Ferrania P30 In 120

[Andrew O'Neill]

I finally got to use P30 in 120! Alongside the P30, I also shot a roll of Pan F, and Delta 400... From "not much" red sensitivity of P30, to "just enough" red sensitivity of Pan F, to "a little more" red sensitivity of Delta 400... I wanted to see if there was much of a difference...

 

[Alan Johnson]

Good comparison Andy, clearly shows the reduced red sensitivity of P30.
If it is true that it was favored by Italian film makers of the 60s and 70s, shows how they got the look.

 

[pentaxuser]

Thanks Andy. Well, in terms of the car colour and the foliage behind it, I felt that P30 won. Car's of that vintage and style always seem to look better when darker and the brighter foliage stood out against it much better. To an extent how much darker the P30 red appeared when compared to the other two seem to vary with what may have been light intensity

What was also interesting for me was the subtle but clear difference between Pan F's and the Delta 400 rendering of the red of the car This difference also diminished a little in certain shots

pentauser

 

[bdial]

Of the three, I think I liked the P30’s rendition best. I didn’t notice much difference in the Ilford films, maybe I need to look at the video again.

 

[Ben 4]

I have to agree with your evaluation, Andy: it's between the P30 and the Pan F, though I think I lean slightly towards the former.

 

[MarkS]

Can you describe the ISO settings that you used with the various films?

 

[Vetus]

Could you have used any B&w film and used different filters on the lens to darken or lighten red

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Can you describe the ISO settings that you used with the various films?

P30 EI 32
Pan F EI 25
D400 EI 250

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Could you have used any B&w film and used different filters on the lens to darken or lighten red

Yes, in fact I often have used HP5 with filters to manipulate its spectral characteristics. The Wratten #44 for example, is a good one to use to mimic orthochromatic look. But for this video, I wanted to see each film's reaction to red, unfiltered.

 

[Alan Johnson]

I would like to see a quote of any of them from a reliable source where they state this.
Using a film can have a lot of reasons, of which favorising is only one. From the trivial fact that it is the film you have or can afford up to the film crew and lab being used to that type of film and not wanting to geopardise results by a new type there are a lot of reasons to use a film, it does not automatically mean you prefer it for its qualitative characteristics.
I suspect this "favored by Italian film makers" is a rumor that conveniently appeared when the new Ferrania emerged. (How comes nobody outside Italy used Ferrania films if they were such magical?) But I gladly stay corrected.

"Italian masters of the mid-20th century, such as Pier Paolo Pasolini, Vittorio De Sica, Roberto Rossellini, and Federico Fellini, created many of their most iconic films on P30 stock."

From:

About

www.filmferrania.com

 

[warden]

I finally got to use P30 in 120! Alongside the P30, I also shot a roll of Pan F, and Delta 400... From "not much" red sensitivity of P30, to "just enough" red sensitivity of Pan F, to "a little more" red sensitivity of Delta 400... I wanted to see if there was much of a difference...

P30 is a bit too slow for me but it sure has the look. Thanks for sharing Andy!

 

[Vetus]

Yes, in fact I often have used HP5 with filters to manipulate its spectral characteristics. The Wratten #44 for example, is a good one to use to mimic orthochromatic look. But for this video, I wanted to see each film's reaction to red, unfiltered.

Fair comment, would you use p30 again in preference to hp5 with a wratten #44?

 

[pentaxuser]

"Italian masters of the mid-20th century, such as Pier Paolo Pasolini, Vittorio De Sica, Roberto Rossellini, and Federico Fellini, created many of their most iconic films on P30 stock."

From:

About

www.filmferrania.com

But to be fair to Eugen Mezei wasn't he making the very point that your link to Ferrania demonstrates i.e. it's Ferrania making the claim about these film-makers

There may be good reasons why such film-makers chose P30 but not necessarily for the sole reason that Ferrania has chosen to state

pentaxuser

 

[John Wiegerink]

Well, another nice mess you got us into Andy! Just kidding of course and job well done. As for P30? I do like the rendering the best, but of the three films Delta 400 would be my pick. I like the extra few stops of speed and it would allow me to filter for a darker red simulation. It would also still be faster than P30. Of course 95% of my film work is with medium format, which lets me get away with faster films compared to 35mm.
Most average folks and not us "Photo crazy folks" would look at this comparison and would know only two things about the color of that Merc 1) It's not black. 2) It is not white. P30 does look like a very good product, but not something I'm going to go to for the majority of anything I do. Different yes! Better???

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Fair comment, would you use p30 again in preference to hp5 with a wratten #44?

Probably. It's a different looking film compared to HP5. Once Ferannia makes it in sheet film sizes, I'll be using it for Alt printing. HP5 is not a good film for these processes due to excessive build up of B+F density when development time is increased.

 

[John Wiegerink]

Sheet film! Did I hear someone mention P30 in sheet film size? I might be interested in P30 in 4X5, but not so much in 120. Of course, I don't do Alt printing like Andy does.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Sheet film! Did I hear someone mention P30 in sheet film size? I might be interested in P30 in 4X5, but not so much in 120. Of course, I don't do Alt printing like Andy does.

I'll be in line for sheet film! We all know that Ferrania is working to improve P30, as well as working on P33, an ISO 160 pan film, and in the future, P36, an ISO 320 pan film. Can't wait!

 

[John Wiegerink]

I'll be in line for sheet film! We all know that Ferrania is working to improve P30, as well as working on P33, an ISO 160 pan film, and in the future, P36, an ISO 320 pan film. Can't wait!

Now I could go for P33 if it rendered colors with the same shades as P30. P30 is just to slow for me as an average use film. ISO 160 with P30's rendition of colors and fairly fine grain would be very nice indeed. I have my fingers crossed X.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Now I could go for P33 if it rendered colors with the same shades as P30. P30 is just to slow for me as an average use film. ISO 160 with P30's rendition of colors and fairly fine grain would be very nice indeed. I have my fingers crossed X.

Toes, too!

 

[John Wiegerink]

Toes, too!

Yup, my toes and my eyes also.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Yup, my toes and my eyes also.

 

[Vetus]

Probably. It's a different looking film compared to HP5. Once Ferannia makes it in sheet film sizes, I'll be using it for Alt printing. HP5 is not a good film for these processes due to excessive build up of B+F density when development time is increased.

I think a Hoya 80a or B+W or Heliopan kb15 dark blue has similar properties to a wratten 44. Those filters may give you the Ortho look with pan film.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I think a Hoya 80a or B+W or Heliopan kb15 dark blue has similar properties to a wratten 44. Those filters may give you the Ortho look with pan film.

Yes, the #44 is very similar to the #44A. I have a 44A, but it's really worn out after 30 years of use.

 

[pentaxuser]

Now I could go for P33 if it rendered colors with the same shades as P30. P30 is just to slow for me as an average use film. ISO 160 with P30's rendition of colors and fairly fine grain would be very nice indeed. I have my fingers crossed X.

There is always Foma 400 Ortho if your need is for greater speed . Only made in 120 as things stand

pentaxuser

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

There is always Foma 400 Ortho if your need is for greater speed . Only made in 120 as things stand

pentaxuser

I have a few rolls in the freezer that I need getting to!