ADOX SCALA BW reversal kit review

[Henning Serger]

Of course there is. Like in 99% of youtube "review" videos we see. If the youtuber wants to get money from companies, she/he needs to show things in positive light, otherwise companies stop the co-operation. You don't need to be married, even only money-relation is enough to smile and keep mouth shut.

You have to differentiate here especially in terms of the photo industry:
The smaller film photography companies simply don't have the funds to pay anyone for any review articles and videos. And most of them generally don't do that anyway (even if they would have the funds for it) because it is not their marketing policy.
It is a bit different in digital imaging and some (bigger) youtube influencers. But here the influence also is rarely a direct one, and more an indirect one by other means.
But as said above in my posting: If you have only a small(er) youtube channel, that will always be a losing deal for you with loosing money, as you put much more work (=money, opportunity costs) into it as you may get back.

Best regards,
Henning

 

[Helge]

A disclosure of sorts, she is married to the Adox CEO, so there might be a little bias, no? Not saying there is or there isn't, just saying...

Oh, that explains a few curious things and small oddities I noticed about her.
Not a value judgement though, she is undoubtedly a good thing for film.

 

[radiant]

The smaller film photography companies simply don't have the funds to pay anyone for any review articles and videos. And most of them generally don't do that anyway (even if they would have the funds for it) because it is not their marketing policy.

Sure. I would guess they are worried about their reputation towards manufacturers if they bash their product ..

I'm guessing also that most of the vloggers are just getting stuff for free. They benefit from getting the actual products and making hot videos about products that aren't available (and get attention). Very small amount of vloggers are actually getting paid with money (read: advertisements).

 

[Henning Serger]

Sure. I would guess they are worried about their reputation towards manufacturers if they bash their product ..

No, that is not the reason (at least not in film photography). It is more about getting the widest range / coverage at the lowest costs. Introducing beginners to your brand. And that is were instagram currently has the advantage.

I'm guessing also that most of the vloggers are just getting stuff for free.

No, not in general (and especially not in film photography as a general rule). It depends very much on the industrial sector, the specific product and the importance of your channel (number of followers).
And what you as a vlogger are doing: Introduction to a product, just advertizing or a really detailed product review.
Example:
You have a small(er) film photography channel and you are doing detailed film reviews. Lets assume you get 10 films for free from a supplier. Then you would have to do the test work for several days (it takes so much time if you want a really proper, well-done review), and then you have to do the work to edit your 10-15 film on youtube. The creation of such a youtube video needs also quite a lot of work. It cannot be done in an hour.
If you look at all the work and the opportunity costs you have for these days (in that time you cannot go to your normal job earning money) you immediately see that you are loosing lots of money. Some films given for free cannot compensate that at all! It doesn't change the situation. From an economic point of view such detailed reviews are a loosing deal for you.

Different example:
I know that some of the new Chinese lens manufacturers are quite active in influencer marketing: As their brand names are quite unknown compared to the established brands they know they have to make the potential customer base more aware of them. They send out lenses to popular vloggers / influencers and say them "costs of sending back may be too high, you can keep the lens" .
Therefore I am a bit cautious concerning some published "reviews" of such lenses .

But back to the ADOX SCALA kit:
My test results:
- wonderful quality with the ADOX SCALA films
- very easy handling
- a huge step forward concerning terms of being environmentally and user/health friendly
- low costs.
For me as a BW transparency lover and user of the original Agfa Scala process a dream has come true.

Best regards,
Henning

 

[grat]

Looking at the docs for the Scala kit and the CHS-II 100 sheet film, it looks like the two are compatible. Since CHS-II is available in medium format sheets, and I have a mini Speed Graphic, it looks like an ideal way to experiment with B&W reversal.

Does anyone know the initial developing time for doing reversal with CHS-II 100? I see a note on Freestyle's site that suggests 24 minutes for CMS-II 20, but that's a very different film, I suspect.

 

[baachitraka]

I like all the videos made by her. Though I am not much into reversal stuff but the video on ILFord MGRC V paper is hard to ignore.

Lot of work goes into making that video, there she casually measured the densities, filtering and comparison with a FB paper and also showed how it responded to the toners.

Result: I may be getting that paper.

Perhaps a video on projectors (new, old, affordable, medium format) could be nice.

 

[Sal Santamaura]

...Does anyone know the initial developing time for doing reversal with CHS-II 100? I see a note on Freestyle's site that suggests 24 minutes for CMS-II 20, but that's a very different film, I suspect.

Team ADOX, I too am interested in times (and temperature) for CHS 100 II.

These days, I don't see much value making 8x10 color transparencies, since displaying them in backlit frames would lead to rapid fading. On the other hand, a black and white, polyester-based CHS 100 II transparency displayed that way would likely have a very, very long life expectancy. Based on the kit's stated capacity, it could develop two four-sheet batches in a Jobo Expert Drum. However, the film plus kit make for an expensive experiment absent some initial guidance. Thanks in advance for any insight you can offer, both with respect to times/temperature and D-max / scale of CHS 100 II in this kit.

 

[Raghu Kuvempunagar]

Looking at the docs for the Scala kit and the CHS-II 100 sheet film, it looks like the two are compatible. Since CHS-II is available in medium format sheets, and I have a mini Speed Graphic, it looks like an ideal way to experiment with B&W reversal.

Does anyone know the initial developing time for doing reversal with CHS-II 100? I see a note on Freestyle's site that suggests 24 minutes for CMS-II 20, but that's a very different film, I suspect.

@grat @Sal Santamaura:
Somebody reported their times and results for CHS 100 ii with Scala kit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/134289370064300/permalink/1988008261359059/

 

[grat]

Thank you!

 

[Raghu Kuvempunagar]

Found an interesting video by Karin Majoka where she talks about a BW slide film workshop offered by ADOX that she attended and shows many examples of the slides she made with Scala 50 film.

 

[flavio81]

A disclosure of sorts, she is married to the Adox CEO, so there might be a little bias, no? Not saying there is or there isn't, just saying...

How great is to find that ADOX is led by people that are passionate about photography.

Imagine if the CEO and/or his wife had nothing to do at all with photography, and did it only and strictly for the monetary gain.

 

[ADOX Fotoimpex]

What's the shelf life of the unopened kit from the manufacture date?

It greatly depends on the storage conditions. In the fridge we have had no problems up to one year of storage and we then terminated the tests. If the bleach is not stored in a cool and dark place it can deteriorate faster. The Developer is less critical.

 

[mshchem]

Browing the Adox.de site I've stumbled across this:

The best things in life are analog | ADOX SCALA® REVERSAL KIT

www.adox.de

"The bleach must be stored in a cool (below 8°C) and dark place (fridge)."

You was referring to this?
Why there's no mention of this prescriprtion on the leaflet inside the kit?
This prescription regards the concentrate bleach or the diluite one?

These are very good questions!!

Is it working solutions or concentrates???

 

[koraks]

This prescription regards the concentrate bleach or the diluited one?

From the very page you linked to:

It's specified very explicitly.

This one was pretty much along the lines of "where did I put my glasses?" "They're on your head!"

 

[koraks]

Well, applying common sense and a little logical reasoning IMO clears things up pretty well.

Since the comment about cool and dark storage is made in the direct context (immediately following) packaging description and does not explicitly mention that it applies to a diluted working solution, it can safely be assumed to apply to the concentrate as sold to the customer. As such, it logically also applies to the diluted form since its keeping properties are inherently worse than those of the concentrate, and the storage conditions will be more critical.

Also note that shelf life remarks by a manufacturer are inherently uncertain due to the complexity of chemical deterioration. A host of environmental conditions play a role, which can influence keeping properties considerably.

Since there is any mention of cool & dark storage to begin with, I don't see how it would be sensibly interpreted in any different way than applying to the bleach solution in any of its forms regardless of dilution and whether it's been opened or not. Evidently under those conditions any deterioration will proceed at the slowest pace.

 

[koraks]

Do you think so?

Again, apply common sense.

But sure, wait for a response from Adox, I can understand that.