Astrum, Svema, Tasma film

[alanrockwood]

Has anyone recently bought any of the films mentioned in the title of this post? If so, is it any good, and how did you go about purchasing it, and was the price good?

Thanks.

 

[removedacct1]

Has anyone recently bought any of the films mentioned in the title of this post? If so, is it any good, and how did you go about purchasing it, and was the price good?

Thanks.

Alan,
Last fall I purchased thirty rolls of film direct from Astrum (excellent service, very inexpensive - I think on average these 36 exposure rolls cost me about $3.25 per roll: 10 rolls each of the 100, 200, and 400 speed Astrum Foto 35mm films. All three are very good, but handling the 400 ASA film is a bit tedious, since its on extremely thin polyester base. I find it a challenge to get it into neg sleeves. On the other hand, it dries very flat and it a please to scan/print from. It seems all the Astrum films are traditional cubic grain films, so if you like those (think Tri-X, etc) then the Astrum Foto films should work for you. The 100 ASA Foto is surprisingly sharp and fine-grained. Mind you it is quite contrasty, so make a note. One thing I don't love about Astrum's product is that they use very cheap plastic bulk load type cassettes. They come apart a bit too easily, IMO, but they are usable. Attached is a sample from the Foto 100 film.

Here is an example of the Foto 200: https://live.staticflickr.com/1820/43839925482_d6314ab4a3_k.jpg
And the Foto 400: https://live.staticflickr.com/1836/43173627325_826c97f1ad_h.jpg

Would I buy the Astrum Foto films again? Absolutely. When I run out, I plan on buying mostly the Foto 200, as its nice to have something in this speed, but I will get some of the Foto 100 as well, because its quite sharp and seems less grainy to me than FP4.

The Svema films are all outdated, since Svema went out of business circa 2000. (Astrum bought the facility and restarted under the Astrum brand) I've used the Tasma NK-2 and its interesting film. However, I bought it from the Film Photography Project store, and they sell 20 frame rolls for something like $8.00, which I think is steep, especially considering the fact that every roll I've shot has light leak contamination from the cassette. Apparently the Tasma film "light pipes" easily and so it requires careful storage/handling.

 

[alanrockwood]

Alan,
Last fall I purchased thirty rolls of film direct from Astrum: 10 rolls each of the 100, 200, and 400 speed Astrum Foto 35mm films. All three are very good, but handling the 400 ASA film is a bit tedious, since its on extremely thin polyester base. I find it a challenge to get it into neg sleeves. On the other hand, it dries very flat and it a please to scan/print from. It seems all the Astrum films are traditional cubic grain films, so if you like those (think Tri-X, etc) then the Astrum Foto films should work for you. The 100 ASA Foto is surprisingly sharp and fine-grained. Mind you it is quite contrasty, so make a note. One thing I don't love about Astrum's product is that they use very cheap plastic bulk load type cassettes. They come apart a bit too easily, IMO, but they are usable. Here is a sample from the Foto 100 film:

The Svema films are all outdated, since Svema went out of business circa 2000. (Astrum bought the facility and restarted under the Astrum brand) I've used the Tasma NK-2 and its interesting film. However, I bought it from the Film Photography Project store, and they sell 20 frame rolls for something like $8.00, which I think is steep, especially considering the fact that every roll I've shot has light leak contamination from the cassette.

Very helpful info. Do you know if they sell 100 ft bulk rolls?

 

[removedacct1]

Very helpful info. Do you know if they sell 100 ft bulk rolls?

They do sell in bulk, but they don't specify how large a roll - they sell by the meter. The Foto 100 for example, is priced at $1.39 USD per meter. See attached price list from last summer.

 

[alanrockwood]

They do sell in bulk, but they don't specify how large a roll - they sell by the meter. The Foto 100 for example, is priced at $1.39 USD per meter. See attached price list from last summer.

Thanks

 

[alanrockwood]

Paul, when you placed your order, was shipping very expensive?

 

[AgX]

Svema stopped production many, many years ago.

 

[John Wiegerink]

They do sell in bulk, but they don't specify how large a roll - they sell by the meter. The Foto 100 for example, is priced at $1.39 USD per meter. See attached price list from last summer.

I notice they have 120 film by the meter also. Hmm, is that just a roll of 120? I know you probably don't know Paul. I'm not so much interested in the 35mm film as I am the 120 and 4x5 since that's mainly what I shoot. Looks like a pretty good film the would work well with pyro developers.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Folks at rangefinder.ru told me it is all repackaging of some technical films from Europe.

 

[AgX]

"Type 120" by the meter most likely is a plain film strip of 61.5mm width. The rest one would have to arrange oneself.
As C-41 film such does not even seem to make sense pricewise.

 

[removedacct1]

Folks at rangefinder.ru told me it is all repackaging of some technical films from Europe.

Incorrect. Astrum runs the old Svema facility and they are manufacturing film, fresh. It’s not “some technical film” which will be obvious to anyone that has actually used it.

 

[removedacct1]

I notice they have 120 film by the meter also. Hmm, is that just a roll of 120? I know you probably don't know Paul. I'm not so much interested in the 35mm film as I am the 120 and 4x5 since that's mainly what I shoot. Looks like a pretty good film the would work well with pyro developers.

John, I have no idea what format the 120 is sold in. I’m sure it’s not spooled, and I doubt it comes with backing paper. I am going to order some 4x5 soon to try out. I'm sure it’s going to be very serviceable film.

 

[removedacct1]

Paul, when you placed your order, was shipping very expensive?

I seem to recall being told the minimum shipping cost was approx $25 usd, and so I ordered 30 rolls so that shipping added a bit less than $1 per roll. I thought that was very reasonable.

 

[Pentode]

I notice they have 120 film by the meter also. Hmm, is that just a roll of 120? I know you probably don't know Paul. I'm not so much interested in the 35mm film as I am the 120 and 4x5 since that's mainly what I shoot. Looks like a pretty good film the would work well with pyro developers.

The price list simply lists “120 Rol Film”[sic]. Does anyone here know which emulsion it is?

 

[AgX]

The price list simply lists “120 Rol Film”[sic]. Does anyone here know which emulsion it is?

They themselves call it "Foto 100".

 

[AgX]

Incorrect. Astrum runs the old Svema facility and they are manufacturing film, fresh.

You seemingly have no idea of the Svema plant.
Thus where is that enigmatic plant Astrum is coating film as you state?

 

[removedacct1]

You seemingly have no idea of the Svema plant.
Thus where is that enigmatic plant Astrum is coating film as you state?

Don't you just love how these things turn into instant arguments in forums?!

All I know is what Wikipedia says: "Astrum is a photographic supplies company located in Ukraine and established in 1995. It operates equipment once used by Svema to produce similar product lines."

If you know otherwise, then perhaps you should offer clarifying information, sans attitude, rather than simply negating what I said?

 

[AgX]

I know the Svema plant being in ruins since long time. With only very rudimentary production having been possible some years ago. And this, to my assessment, excluding film coating.

"It operates equipment once used by Svema to produce similar product lines."
This could even be just a roller-slitter...

 

[macfred]

There was an interesting thread on rangefinderforums a few years ago - two quotes from that one:

https://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2075175&postcount=17
https://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2413599&postcount=54

 

[AgX]

Don't you just love how these things turn into instant arguments in forums?!
If you know otherwise, then perhaps you should offer clarifying information, sans attitude, rather than simply negating what I said?

You corected a member by making a statement on there being a film manufacturer new to us, which is quite a thing.
You did so without presenting evidence. But when I doubt so, I have to prove that you are wrong...

I follow the Svema history since years and yet have not come across a new film production line nor any other hint at such aside that statement by Astrum, but contrary statements from Ukraine.

(To be fair we had cases of alledged coating lines in Western-Europe too, lines that did not exist.)

 

[Pentode]

They themselves call it "Foto 100".

Thanks. This is useful information as it’s very difficult to find bulk film larger than 35mm.

 

[removedacct1]

You made a statement on there being a film manufacturer new to us, which is quite a thing.
You did so without presenting evidence. But when I doubt so, I have to prove that you are wrong...

I follow the Svema history since years and yet have not come across a new film production line nor any other hint at such aside that statement by Astrum, but contrary statements from Ukraine.

Great, so I am wrong. I stand corrected.
So instead of bitching at me about how horribly wrong I was, how about telling us what you DO know about who makes the Astrum films, and what they are. They can't be terribly "expired" since they all seem to have full speed as listed, and not a hint of fogging or age-related defects. They perform exceedingly well in my experience, and are well worth including in my toolkit.

I believe I have answered Alan's questions to his satisfaction, and I stand by what I said about the merits of the Astrum products. The rest of it (where, who, what, etc) makes no difference to me.

 

[eatfrog]

It's Agfa Aviphot. Freshly made in Belgium. You can also buy it under the Silberra Pan brand name. I think maco has some versions of it too still.

 

[AgX]

I would love to stand corrected myself. But it does not look like that.
Why should a firm (re-)establish a production under difficult circumstances including non-consumer films where there are established manufacturers who are already cancelling these due to a declining market.

I know Astrum for many years as supplier, including Tasma films. There are rumours on what they offer under the Svema brand, but these seem in many cases only speculations as far as I can see. In case for the Foto 200 film there is a reliable source stating it to be made by Foma

 

[removedacct1]

It's Agfa Aviphot. Freshly made in Belgium. You can also buy it under the Silberra Pan brand name. I think maco has some versions of it too still.

Somehow I doubt that because I tested the Astrum films I have, shooting through a Hoya R72 filter, and got absolutely NO exposure, even with exposures up to two minutes in daylight. They have no "near Infrared" sensitivity - tested for it myself.