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.