Film from Italy -- Ferrania starting production 2014

[cmacd123]

As someone else mentioned, the guys working at FF have made this film before -My point is, if they are committing to a small "production" coating by the end of the year, I am guessing they are on Ron's schedule.
Additionally, since they are now gathering up machinery at this point, I would venture to guess they have completed successful tests. No doubt, and as with any major project, they are not as far along as they would like to be but I am guessing they have some confidence in what they will be able to do.

I would expect that if they are committing to make the film available by April, that some test batches have already come off the machine (but very small ones, on the order of big enough to run through technical tests) - as far as Ron's concern about fade tests and the like, if they have not had to make too many changes, they may be satisfied that 3M/Imation's previous tests are still valid.

 

[cmacd123]

for giggles, someone in France is listing 4 rolls of the old Scotch Chrome 800-3200P on ebay. http://www.ebay.ca/itm/261598614301 so it really did exist.

 

[Nzoomed]

I also find it interesting that the Kodak "professional" film division have liked the film Ferrania FB page.
They obviously are giving them their support and must be keeping a close eye on them.

 

[Simonh82]

If you check out the timeline on their kickstarter description page Dead Link Removed they say they are testing at the end of this year and the first production run will be Jan to Feb.

The money from the kickstarter goes 75% for purchase and removal of equipment and 25% for packing and distribution of film.

They say they already have everything they need for the first production run, which is encouraging.

 

[ME Super]

Blue sky thinking when Kodak stopped all commercials who were using E6 for some/any shots will have executed their plans to switch to digital or C41 cause dependency on a single supplier is commercial suicide. Few will have gone to C41. Digital backs, desk top printers, staff training, etc.

Dumping in house E6 processing machines.

People running E6 labs typing up CVs.

So Kodak leaving big hit on Fuji sales.

The same might be said for color film as a whole, what with Kodak and Fuji paring back their color negative film offerings as well, yet Film Ferrania is trying to make a go of that too by suggesting bringing back Solaris 100 and 400 at some point. Let's face it, we have several of manufacturers, besides Kodak and Fuji, making B&W film (Ilford, Adox, Foma come to mind). But only 2 manufacturers of color film worldwide - Kodak and Fuji. Ilford and Adox seem to be sized correctly for the market, Fuji and Kodak, not so much. If Ferrania can be right-sized for the color market, then it can be shown that it can be done, and others may follow suit, depending on the size of the market.

 

[Prof_Pixel]

I think 'modern' photographers have been spoiled by having a wide variety of color films available.

When I got started in the US in the mid '50s, the Kodak color choices were Kodachrome, Ektachrome (in daylight and artificial light versions) and Kodacolor. Daylight speeds were 10 for Kodachrome and 32 for Ektachrome and Kodacolor. Ansco offered Anscochrome.

It looks like the future may also offer limited possibilities but color photography will survive

See http://www.photomemorabilia.co.uk/index.html for excellent historical information on films.

 

[ericdan]

Wow, 10 speed is really unthinkable now. I hope they'll at least leave us with 100 ISO.

 

[Xmas]

Hi Dan

Shot weddings with Kodachrome 25 to1982 can't recall how it was done.

Noel

 

[Prof_Pixel]

Wow, 10 speed is really unthinkable now. I hope they'll at least leave us with 100 ISO.

Kodachrome II (ASA 25) came out in 1961 and was a real improvement.


BTW, see also http://www.bu.edu/prc/GODOWSKY/timeline.htm for historical information

 

[AgX]

So... Why can't YOU [Photo Engineer] work for FF? Is it because you would have to move to Italy? Or because you're locked to Kodak and can't legally do it?

Please keep in mind that there are capable people around in Europe. Just think of how many had been laid off the last 10 years.
And there were more Research People at Ferrania than now are working at Film Ferrania.

 

[StoneNYC]

Please keep in mind that there are capable people around in Europe. Just think of how many had been laid off the last 10 years.
And there were more Research People at Ferrania than now are working at Film Ferrania.

But it's PE, he knows more than them all!

 

[StoneNYC]

The same might be said for color film as a whole, what with Kodak and Fuji paring back their color negative film offerings as well, yet Film Ferrania is trying to make a go of that too by suggesting bringing back Solaris 100 and 400 at some point. Let's face it, we have several of manufacturers, besides Kodak and Fuji, making B&W film (Ilford, Adox, Foma come to mind). But only 2 manufacturers of color film worldwide - Kodak and Fuji. Ilford and Adox seem to be sized correctly for the market, Fuji and Kodak, not so much. If Ferrania can be right-sized for the color market, then it can be shown that it can be done, and others may follow suit, depending on the size of the market.

You forget Rollie makes color

 

[Photo Engineer]

I am not the person for them. There are many better qualified people than me for this kind of job.

PE

 

[StoneNYC]

I am not the person for them. There are many better qualified people than me for this kind of job.

PE

You're very humble sir, very humble indeed.

 

[Roger Cole]

You forget Rollie makes color

I don't think they do. I think they are re-packaging (and in the bizarre case of "red bird" re-rolling backwards) something else in every case.

 

[Nzoomed]

I don't think they do. I think they are re-packaging (and in the bizarre case of "red bird" re-rolling backwards) something else in every case.

Thats right, its just repackaged agfa.

 

[RattyMouse]

I am not the person for them. There are many better qualified people than me for this kind of job.

PE

I hope you are getting well soon PE!

 

[ericdan]

Was ferrania ever made anywhere else? I have a roll of Ferrania Solaros FG Plus 100
And the packaging says: A made in EU, B made in USA.
The expiry date says 12.2013B

 

[Ricardo Miranda]

Ferrania films were packaged in many places, sometimes under its own name, sometimes re-badged. Master rolls were sent and then spolled locally. Ferrania films were always coated in Italy.
There was a factory in China that received master rolls and then they did all the conversion to 35mm. I can't remember now what was the film's name. Maybe Sunny? Does anyone remember it? Boxes were blue. One of my ebay supplier used to have them.
I am almost sure there was some re-packaging facility in the US. But don't quote me on that one.

 

[AgX]

Thats right, its just repackaged agfa.

Converted and rebranded. Not just repackaged.

 

[Nzoomed]

Converted and rebranded. Not just repackaged.

Well thats what i meant, they slit it down to the desired size and package it in what ever format, eg, 120, 35mm and super8.

 

[StoneNYC]

I don't think they do. I think they are re-packaging (and in the bizarre case of "red bird" re-rolling backwards) something else in every case.

I was talking about this digibase stuff.


http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/849707-REG

I forgot about the redbird, which is repackaged and sold by Lomography, so I'm pretty sure Rollie actually makes it and sells it to others to be repackaged and rebranded, or that was my impression, it kind of gets messy over in Europe LOL

 

[ME Super]

The digibase is repackaged and rebranded film made by Agfa-Gevaert in Belgium. To the best of my knowledge, Maco, the owner of the Rollei film brand, does not have their own coating facilities, so all their film is made (coated) by others.

 

[rbultman]

If that is true, Ferrania could become a supplier to Maco...

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[Roger Cole]

I was talking about this digibase stuff.


http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/849707-REG

I forgot about the redbird, which is repackaged and sold by Lomography, so I'm pretty sure Rollie actually makes it and sells it to others to be repackaged and rebranded, or that was my impression, it kind of gets messy over in Europe LOL

It's also Agfa/Witnerchrome.