Now that I’ve got some images, I moved on to the next roll. This time, I developed my very expired ORWO NP20 in Ilfosol 3 for SIX minutes at 1:9 dilution.
Oddly, the results seem nearly identical. The base fog looks to have about the same density, and there’s little change to contrast, grain, or image clarity.
I live on the edge of the Cambridgeshire Fenlands and constantly photograph the landscape. One of my favourite images that sums up this odd and complicated landscape was made with an old Polaroid 600 box camera.
Love the IR trichromes! Have you seen what Jason and a few others is doing with his Nishika N8000 camera? Thought it’s pretty cool also (but not the same quality, of course): youtube.com/watch?v=vREz-Q…
What incredible timing. I just came into two rolls of this film. I don’t know how it was stored, unfortunately. But now I’m much more emboldened to shoot it.
The exposure tests appear to show that the EI 50 I chose (the box speed of this film is 80ASA) is a decent choice for this film. It can still be shot at EI 100 or the box speed with good results and more contrast but adding light doesn’t seem to look as good (while there are more details, changing the contrast of this film in post will add grain thus unless the “washed-out” look is desired, this is probably not the way to go).
Development times still need work as the base fog is still significant and I wonder if I could reduce the grain meaningfully.
Once I finish my tests, I’ll post a review and development times and also consider selling some rolls on filmbase.etsy.com
But I am pleasantly surprised by this thirty-year-expired film‘s wide dynamic range. There are easily seven or eight stops of DR in this photo, which NP20 appears to render.
With the exposure and development times I used, this film appears to have a medium contrast. And this contrast level can’t be easily altered without introducing more grain.
ORWO NP 20 is an aging black and white film for novelty half-frame cameras that expired back in 1992.
(Coincidentally, this is the same year Lomography was formed; these numbers are also used in their brand-new emulsion: Lomochrome Color’92 — analog.cafe/r/lomochrome-c…).
I bought three bricks of this film earlier this year in an attempt to figure out how to use it with my Welta Penti 0 camera (analog.cafe/r/welta-penti-…) which uses specialized film canisters that hold short strips for 24 half-frame exposures.
A few burned rolls in, I’m finally starting to get some promising results. They’re still quite grainy and the base is rather foggy but it feels like I’m on the right track and I’d like to share some of the successful takes so far.
Exposed at EI 50 and developed in Ilfosol 3 for eight minutes at 1:9 dilution.
Update. It appears that CineStill never sued CatLABS, according to this PetaPixel article and their quoted statements (with receipts) in it: petapixel.com/2023/10/11/f…
The article clarified that CineStill sent a cease and desist letter that’s “neither legally binding nor a lawsuit.” A copy of this letter can be found here: blogger.googleusercontent.…
I was upset to read CatLABS’ blog post, but I am now even more upset to see the evidence that colours their piece as deliberately misleading and unfairly damaging.
I expect CatLABS to respond or correct their statement.
TIL: CineStill is suing film photography businesses for the misuse of their newly-minted trademark, “800T.”
While the film community is generally tight and friendly, lawsuits around business entities aren’t unheard of. Some years ago, Polaroid threatened to sue Instax for the square format (which they settled under undisclosed conditions) — and I am sure there’s more. I think it’s fair to understand that photography, aside from being an art form, is often a livelihood for many, the threat against which can cause a lot of trouble to those involved.
Because CineStill’s lawyers demanded anonymity about this case, this action has been under wraps since May and we are yet to hear their (public) side of the story. CatLABS, however, paid a lawyer who helped them navigate the case and bring it to the public view on their blog: catlabsblog.blogspot.com/2… — which has also given an opportunity to another seller to come forward with their experience: reddit.com/r/AnalogCommuni…
According to CatLABS, this was done to curb the competition from Reflex Labs’ product, which is essentially the same product as CineStill’s 800T (a pre-processed Kodak 500T emulsion, more on that here: analog.cafe/r/cinestill-50…)
Hi Dmitri, this is my photograph to participate. I’m not sure if it’s my favourite, though, or if I do have a favourite one, but I digress… what I like about this picture is the almost abstract quality of the dark shape of the fountain with Eros on top against the buildings and the sky. Early morning, Piccadilly Circus, Central London — it also happens to be one of the tourist magnets in this large and beautiful city. I took this photograph with my SX-70 Land Camera (sonar AF).
Keep up the wonderful work you do at Analog.Cafe, Dmitri!
Dmitri Oct 16, ‘23, edited on Mar 7, ‘24
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