AGFA SCALA!

[WRSchmalfuss]

Again and again, we hear in Germany of the rumors, that in the USA/Canada the opinion exists, that there is no more AGFA SCALA film avaialble. That should be separate completely cleared:
1. The often expressed opinion, that there is no more SCALAS.
2. The reality, that in Germany without any interruptions, both, 35mm and roll films of ORIGINAL AGFA are available.
3. One of the considerable internationally acting distributor for AGFA SCALA, is the firm Maco Photo Products, Hamburg/Germany. www.mahn.net
There, European photographers can order the four ORIGINAL films: APX100; APX400; SCALA 135/5 & 120/5 directly.

Photographers in the USA/Canada can turn to FREESTYLE, or now also to www.didigtaltruth.com.

Both US partners buying regularly and in large quantities directly from MACO in Germany, original AGFA B&W films & AGFA B&W chemistry, e.g. RODINAL

Regards
Wolf

 

[gr82bart]

Buying the stuff is one thing. Where do we get it processed other than at Dr5Chrome (who do a great job BTW) ?

Regards, Art.

 

[highpeak]

Art, did you try Duggal?

 

[colrehogan]

Or Main Photo & Imaging?

 

[Sanjay Sen]

I usually take mine to Duggal in NYC. The last time I was there (quite sometime back!), the salesperson who took my order mentioned that they may stop processing SCALA, so you might want to call and ask, or send them an email. They do a good job, BTW.

 

[Helen B]

Or Main Photo & Imaging?

I send mine to Main. http://mainphoto.com/scala_processing_update.htm
They do a great job.

Best,
Helen

 

[dr5chrome]

Duggal stopped processing the film 2 years ago, as did color-reflections last year. B&H sells the film from old stock master rolls @ $13+ a roll, do the math.

regards

www.scalaprocessing.com
www.dr5.com

I usually take mine to Duggal in NYC. The last time I was there (quite sometime back!), the salesperson who took my order mentioned that they may stop processing SCALA, so you might want to call and ask, or send them an email. They do a good job, BTW.

 

[Marc Akemann]

Thanks for the info, Wolf!

dr5 does an excellent job with Agfa Scala, as well as other b&w films. Which reminds me....I have a couple of exposed rolls of Scala in the refrigerator. Better send it out.

Marc

 

[Sanjay Sen]

Duggal stopped processing the film 2 years ago... <snip>

That is definitely not correct - I had my last roll processed by them in July 2006 - just about a year ago.

 

[Philippe-Georges]

For the colleagues in Belgium/Europe, I still do it, and have done so for years, but mainly for personal use.
It is done in a modified AGFA-GEVAERT DIADIRECT process (home brewed), in the Colenta, and the results are fine. The SCALA process was based on the Diadirect process which was AGFA-GEVAERT's former B&W slide system, this is why...

Philippe

 

[sharpless]

Arkalab

Arkalab in Paris process Scala www.arkalab.com

 

[AgX]

Philippe,

I don’t expect that you give intimate details of your Scala process as your post indicates that you are offering a processing service.

But what makes the Scala film so special? Just looking at those Agfa datasheets it seems that it is based on the Agfapan range, added to it the reports that the original Scala process is `just´ a two-step reversal process with reversing by (controlled?) light exposure and run at higher temperatures.
To me it seems to be based on an emulsion intented to yield higher Dmax due to high absorption by the silver grains. (Others stated that this was due to a very thick emulsion, but it is in the same range of thickness as the obsolete Agfapan 200 S or the APX 400.) And may be that the emulsion itself is a high-gamma one.

I don’t understand why this film could not be successfully processed in a modification of one of those reversal processes around.
The latest of which (employing reversal by chemical fogging) is
Dead Link Removed

 

[Marc Leest]

For the colleagues in Belgium/Europe, I still do it, and have done so for years, but mainly for personal use.
It is done in a modified AGFA-GEVAERT DIADIRECT process (home brewed), in the Colenta, and the results are fine. The SCALA process was based on the Diadirect process which was AGFA-GEVAERT's former B&W slide system, this is why...

Philippe

Phillipe,

Can you elaborate ? I have stil 10 rolls (120) of Scala, I cant get processed.

thx, Marc

 

[Philippe-Georges]

To my humble opinion, the SCALA's advantages are that this film is (was) made especially for the reversal developing by inter-exposure.
I happen to 'trust' a manufacturer when he's marketing a product made for particular purposes, who am I to know better?
So, in this case I trust AGFA for R&D-in a B&W reversal film, I did like the SCALA, a little expensive but worth the money.
The only drawback I had was that I could not reach for the original SCALA chemicals because I was not a AGFA licensed processing lab, but I did not really care. A little pottering on the Diadirect process helped me on the way ("...jeder fur sich und Gott gegen allen...")...

Just by inquisitiveness, tried the APX 100 and -400 in this process, and I found the SCALA to be simply the best, for scanning. Actually, I use B&W reversal mainly for scanning and I 'think' that SCALA was originally made for this but, again, who am I to know better?

With the diminishing of AGFAPHOTO, the SCALA film and -chemicals were out of the market, so I had to find an substitute.
Then I really did tried them all, and the DELTA 100 looked the best TO MEE, for reversal dev. and scanning of course!
The only thing that had to be changed was the time for the first developer, all the rest was OK.
So, I am now using DALTA 100 @ 100 ASA and have no problems (yet)?

Marc, just send me a PM and we shall see...

Good luck,
Philippe

 

[dr5chrome]

..all the ilford films are superior for reversal processing. The dmax produced by D100 can be 4.0+ in a good reversal process [ill refrain from quoting our our own process]. The scala film produces 3.3 in a good reversal process and in the agfa chemistry and machine. ARKA is the only lab left that has a stockpile of the old scala chemistry, thats if you like light reversed positives. Poor chemistry for the scala film will render at best 2.75 dmax, which is too weak to anything with. scala film is best processed by chemical reverse. agfa designed this film to be "operator friendly". they made the film, machine and chemistry to be as goof-proof as possible. A B&W reversal line is more difficult to maintain than you realize. regards dw

www.dr5.com

To my humble opinion, the SCALA's advantages are that this film is (was) made especially for the reversal developing by inter-exposure.
I happen to 'trust' a manufacturer when he's marketing a product made for particular purposes, who am I to know better?
So, in this case I trust AGFA for R&D-in a B&W reversal film, I did like the SCALA, a little expensive but worth the money.
The only drawback I had was that I could not reach for the original SCALA chemicals because I was not a AGFA licensed processing lab, but I did not really care. A little pottering on the Diadirect process helped me on the way ("...jeder fur sich und Gott gegen allen...")...

Just by inquisitiveness, tried the APX 100 and -400 in this process, and I found the SCALA to be simply the best, for scanning. Actually, I use B&W reversal mainly for scanning and I 'think' that SCALA was originally made for this but, again, who am I to know better?

With the diminishing of AGFAPHOTO, the SCALA film and -chemicals were out of the market, so I had to find an substitute.
Then I really did tried them all, and the DELTA 100 looked the best TO MEE, for reversal dev. and scanning of course!
The only thing that had to be changed was the time for the first developer, all the rest was OK.
So, I am now using DALTA 100 @ 100 ASA and have no problems (yet)?

Marc, just send me a PM and we shall see...

Good luck,
Philippe

 

[dr5chrome]

sorry, you have been misinformed. Duggal processes no scala film.

regards

dw

That is definitely not correct - I had my last roll processed by them in July 2006 - just about a year ago.

 

[gr82bart]

That is definitely not correct - I had my last roll processed by them in July 2006 - just about a year ago.

Duggal used to send it to Main in LA, and before that the lab in Florida whose name escapes me, but last October or November 2006, they stopped providing that service altogether. The lab in Florida stopped processing a while ago. Neither does Toronto Image Works - they stopped last September 2006.

Regards, Art.

 

[Sanjay Sen]

sorry, you have been misinformed. Duggal processes no scala film.

regards

dw

I did not say they still process SCALA - I just said that they did not stop processing two years ago because I had it done last year. And the turnaround time was four days - which leads me to believe that they must have done it in-house back then. But yes, they confirmed (via email today) that they do not process it anymore and suggested Main Photo in CA. So between July 2006 and now they stopped processing - I do not know when, and it does not matter now.

Anyway, I have one exposed & unprocessed roll - can I send it to you?


Best wishes,
Sanjay

 

[Sanjay Sen]

Duggal used to send it to Main in LA, and before that the lab in Florida whose name escapes me, but last October or November 2006, they stopped providing that service altogether. The lab in Florida stopped processing a while ago. Neither does Toronto Image Works - they stopped last September 2006.

Regards, Art.

Thanks for the clarification, Art.

 

[AgX]

I just realized that the original Scala chemistry is on offer again at the former Agfa chemistry plant. In kits for working solutions from 2x to 12x 20-25 liters.
I don't know whether that are `old´ batches or if the production of these concentrates has been taken up again.

 

[Philippe-Georges]

..all the ilford films are superior for reversal processing. The dmax produced by D100 can be 4.0+ in a good reversal process [ill refrain from quoting our our own process]. The scala film produces 3.3 in a good reversal process and in the agfa chemistry and machine. ARKA is the only lab left that has a stockpile of the old scala chemistry, thats if you like light reversed positives. Poor chemistry for the scala film will render at best 2.75 dmax, which is too weak to anything with. scala film is best processed by chemical reverse. agfa designed this film to be "operator friendly". they made the film, machine and chemistry to be as goof-proof as possible. A B&W reversal line is more difficult to maintain than you realize. regards dw

www.dr5.com

Dear dr5,

Yes, you are right about the property of the B&W (SCALA) process.
Yes, the Scala was (is) better in chemical reverse.
Yes, poor chemicals and processing is looking for problems.
Yes, a B&W reversal line , just like the colour one, is difficult to maintain.
Yes, I admit not to be as experienced as you are because I do not B&W reverse process daily, I do it just occasionally according to my professional needs.

Please do not forget that, as a non AGFA licensed processing lab, I had no access to the quinine AGFA-SCALA chemicals and I was not interested in buying the to expensive (DONKA) AGFA machine, wich was a condition to be licensed...

The use and modifications of the Diadirect process were done with the help of a Leverkusen based, and very nice, AGFA engineer and he was pleased with the results I send to him at the time...

But, please, do go on working the analogue way, and do better every day, I know it is a hard fight to survive!
We do need good pro labs like yourse.

Good luck,

Philippe

P.S. Sorry you had to wait that long for a reaction. I just spend two weeks somewhere in the middle of France, no internet, no email, no phone, almost no T.V., two power failures and we were very happy!