Aviphot Chrome 200 slide film test results

[destroya]

First off, let me say that this is a test, only a test. I was not doing this to show off my horrible photo skills, just to see what the film was capable of. I just took a bunch of photos of places close by my house that I visit often. this way i have a better mental idea of what the photo should look like so i can compare it to what is on the film. I wanted to get in and out so I could get home to develop the film last night. I now realize i have no pictures of people. sorry about that. But lets get a few things out of the way first

1) the film was shot on a Nikon F4 using 3 lenses. Nikon 17-35, Nikon 50mm 1.8d, and a Nikon 70-300 VRii G zoom.
2) To keep it simple I left the camera on P mode (so I could use the G lens) and used matrix metering.
3) Film was shot at 200 iso setting
4) film was developed in Tetenal E-6 chems, 3 bath plus stab
5) Scanned on a minolta dimage scan elite 5400 using vuescan
6) vuescan. first was a raw DNG scan 64bit RGBI with no corrections. second vuescan pass was done to run infrared cleaning. no grain reduction. color balance was set to neutral. scan saved as uncompressed TIFF
7) TIFF was opened in photoshop only to resize to a JPG that could be uploaded to the site.

There were no corrections of any kind used except for cleaning. no sharpening, color adjustments, white balance adjustments and so on. I was hoping to show as best I could just what is on the film.

A few observations....

1) this film is thin compared to all other slide films I've used in 35mm
2) after drying and cutting it had a bad corkscrew curl to it.
3) this is a very grainy film. reminds me a lot of fuji superia 200. this is not a pro film but more like an consumer film.
3) no yellow cast to my eyes

I am open to questions and suggestions. if its possible I will take suggestions about other things to shoot.


john

 

[BMbikerider]

It looks quite like the Rollie Digibase 200 ISO where the grain is concerned. You don't think it could be the same film under a different alias? Digibase has a acetate base and cannot be torn, it is thin but doesn't curl as you described.

 

[AgX]

-) this film should have a PET base of 100µm

-) I assume design of the emulsion to be from the early 90's



(And thank you for the blossoms, we still had snow the last days...)

 

[BMbikerider]

I have just had a look at the last image and yes it is made by AGFA as is Digibase. One and the same.

 

[destroya]

I have just had a look at the last image and yes it is made by AGFA as is Digibase. One and the same.

I added the picture after your first post as an FYI

 

[BMbikerider]

Buying in bulk

Can I ask where you got it from? I assume not from UK but there have been a few asking for it so I could prompt one of the usual outlets to see if they can get some. How much was it if you don't mind me asking?

 

[destroya]

Can I ask where you got it from? I assume not from UK but there have been a few asking for it so I could prompt one of the usual outlets to see if they can get some. How much was it if you don't mind me asking?

got it from here. Paid about $68 US including shipping. took a week to get here

http://wittner-cinetec.com/katalog/04_filmm/kleinbild.php#3004

there is a thread about the film here which has more info. This post is what prompted me to give the film a chance.

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Also, here is the PDF about the film

http://wittner-cinetec.com/katalog/04_filmm/download/en_3004.pdf

 

[LJSLATER]

destroya,

Thank you for biting the bullet and trying this out for us! The grain looks somewhat consistent to the Digibase CR200 I've used, although it's a bit finer in your examples. Unfortunately, I don't have a proper scanner so we can't do a direct comparison.

I might buy one of these reels myself. My number one staple for years was Velvia 100, then I switched to the two versions of Ektachrome just before they were discontinued. Now that I running low on my remaining Kodak film, I'm trying to decide what I want to do next.

Thank you again for sharing.

 

[wblynch]

I am open to questions and suggestions. if its possible I will take suggestions about other things to shoot.
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john

Thanks John, The pictures look great. Did you project them?

I will probably order 100ft of this.

You efforts and contributions are appreciated.

 

[AgX]

One answer is to be found here (only for the DIY inclined):

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

 

[Diapositivo]

Many thanks for the contribution, John.

Besides, this film has a market - at the moment - which entirely leaves the consumer demand aside. Even if all other slide film had to go out of production - or become so expensive as to be a luxury for the happy few - this film should remain in production "forever" or at least until its base market remains analogue.

 

[railwayman3]

Thanks for the sample pics. The film looks quite "usable", no particular color casts, maybe a bit grainy for a 200ASA film but difficult to judge without seeing an original transparency...could be something in scanning. I wonder if, in its original form as an aerial film, it would be used in a much larger format than 35mm, so that any grain would not be a significant issue?

 

[AgX]

The base market for this film is changing rapidly.

 

[GregW]

I can't get your link to wrk AgX? Nice to see this is also available in non perf for 828 Bantam and 126 folks etc…

 

[AgX]

Link seems to work now. It is your very own thread... on type 126.

 

[kuparikettu]

Well, in addition to photographers, there'll soon be demand from a whole different group of people. After all, the main reason why Wittner does have this film in its catalog is that they are just about to offer it for motion picture use. Some of you might have noticed that in Wittner's catalog there are already mentions (however no prices yet) of Aviphot in super-8 and 16mm. There is real hope that it'll be offered in a lower price than the other color films available at the moment. Because it's reversal, it's something many small format users are most interested in -- after all, then there is no need to first digitize the film before being able to project it.

However, because of all this I wouldn't expect too much from Wittner concerning different film sizes. After all, they are first and foremost motion picture film company. But if AgX is correct about the changing trends concerning aerial film usage, maybe Agfa doesn't mind other companies having interest in distributing this film in different sizes -- provided of course that they order large enough quantity of this film?

 

[AgX]

That Maco so far did not offer any of their colour films as sheet film might already be an indicator on the market stuation.
Alternatively you might cut it down yourself from a 9.5" spool.

 

[mablo]

Thanks for the Wittner link. Finally I found a reliable shop selling Orwo 54 bulk rolls within EC.

 

[donkee]

A little late to this but thank you for the info. I really have been wanting to grab bulk rolls of color reversal like the old days.

 

[donkee]

I was getting ready to pull the trigger on a couple cans but had to contact Dwaynes about some other processing I need and asked them about this film. They will not process it due to the polyester base.

Anyone know of a place in the Midwest that will process this stuff?

Not quite ready to start processing E-6 at home. Once the new darkroom is finished, maybe next year, I can.

 

[ME Super]

If you're near St. Louis Missouri or Springfield Illinois, inquire at Creve Coeur Camera. They had no problem with the CR-200 (though it was very yellow). I'm contemplating ordering some of the 135-36 Wittner Chrome 200D from them as other people are reporting that theirs doesn't suffer from the horrible yellows like the Rollei CR-200 does.

 

[AgX]

I was getting ready to pull the trigger on a couple cans but had to contact Dwaynes about some other processing I need and asked them about this film. They will not process it due to the polyester base.

I got no idea what is so special with their processors (or makes people at Dwaynes think so). There is a long history on automated processing of Polyester based films.

Well, the only thing I can think of are missing friction clutches in the drive-system.

 

[ME Super]

I know Better Imaging / Netprintz in Champaign, IL does E-6 processing and also does mail order. You might inquire there too. Their website is Dead Link Removed. Their phone number is (217) 352-0213 according to google+. Email the owner at lissaraybon@yahoo.com.

Just trying to help out with labs in the midwest that process E-6 and may be able to handle the E-6 film on polyester base. I know from experience that yes the Creve Coeur Camera lab can handle it. Not sure about the Better Imaging lab in Champaign but it doesn't hurt to ask.

 

[MartinP]

If one could find a lab using dip-and-dunk machines, instead of continuous-transport systems, then they would have no problem running the polyester-based film.

 

[brianmquinn]

It could be the mounting process. In the past Kodak said about their film with a polyester base.

Automated Slide Mounting
Due to the strength of its ESTAR Base, EIR Film may
require special handling to avoid the possibility of crinkling
during the cutting operation. If your photofinisher has not
had experience with this film, you may want to request hand
mounting.