Curosity over Russian film

[McFortner]

I look at eBay from time to time, and I keep noticing that there are several Russian films up for auction such as Svema 32, Tasma 32, and Svema fn 64. Has anybody tried these films, and if so, how did they turn out?

I am asking mainly out of curosity because I've never worked with films that slow before. Plus, I wanted a comparison between them and "western" films. I tend to prefer 400 speed because my cheap "toy" cameras can use it OK while slower speed films are more for my SLR and GSN only.

Thanks,
Michael

 

[Photo Engineer]

Russian films used to be very similar to ORWO products. All of these derived from original Agfa formulas and evolved gradually.

PE

 

[kman627]

I've got a roll of Svema 64 in 120 that I've been waiting to shoot. I'll post some results when I do. I'll probably develop in Rodinal.

 

[PhotoJim]

If you want to try slower films, Ilford's Pan-F Plus (50) and Efke 25 and 50 are available and are very good films.

It might be fun to try the Russian films, but my understanding is that they are no longer manufactured so your dalliance with them will not be for a very long duration.

 

[cmo]

As far as I know Svema is gone since years, Tasma produces films for non-photographic purposes (X-Ray, military, microfilm).

 

[mcgrattan]

I shot a couple of rolls of Tasma a few years back. I had big problems with film curl, it was nearly impossible to get it to dry flat. Other people may have different experiences. At the time I wasn't massively impressed by it pictorially, but I had a look at the negs again a few months back when I was messing about with a new scanner, and they actually look OK to me now. I still prefer Pan-F.

 

[AgX]

As side note:
Svema was an Ukranian manfacturer.

 

[Alan Johnson]

I tried the full Soviet era experience with FED-2 and Tasma film and the developer they used.The film came in cut lengths that had to be loaded into cassettes in the dark.These guys must have been quite keen.
www.apug.org/forums/forum37/60006-developers-made-russia.html
www.apug.org/forums/forum37/60616-old-tasma-film-test.html