Film Ferrania - Developments from October 2023 onward

[Scott Micciche]

So Dave Bias wouldn't actually be in a position to know what has happened to the company since he left over two years ago....which is long before the change of ownership.

He moved on, yes.

 

[polaromar]

There are places that show Orto in stock, but I assume that is old stock, and not newly replenished. I just shot my first roll of it last week but haven't had time to do any more than that.

Very certain that is the case, I saw one or two places where Orto is out of stock but wasn't replenished.

Tempted to order a couple rolls from Freestyle. If it comes in the new, P33-like packaging as they have on their site, then it's new stock.

 

[Agulliver]

P30 and Orto are in stock at Analogue Wonderland (UK) while P33 is not. I believe this may be new stock but I wouldn't bet my house on it.

 

[Klaus_H]

Filmferrania has reformulated P30. Filmferrania News
Is this film a "real" Ferrania film, or is it something else just packed in boxes by Ferrania?

 

[runswithsizzers]

Filmferrania has reformulated P30. Filmferrania News
Is this film a "real" Ferrania film, or is it something else just packed in boxes by Ferrania?

It is a confusing announcement, due to contradictory statements. First, Ferrania say, "you may find two versions of P30 that differ only in their packaging" -- then they go on to describe two different emulsions, the "original P30 formula" and "MkII" which is "the evolution of the original formula."

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Not sure why they would change it. It was fine the way it was.

 

[runswithsizzers]

Not sure why they would change it. It was fine the way it was.

Ferrania tell you why. With MkII you get:
- smoother tonal transitions
- richer shadow detail
- greater flexibility in both exposure and development
- wider dynamic range
- total creative control

... who would not want all that?

Of course, if you try to define most of these improvements in precise language, all you get is a handful of fog. With the possible exception of "wider dynamic range," I don't think any of these claims can be measured for objective comparison between two films.

What exactly is "richer shadow detail"?
Who does not already have the flexibility to expose their film and develop it any way you want to?
What is it about P30 MkII that gives me "total creative control" in ways that other films do not?

"Smoother tonal transitions" is interesting. I am trying to think this one through...
If you expose to stay on the flat part of the curve (assuming the curve has a flat part), then is it accurate to say the smoothness of the tonal transitions is a function of the slope of the curve? In other words, is it fair to say lower contrast films (less slope) have smoother tonal transitions than higher contrast films (more slope)? Different films do have different roll-off characteristics in toe and shoulder areas, where more gradual curves would give smoother tonal transitions than more abrupt curves, right?

 

[Scott Micciche]

Not sure why they would change it. It was fine the way it was.

It is probably a true pancro 80 ASA film now

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

If that were the only change, then I'm good with that!

 

[Milpool]

If the emulsion is actually different (whether in-house or rebranded resale), funnily enough these improvements make it a less compelling product. After all these Ferrania films are examples of the sort of thing where shortcomings are viewed by buyers as favourable/unique attributes. If P30 becomes more “normal” it competes with other products at a ridiculously high price.

 

[thinkbrown]

I just shot my first roll of p30 last week which based on the packaging is the MkII version. Definitely looks like the photos I've seen online and despite shooting at 50 ISO the shadows are a bit thin, so it seems to behave the way I was led to expect.

 

[albireo]

Not sure why they would change it. It was fine the way it was.

In many 'orthodox' film photography circles and social media/facebook groups (including in Ferrania's country of origin) this film was harshly criticised, vilified even, by the traditionalist fringe of film photography (the hardcore darkroom printers) because it was, apparently, impossible to print when exposed/developed by the book (far too contrasty).

I've never used it (though I've used their P33 and Orto films, fine products) but I've read reports that the 'old' P30 had to be exposed at 12 EI or so (e.g. see this moribund forum here - use google translate) and developed for a very short time to be printable on grade II paper. Result, a lot of people took to Ferrania's page to let the company know P30 was essentially worthless.

So one idea is that the company became aware of this feedback and decided to go back to the drawing board.

 

[Milpool]

The less-than-pan sensitization, purported ultra fine grain etc. are things I thought proponents liked about P30. It’s an old fashioned emulsion, relatively speaking. There’s no way it’s going to get a major speed increase without corresponding hits to the properties people liked.