Buying from Svema

[Romanko]

This is one of the last films developed in this way

Nice! Was it shot with your Agfa Clack?

 

[Romanko]

I was wondering if anyone had access to data sheet(s) for the Foto 400 and/or FN64

Did you try approaching the seller with this question?
Greg Davis tested Astrum 400 and FN 64 which I assume are the same films:


Astrum/Svema 400 turned out to be around ISO 100, FN 64 was close to the stated speed. Not the kind of film I shoot but I got half-decent results from other technical films (Technical Pan) using compensating developers.

 

[lamerko]

Before 1989, there was no free market in Bulgaria. The available photo films were mainly provided by Svema and ORWO. German ORWOs were loved (NP15, NP20/22, NP27), but it was difficult to buy - shortage. On the other hand, (ФОТО) FN64/65, FN125 and FN250 were always available but last choice. They had problems with the emulsion, the grain, they were sold almost always without cartridges. What's specific about these movies is that they have a LOT of silver in them. Maybe I have some of the old leaflets somewhere, I have to check, but there is no guarantee that what is now being sold is the old emulsion.

 

[mjbovee]

There is someone I know currently working on H&D curves for FN-64 35mm and sheet films in several developers, not sure if this would help you though.

I would actually be interested in seeing that, if only out of curiosity

Did you try approaching the seller with this question?

I'll have to check out those videos, thanks for sharing. I did hit up the seller not too long ago, but am waiting on a reply. I'll report back w any relevant info

Before 1989, there was no free market in Bulgaria. The available photo films were mainly provided by Svema and ORWO. German ORWOs were loved (NP15, NP20/22, NP27), but it was difficult to buy - shortage. On the other hand, (ФОТО) FN64/65, FN125 and FN250 were always available but last choice. They had problems with the emulsion, the grain, they were sold almost always without cartridges. What's specific about these movies is that they have a LOT of silver in them. Maybe I have some of the old leaflets somewhere, I have to check, but there is no guarantee that what is now being sold is the old emulsion.

This stuff is allegedly new(ish) stock sold under the "Svema" brand name, but it sort of remains unclear, at least to me, what it is exactly. It's possible that these are indeed fresh emulsions manufactured in according to the old Svema spec (in which case some of those old leaflets might be useful!), but I have doubts that's the case. My guess - and this is total conjecture - would be that these are repackaged industrial/aero/technical films coated by FilmoTec/InovisCoat.

 

[MCB18]

This stuff is allegedly new(ish) stock sold under the "Svema" brand name, but it sort of remains unclear, at least to me, what it is exactly. It's possible that these are indeed fresh emulsions manufactured in according to the old Svema spec (in which case some of those old leaflets might be useful!), but I have doubts that's the case. My guess - and this is total conjecture - would be that these are repackaged industrial/aero/technical films coated by FilmoTec/InovisCoat.

I thought it was repacked Aviphot at first, but it is clearly not, just looking at the emulsion. It is a brilliant blue that I can’t find in any other film stock. Very unique.

Attached is a piece of Foto 100 120 film compared to Aviphot 200:

 

[removedacct2]

btw, about what it is....

there's the guy selling the Svema range online here from Norway: Foto-64/100/200/400 in 35mm, among a variety of other films.
I mentioned earlier in this thread and put a link because in the descriptions of the Astrum/Svema he puts:
"Det er litt uklart hvor filmen faktisk kommer i fra"
= a little unclear where the film actually comes from ... only shop on the whole net where the seller is honest.
two or three weeks ago I contacted him about this, telling him about my experience.
The guy is a native russian speaker and told me he spend hours (hours!) on the phone with the Astrum/Svema people.
Which confirms me that at least when calling from abroad it's ok to use russian despite the current policy [in Ukraine], and about the matter itself: he asked for shots/videos of the manufacturing facility but they always diverted the question, so he didn't even get a phone shot of anything.
But in the conversations he was told they experience power cuts because the grid is affected by the ongoing war.
All in all, he got the impression that they have plenty of stock, but as they refuse to send shots of the facility and because the power supply problem which is critical in order to maintain temperature and regularity in the manufacturing of film, he thinks they don't manufacture, they sell stock, even if their own stuff.
Only way to know seems to just go to Shoshtka and see by oneself.

 

[Romanko]

Only way to know seems to just go to Shoshtka and see by oneself

Here it is on the map:

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

The piles of rubble are where the factory buildings were. A few steet views:

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

The map and the street views are from 2021.

 

[Romanko]

Attached is a piece of Foto 100 120 film compared to Aviphot 200:

Can you get a sample of Tasma aerial film? It has weird bluish green emulsion.

Film Review: Tasma T-42 400 - Japan Camera Hunter

Film Review: Tasma T-42 400 Film stocks continue to dwindle in this wretched 2020 so when something pops up that you've never seen before such as Tasma

www.japancamerahunter.com

 

[lamerko]

I found Svema's product sheet but poor quality. I tried to process it in a readable format - there may be errors.
The formula according to GOST specification is:

Metol (Elon) - 8 g.
Sodium Sulfite (anhydrous) - 125 g.
Sodium Carbonate (anhydrous) - 5.75 g.
Potassium bromide - 2.5 g.
Water up to 1000 ml.

For gradient 0.62 - development time as written on the box. For gradient 0.80 - 2-3 minutes more.

 

[AnselMortensen]

I just processed a test sheet of 8x10 'Svema 100' in Rodinal, 13 min.1+50, 68°F in a Stearman Press 8x10 setup, using dev. info from the MDC.

Pre-soak came out blue/black.
Definitely NOT Aviphot.
Used developer came out dark purple.
First test sheet came out ok, I might shoot it at EI of 80 for a bit more shadow detail.
Base is quite thin, almost like litho film, maybe slightly thicker?
No code notch, clipped corner.

I exposed another sheet of the same scene with an IR720 filter at EI 1, will try to process that this weekend & report back.

 

[MCB18]

Can you get a sample of Tasma aerial film? It has weird bluish green emulsion.

Very much doubt this is possible, due to the ongoing situation, and sanctions. Would definitely be interested to see if it is indeed Tasma.

I know that the Mikrat stocks are, but that’s about all the film sources I know.

I wish I got into film sooner, they used to sell Aerocolor in sheets, 120 size, 127 size, and 35mm. Sadly I don’t think they do now. I would kill to have some 120 size Aerocolor, but alas, you can’t get it in quantities reasonably attainable by the average person.

 

[Romanko]

I would kill to have some 120 size Aerocolor

Keep your Karma clean:

CatLABS

Large format cameras, lenses, film holders, darkroom equipment, Jobo sales and service. We carry large format cameras and lenses, Jobo machines,...

www.catlabs.info

 

[MCB18]

Keep your Karma clean:

CatLABS

Large format cameras, lenses, film holders, darkroom equipment, Jobo sales and service. We carry large format cameras and lenses, Jobo machines,...

www.catlabs.info

Oh, I know. I will NOT be buying from them, for reasons I will not get into here. But, there is more on the way, from Reflex Labs! I’ll wait for them to roll theirs, as I would like to try this film.

What I want is the raw film (61.5mm rollfilm) to cut 220 from it. Reflex labs did offer to sell me a pancake, but it would probably be $2,500+, and I definitely can’t afford that, lol.

 

[Romanko]

I will NOT be buying from them

I totally understand why. Thanks for mentioning Reflex Labs. They appear to be based in China so shipping costs to Downunder should be reasonable. And they look like a perfect company to order Tasma film from! I am surprised they don't sell it.

 

[LeoniD]

The piles of rubble are where the factory buildings were

I think I've made a post about this before. Astrum owns enough to manufacture film. Upper right-magnetic tape coating facility. Center-from what I've been able to find on wayback machine, cutting and packaging facilities. Orange-not sure, but probably Astrum too. Svema was massive, they supplied the entire SU, some African and Asian countries with film, and it was a "closed cycle"-everything from gelatine and film base to complex organic synthesis was made on-site, the piles of rubble once were the facilities that manufactured all this, but it's possible to make film with what's left too.


Edit for mods. Thanks for editing antonio_b's post, but it's meaning stayed the same. There are no policies in Ukraine that prohibit speaking russian. In fact, I myself have just done that. Such policies exist only in imagination of russian propagandists, whose narrative this user, undoubtedly the worhiest of worthy users, parrots.

 

[LeoniD]

I ordered a couple 30.5m bulk rolls from these guys a couple weeks ago and received them yesterday - everything went smoothly.

I understand that this film is of somewhat ambiguous provenance, but I was wondering if anyone had access to data sheet(s) for the Foto 400 and/or FN64? I'm really only interested in spectral sensitivity and recommended processing times for developers other than Rodinal (I'm guessing the times that were provided on the package were for a 1 + 50 dilution?), so recommendations from personal experience are welcome as well.

Canonically, the dev time on the box would be for Agfa-12. Astrum, however, says that the recommended developer is UP-2, but not always. Just assume that if dev time is like 4min, then it's for a paper strenght developer. If 6 and more- something like D76. They did provide a datasheet when I asked them, but it's mostly useless copypaste from GOST

 

[Minox]

I am on the third roll of Svema Micrat-N, but I cannot understand what sort of emulsion is this. Upon me asking, the Astrum fellows told me this film is 25ASA, but results so far indicates this not to be the case.

The negatives all come out heavily overexposed, although they were shot at 12, 25 and 32 respectively. Moreover, it would appear that the slower I treat this film, the overexposure occurs more heavily. Could it be that the sensitivity is way higher than say, 25 or 32?

The label on the film can indicates "develop for 5 minutes" and this is all there is, as far as recommendations are concerned.

Any idea on what is the actual speed of this Micrat-N negative, please? Any development data? Thank you !

 

[Romanko]

Micrat is a very slow (GOST ~3) high-contrast copy film. I doubt that what you bought is Micrat. I would try shooting your film at EI 100 and 200 and developing in Barry Thornton's 2 bath developer for 4.5 min and 4.5 min. Or (semi-) stand develop in Rodinal.
This is all part of shooting unknown film stock game. Great fun if this is your kind of things.

 

[htmlguru4242]

I did a quick search, and a couple listings online (including one from a Japanese film seller) list this as ISO 6. The Micrat line seems to be low speed (I've used Micrat-Orto Direct, which is < ISO 1).

I know nothing about this film stock, Romanko's suggestion that they probably mis-rolled something else makes good sense.

My general advice would be what I do with an unknown film that I have a lot of - meter at ISO 100, and bracket two or three stops either way.

If you're getting heavy overexposure you're probably at least a couple stops over.

[edit] This is also orthochromatic, so if you shoot it through an orange / red filter and still get an image, it's probably mis-rolled.

 

[Minox]

Micrat is a very slow (GOST ~3) high-contrast copy film. I doubt that what you bought is Micrat. I would try shooting your film at EI 100 and 200 and developing in Barry Thornton's 2 bath developer for 4.5 min and 4.5 min. Or (semi-) stand develop in Rodinal.
This is all part of shooting unknown film stock game. Great fun if this is your kind of things.

Thank you, Romanko. Concerning the fun factor, there is none, I can tell you Not very funny when the very people who roll it share the wrong info on what they just sold you.

 

[Minox]

I did a quick search, and a couple listings online (including one from a Japanese film seller) list this as ISO 6. The Micrat line seems to be low speed (I've used Micrat-Orto Direct, which is < ISO 1).

I know nothing about this film stock, Romanko's suggestion that they probably mis-rolled something else makes good sense.

My general advice would be what I do with an unknown film that I have a lot of - meter at ISO 100, and bracket two or three stops either way.

If you're getting heavy overexposure you're probably at least a couple stops over.

[edit] This is also orthochromatic, so if you shoot it through an orange / red filter and still get an image, it's probably mis-rolled.

Yes, the 100 and bracketing seems to be the way to test this negative. Am I wrong in my assumption that if the film is say, 3 ASA, and I shoot it at 25, that should come out grossly underexposed and not overexposed? I mean, it's a slow film metered faster, not the other way round. Am I wrong here?

 

[Romanko]

if the film is say, 3 ASA, and I shoot it at 25, that should come out grossly underexposed and not overexposed?

If you shoot ISO 3 film as ISO 25 you will have 3 stops underexposure. Your negatives will be very thin. Your shadows will have no density (transparent) and your highlights will be light-grey. If you post a photo of your negatives we could probably tell you more.
The goal for your next step is to get a negative that is neither too thin nor too dense. If you scan it and look at the histogram you will get a good idea of the actual film speed.
Obviously, you don't need to expose and develop the whole roll, a couple of frames would suffice.

Concerning the fun factor, there is none, I can tell you

I sometimes shoot very expired film and can understand your frustration. On the positive side, you learn a lot in the process.

 

[Romanko]

Micrat-N should have green or dark-green antihalation layer. If your film is different colour it is not Micrat. The standard developer for this film is phenidone-hydroquinone.

 

[LeoniD]

I am on the third roll of Svema Micrat-N, but I cannot understand what sort of emulsion is this. Upon me asking, the Astrum fellows told me this film is 25ASA, but results so far indicates this not to be the case.

View attachment 341578

The negatives all come out heavily overexposed, although they were shot at 12, 25 and 32 respectively. Moreover, it would appear that the slower I treat this film, the overexposure occurs more heavily. Could it be that the sensitivity is way higher than say, 25 or 32?

The label on the film can indicates "develop for 5 minutes" and this is all there is, as far as recommendations are concerned.

Any idea on what is the actual speed of this Micrat-N negative, please? Any development data? Thank you !

According to GOST, should be 4.5, but Mikrat 200, for example, can be pushed to ~25-50iso with good results and not too much contrast.

 

[AnselMortensen]

I just processed a test sheet of 8x10 'Svema 100' in Rodinal, 13 min.1+50, 68°F in a Stearman Press 8x10 setup, using dev. info from the MDC.

Pre-soak came out blue/black.
Definitely NOT Aviphot.
Used developer came out dark purple.
First test sheet came out ok, I might shoot it at EI of 80 for a bit more shadow detail.
Base is quite thin, almost like litho film, maybe slightly thicker?
No code notch, clipped corner.

I exposed another sheet of the same scene with an IR720 filter at EI 1, will try to process that this weekend & report back.

Here is a quick & dirty test negative of 8x10 Svema 100 on my light table.
Exposed at 2 seconds @ f16 with an IR720 filter.
Developed in Rodinal 1+50 for 13 min. @ 68°F.
My cellphone and my light table don't get along, so please disregard the yellow fringing on the left side of the image.
I made this exposure to test the IR response of the film, and to test for Wood Effect in direct sun and in shade.
I look forward to using an inexpensive IR-sensitive b/w film in 8x10!