That is my video, and the camera had no effect on film speed because the film speed was determined with a sensitometer and densitometer. The results were backed up by which bracketed (1/3 stops) negative produced the shadow value identical to the Tri-X negative. The lighting was a 5500K Profoto strobe with a soft box.
Greg, that you have got this huge loss in shadow detail has nothing to do with the sensitisation of P30.
This film simply has not a real speed of ISO 80, not at all. The real speed is several stops slower.
Here just my sensitometric test results with P30 in Tetenal Ultrafin Plus. I am using an enlarger with a double condensor and a mix box, so i need about 0.68-0.72 logD for Zone V and development time is determined by Zone VIII and logD about 1.22 - 1.27.
Exposure was with EI 32/16°:
Zone I: 0.00 logD
Zone II: 0.02
Zone III: 0.08
Zone IV: 0.22
Zone V: 0.51
Zone VI: 0.63
Zone VII: 0.93
Zone VIII: 1.26
Zone IX: 1.55
Zone X: 1.77
Tetenal Ultrafin Plus is a high-speed developer with quite good shadow detail, similar to Kodak T-Max developer and Ilford DD-X.
As clearly shown, even at Zone III the density is only 0.08. Exposed was with EI 32/16°. So real speed is two stops slower, ISO 8. Zone IV to VIII also have too low density values. Zone VIII has the right value, so development time is correct. Zone IX and X have too high values.
I have also tested some other developers, but the problems remain:
- always huge lack of shadow detail
- the real speed is several stops below the claimed ISO 80
- huge contrast
- it is impossible to make a satisfying print with an enlarger, as you have either blocked shadows with no detail, or too much dense highlights.
I have never had a film with such bad tonality and problematic characteristic curve. And I am doing film processing and darkroom prints for several decades now.
i have had high hopes for Film Ferrania's first film, but I am very dissappointed. Such a problematic film for such a high price.
And selling this film as ISO 80 is very dishonest. Film sensitivity is not a topic of opinions or marketing, it is about physics, the ISO norm and real measurements. And the measurements are clear: This film is not an ISO 80 film. That is not only my result. I have talked to several other very experienced photographers who have tested this film as well, used a densitometer and evaluated the characteristic curve. All had the same results and problems.
I really hope Film Ferrania will do better in the future. Generally I really appreciate their efforts. But in the end all the work must lead to a good and competetive product. But that is not the case with P30, as Ilford PanF+, Delta 100, T-Max 100. Acros II, HR-50 all offer much better results, and are much much easier to handle.
