Back in June 2018, the Ferrania Folks hoped to be in continuous production by Fall

[Agulliver]

It looks like they're back in the factory and producing P30 again. I just ordered 4 rolls.

 

[cmacd123]

just when everything has been quiet: a new video turns up on on a new page
https://www.filmferrania.com/kickstarter

seems the good news is that work on 120 size P30 is progressing.
bad news is colour is pushed slightly more into the future.
also not great news (but not too surprising) is that COVID has pushed back the total in house manufacture of 35mm film
hopeful news is that "more sizes" of B&W are Coming, as well as more speeds. Hopefully this will be niche filling

and has been rumored, the full amount of Kickstarter pledges will be converted into store credits, as the new products roll out.

as the old saying goes, it aint over till it is over.

 

[Nzoomed]

just when everything has been quiet: a new video turns up on on a new page
https://www.filmferrania.com/kickstarter

seems the good news is that work on 120 size P30 is progressing.
bad news is colour is pushed slightly more into the future.
also not great news (but not too surprising) is that COVID has pushed back the total in house manufacture of 35mm film
hopeful news is that "more sizes" of B&W are Coming, as well as more speeds. Hopefully this will be niche filling

and has been rumored, the full amount of Kickstarter pledges will be converted into store credits, as the new products roll out.

as the old saying goes, it aint over till it is over.

Im just happy COVID has not killed any of their team, some of those chemists (particularly the older guy making the sensitizers) are crucial to remain around long enough to pass their skills and knowledge on to the next generation.
120 being produced is a big deal, and also converting all their films now in-house means more profit, since they are not paying the likes of Wittner-Cinetec or another third party to convert the film and take a cut out of it.
I dont think too many people will be worried that 35mm P30 is not in huge supply anyway, as many shooters who wanted 120 were likely settling with 135, so that should hopefully free up some of the supplies of 135 for other shooters.

The good news is at least the factory is making film and selling it in the middle of a pandemic (looks like Italy has largely got it under control now) and they are saying they will be turning to colour next year so there is a good chance we will see some colour film in the next 12-24 months if things go to plan.
Im happy to wait, and our kickstarter credit wont expire.
I will hold it for colour, but may grab a roll or two of P30 to give it a shot.

 

[Agulliver]

I've started one of the four rolls I bought last month, but here in England the weather has turned grey/rainy and I prefer to shoot P30 in the sun.

It is great news that they're back even in limited production. Batches of film should reach the market regularly now until such a time that they can get 135 production entirely in house. Then there will be an increase in production capacity.....and we can hope possibly a small reduction in price. 120 is going to be a game changer for me. I currently use either Fomapan 100 or Ilford FP4+ as a low/medium speed 120 film. With P30 having practically undetectable grain in 135, in 120 it's going to look like nothing else on earth. Depending on price I am going to be buying quite a bit of P30 in 120, though I'll hang onto the Foma for lo-fi box cameras. I've been imagining what I might be able to do with P30 in a good medium format camera ever since the alpha product.

New speeds? A couple of years ago Film Ferrania hinted at being able to produce other old B&W Ferrania films at 160 and 320ASA, which would be nice especially if they're related to P30. New formats....I'm holding out for 127 but I would assume they're more likely to be thinking of sheets at this stage.

A big "thank you" to the Film Ferrania staff, and I too am grateful that it appears none of them has been directly affected by the virus.

 

[railwayman3]

All very good news.
As a Kickstarter supporter, I tried to log in, as Ferrania requested, to confirm my current contact details, but all that I could do was to "sign up" for an account as a prospective customer of the US shop?
As I'm in the UK, has anyone any idea how I can do this ?

 

[cmacd123]

All very good news.
As a Kickstarter supporter, I tried to log in, as Ferrania requested, to confirm my current contact details, but all that I could do was to "sign up" for an account as a prospective customer of the US shop?
As I'm in the UK, has anyone any idea how I can do this ?

My guess is that they want to get the customer function of their Us/Canada website to also act as their main customer database. When I signed in it only had a record of my previous Orders. It is unclear if they will also use that site for Europe e-commerce, although it is built on "shopify" which is a local company here, which is aiming on taking over online retail backends for small and medium size companies.

 

[cmacd123]

this chart shows that the old line did have some interesting films. I believe that the P33 was the same film I started out using as a kid sold as "Dynapan"

 

[foc]

My guess is that they want to get the customer function of their Us/Canada website to also act as their main customer database. When I signed in it only had a record of my previous Orders. It is unclear if they will also use that site for Europe e-commerce, although it is built on "shopify" which is a local company here, which is aiming on taking over online retail backends for small and medium size companies.

With a Shopify site, they should be able to have dual or multi-location order fulfilment no problem.

 

[Agulliver]

this chart shows that the old line did have some interesting films. I believe that the P33 was the same film I started out using as a kid sold as "Dynapan"

A while back there was a hint that they could do P33 and P36 in the future.

 

[wlodekmj]

My guess is that they want to get the customer function of their Us/Canada website to also act as their main customer database. When I signed in it only had a record of my previous Orders. It is unclear if they will also use that site for Europe e-commerce, although it is built on "shopify" which is a local company here, which is aiming on taking over online retail backends for small and medium size companies.

That's exactly right - I too am in the UK and asked them about this - they replied that for now they only have the US/Canada online shop so they are registering Kickstarter supporters there, to have a list for the future.

 

[pbromaghin]

I just completed the registration. Planning to wait until P30 comes out in 120. Maybe. Index finger getting itchy, though.

 

[Agulliver]

Got my 4 rolls via Fotoimpex a few weeks ago and shot the first over the last couple of weeks during periods of good weather and will be processing it today. I must say Fotoimpex were able to sell me as much as I wanted when Analogue Wonderland here in the UK had run out. That's not a criticism of AW who are excellent, just a pointer to an alternative seller who also do a great service including posting internationally.

I am too hoping that 120 is available by the end of the year, but I don't know what the timeline is for this.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

For whatever reason, all of the sudden getting P30 is much less of a hassle, even here in Poland. Not cheap at about $13 / roll, possibly why it is awaiting to be purchased?

 

[Sal Santamaura]

...Not cheap at about $13 / roll...

Like ACROS II?

 

[Deleted member 88956]

Like ACROS II?

Well, I'm not sure Ferrania deserves that much credit, time will tell. Nor do I know much about Acros II.

 

[Agulliver]

Film Ferrania are in regular production again after all the problems of 2019 and after shutting down for COVID-19. There will be regular supplies of P30, though still not in the quantities they eventually intend.

When it is in stock at Analogue Wonderland their price is £8 which seems quite fair really. 8.72 Euros at MacoDirect in Germany. Actually I think that's where I got mine from, not Fotoimpex.

 

[wyofilm]

I struggle with P30, but I am willingly to keep trying to make it work because they keep working so hard. When it comes out in 120, I will be buying it.

Did Ferrania ever produce sheet film?

 

[Agulliver]

So far it's just 135 36 exposure cassettes. From what they say, 120 will be next with sheet film also on the agenda.

What troubles are you having with it? I can't wait for 120, it's going to be fantastic in medium format.

 

[cmacd123]

Did Ferrania ever produce sheet film?

the old ferrania did, before the 3M takeover. 3M limited them to consumer films and specialty items for different parts of 3M to sell. (microfilm, X-ray film....)

 

[wyofilm]

[QUOTE="
What troubles are you having with it? I can't wait for 120, it's going to be fantastic in medium format.[/QUOTE]

A caveat is that I have only shot a few rolls. It seems to me that as shadows get darker in a scene they off a cliff into inky depths of despair! Ok, a bit exaggerated. Midtones to highlights behave well, but shadows are heavily compressed. I have never seen an exposure curve for P30, but I wonder if the inflection near the toe is sharp, but near the shoulder it is more gradual. However, like I said I haven't shot many rolls.

Developer is DD-X, which I do not think is one of their recommended developers.

 

[wyofilm]

the old ferrania did, before the 3M takeover. 3M limited them to consumer films and specialty items for different parts of 3M to sell. (microfilm, X-ray film....)

Thanks, I was looking at your chart above with other b&w films offered in the past. None of the formats listed sheet film. It makes sense that they offered specialty films in sheet.

 

[cmacd123]

It seems to me that as shadows get darker in a scene they off a cliff into inky depths of despair! Ok, a bit exaggerated. Midtones to highlights behave well, but shadows are heavily compressed. I have never seen an exposure curve for P30, but I wonder if the inflection near the toe is sharp, but near the shoulder it is more gradual. However, like I said I haven't shot many rolls.

my tests have shown that the range is very wide, with some of the blackest Highlights of any negative I have ever used, but you the darker areas do tend to yield mostly clear film. I have been using my usual of HC-110 Bat 5 minutes and wondering what would happen with a compensating developer. Results are excellent if you are careful with exposure

 

[wyofilm]

I have been using my usual of HC-110 Bat 5 minutes and wondering what would happen with a compensating developer. Results are excellent if you are careful with exposure

Thank you. It will keep your comments in mind when I next try.

 

[Agulliver]

If having trouble I'd strongly look at their "best practice" document. I've shot two Alpha rolls and one from recent production and I found that shooting at 80ASA yields the best results with ID-11. The negatives I shot at 50ASA, which some recommend, were indeed very dense - though I have been able to get excellent scans and darkroom prints from them. What I find most striking is it's ability to deliver photos of moody, cloudy skies without use of a filter and the near total lack of grain. In medium format and larger this is going to be something very special. I can imagine huge enlargements from a 6x6 or bigger negative.

 

[wyofilm]

If having trouble I'd strongly look at their "best practice" document. I've shot two Alpha rolls and one from recent production and I found that shooting at 80ASA yields the best results with ID-11. The negatives I shot at 50ASA, which some recommend, were indeed very dense - though I have been able to get excellent scans and darkroom prints from them. What I find most striking is it's ability to deliver photos of moody, cloudy skies without use of a filter and the near total lack of grain. In medium format and larger this is going to be something very special. I can imagine huge enlargements from a 6x6 or bigger negative.

Thanks for the advice.