy. The coater has been idle for nearly a decade, so is in need of a thorough cleaning. A special soap is required to clean the machine, as no trace of residue is acceptable. As little as 1 part per million (ppm) of lead or mercury contaminiation is enough to ruin the emulsion. It is cold in the building, so work is slow. Good luck to the team!

The Impossible Project Introduces Round Pictures

There was certainly lots of activity for silver-process film in the month of February. This blog is slowly catching up as life lets your author take a breath. The Impossible Project keeps Polaroid-compatible instant film alive for the SX-70 and 600 cameras.

Their latest product is the square, circled, as they put it. The film introduces instant film with a round frame. With a nod to pinhole photography and the vignetting of early portraiture, you can frame your photos with a modern classic. These films are available in both colour and B&W, with a choice of white frame or black frame.

The Impossible Project produces instant film for use with Polaroid cameras. They also make an easy to use instant film lab for your phone. Get the look of silver prints instantly, from your phone. The Project also sells Polaroid cameras for use with their film.

Keep in mind that a SX-70 cameras are possibly near you at a yard sale for a few bucks. An introduction to a Polaroid camera need not be expensive. The battery is contained in the film pack for the SX-70, so as long as there is no film in the camera, it is probably ready to fit a new pack of film and go. The likelihood of battery leakage is nil so long as the pack was removed.

Kodak Finalizes Agreement to Supply Film to Hollywood Studios

The story for film in Hollywood has just secured an important step for its future. Hollywood studios 20th Century Fox, Walt Disney Co., Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., NBC Universal Inc., Paramount Pictures Corp. and Sony Pictures have agreed to continue purchasing film from Kodak. This will help keep film and film products alive during the transition to digital by the major studios. Film is not only an important part of archiving motion pictures, but also a creative medium for movie makers, even now.

Today, highly acclaimed films, such as the following 2015 Oscar® nominees, Boyhood, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Imitation Game, Interstellar, Foxcatcher, Leviathan, Inherent Vice and The Judge, are made on Kodak motion picture film. It looks like film has a secure future in Hollywood at this time.

FILM Ferrania in the News

The FILM Ferrania project has completed two of its Kickstarter milestones this January, that is launching the Founders Wall and mailing the Postcard from Italy reward. Soon, production of analog film will start. In the meantime, the project plans to build a most comprehensive list of E6 processing labs around the world. That way, you will have a convenient means to process and mount your chromes from the ScotchChrome film you buy from the Ferrania project.

Kodak at Sundance Film Festival

Kodak maintains its commitment to independent filmmakers at the Slamdance and Sundance Film Festivals, which ran the week of January 23rd and 21st, respectively, in Park City, Utah. Kodak handed out grants for two awards presented at the festivals. For the first time, the inaugural KODAK Director's Award, valued at $10,000, was handed out on January 29th at the Slamdance awards ceremony. The other was an award of 5,000 feet of film for the Women In Film/The Incentives Office Grant at Sundance on January 25th.

Many films at the Festivals were done on Kodak film. Kodak praises indie filmmakers as those "who bring fresh ideas and a new perspective to the screen." Using film as one option, of course. See more in the article,Kodak Continues its Longstanding Support of Independent Filmmakers.

Kodak Reorganizing

After making a profit $19 million in the third quarter of 2014, Kodak (NYSE: KODK) is moving to restructure itself for greater efficiency and agility. There will be 5 divisions, the most important of which for this blog is the Consumer and Film division. Steven Overman, President, Consumer and Film, and Senior Vice President, Kodak, who is also Kodak's Chief Marketing Officer, will lead this division. This restructuring is effective January 1st, 2015.

It looks like Kodak might be serious about keeping film products in its portfolio. With films like Ektar and classics like Tri-X, there may be enough of a market to keep Kodak interested and producing film.

The Nikon F100 Enthusiasts

As mentioned previously, the Nikon F100 is a relatively inexpensive 35mm SLR with many features and a suite of Nikon lenses to go with it. The Nikon F100 Enthusiast Website celebrates this camera. Check out the video on how Nikon lenses are made.

Find this pocket guide to F100 settings on the Nikonians website. There are 22 settings that can be adjusted on this camera.

Meanwhile, the FotoGeeks.com has a catalogue of Nikon F100 repair parts. From foam pads to backs to electronic parts, these guys list the parts to maintain your camera. Note that this shop also carries parts for other makes as well, such as Canon, Fuji, Olympus and so on - check out their complete list here.
Disclaimer: this blogger has no experience ordering from this company.

Start the Year at the Top

Why not? JapanCameraHunter's opinion piece on the best Leica for film shooting, followed by impassioned flames and passions, sets the pace for one of the most iconic, if not desirable cameras available. While one does not need an M6 to shoot great photos, it is at least wistful to read about such cameras.

As an example, the Nikon F100 is available on eBay for under $200 and is a very servicable camera that Ken Rockwell calls "the world's second-best 35mm SLR camera."

Happy shooting, and may you resolve to use film more this year!