Hello APUG from FILM Ferrania (PART 2)

[Роберт]

Taking about a lack of energy: Belgium. Due to problems in two of their nuclear power plants electricity is running low in Belgium. Last year a problem, now even still a problem since Doel and Thiange are out of order. Transporting 50% of their needs via the high tension connection net in Europe (France, the Netherlands, Germany) is possible but then no other problems can occur otherwise they have to switch off some areas of electricity.

 

[Black Dog]

Taking about a lack of energy: Belgium. Due to problems in two of their nuclear power plants electricity is running low in Belgium. Last year a problem, now even still a problem since Doel and Thiange are out of order. Transporting 50% of their needs via the high tension connection net in Europe (France, the Netherlands, Germany) is possible but then no other problems can occur otherwise they have to switch off some areas of electricity.

At least in Belgium they can always run their power plants on Stella!

 

[AgX]

Well, Agfa have their own powerplant from the beginng. Their current one is only a few years old.

But yes, Belgium has a structural problem with a dependancy of 50% on nuclear energy (about twice of Europes mean rate). Sourced at two plants. One only few kilometers off the center of Antwerp.
Last winter fear was great to have to turn off whole quarters from electricity supply due to lack of production at those old plants having got technical problems.

There was quite some upheaval about who to cut off and who not, and what effect that will have on daily life and the state economy.


Funny thing is that Belgium was one of the first to ermbrace nuclear power production. Not the least due to their own Uranium resources back then

 

[Nzoomed]

Ive just sourced some boxes of Imation Chrome 100, im interested to know if anyone has shot any of this expired film of this age? (dated 2002)

I wont expect perfect results, but it may give me an idea on how i can expect the new Ferrania chrome will look!

 

[Derek Lofgreen]

All the talk of power has been interesting but.... let's get back to the good stuff. FILM! Fresh, new tasty color chrome... oh my. Is there any word how the load testing, chiller install etc. has gone? Any new ETA on when we can get our hands on some new film? I'm like a kid waiting for my birthday.

I recently got into shooting super8 and I have been bitten by the bug! The hum of the camera is as addicting as the slap of a medium format mirror. I do love the latitude that the kodak vision3 negative gives me but its added a step to telecine and color correcting process. I would love to get my hands on some color reversal. Ferrania is going to be the only game in town for this and I just can't wait.

Anyone hear anything lately?

@Nzommed, I have not used any of the Imation Chrome my self but I did a image search and found some good representation of what you might expect.

Thanks,
D.

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

Call me selfish but I want to know when they're ready to roll some B&W film off the line! But I'll take color chrome in the meantime....

 

[wblynch]

There is plenty of black and white around the world. It is color film that is disappearing and especially color slide film. I thank Ferrania for concentrating on those endangered films.

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

There is plenty of black and white around the world. It is color film that is disappearing and especially color slide film. I thank Ferrania for concentrating on those endangered films.

Don't be so sure. Call me a pessimist but I'd say the odds are not terrific that Kodak will still make film in a few years and the recent Ilford changes have things quite vague and uncertain there too. Only a couple/few left after that and too few for my taste. Besides I do not think Ferrania can survive on color chrome alone and the faster they do come out with B&W too the better. Even if to help support their infrastructure for doing the color chrome.

 

[DREW WILEY]

There are all kinds of black and white films out there in all kinds of formats. What Kodak makes that will be hard to replace are high quality color neg films, while Fuji is the last holdout of chrome film. Making color film takes quite a running start. It's a lot trickier than coming up with black and white. If Ferrania does soon come out with something resembling the old Scothchrome, I welcome that - it was an interesting look, but hardly a substitute for the Ektachromes and Fujichromes we've already lost. Yes, well all have our favorite this or that; but as long as I've been alive, favorite this n' that photographic products have been disappearing, then replaced with something requiring a new learning curve. Law of the jungle, it seems. I'm more disturbed by the radical price increases in 8x10 color film lately. One day my freezer will be empty of all that film I bought at far more reasonable pricing.

 

[Black Dog]

There are all kinds of black and white films out there in all kinds of formats. What Kodak makes that will be hard to replace are high quality color neg films, while Fuji is the last holdout of chrome film. Making color film takes quite a running start. It's a lot trickier than coming up with black and white. If Ferrania does soon come out with something resembling the old Scothchrome, I welcome that - it was an interesting look, but hardly a substitute for the Ektachromes and Fujichromes we've already lost. Yes, well all have our favorite this or that; but as long as I've been alive, favorite this n' that photographic products have been disappearing, then replaced with something requiring a new learning curve. Law of the jungle, it seems. I'm more disturbed by the radical price increases in 8x10 color film lately. One day my freezer will be empty of all that film I bought at far more reasonable pricing.

Buying colour film these days makes me wince-prices have more than doubled in the last 20 years

 

[Nzoomed]

Don't be so sure. Call me a pessimist but I'd say the odds are not terrific that Kodak will still make film in a few years and the recent Ilford changes have things quite vague and uncertain there too. Only a couple/few left after that and too few for my taste. Besides I do not think Ferrania can survive on color chrome alone and the faster they do come out with B&W too the better. Even if to help support their infrastructure for doing the color chrome.

Colour is still top priority, besides Ferrania have not made B&W film for some time now, so they will have to re-engineer all the chemistry.
They have already indicated they want to look at B&W film, such as reintroducing P30, which i no doubt expect they will do, but E6 slide film has the biggest gap in the market, and its a film i dont want to see die, so im fully backing Ferrania's plans to get E6 in production.

@Nzommed, I have not used any of the Imation Chrome my self but I did a image search and found some good representation of what you might expect.

Thanks,
D.

Yes ive found some sample pics here, and I am very happy with what I see.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dropletcafe/8133460210
Im unsure whether this film was cold stored or not, but it looks pretty good.
I also saw this here, and there appears to be a blue shift, so i expect its old film that has not been cool stored.
http://www.labeauratoire.com/film/scotch/scotch.html
They will still have a lot of work to do when introducing other films, but once they get their chemistry lab all up and running, this should be no issue.

 

[madgardener]

We all have our laundry list of film that we would love to see Ferrania manufacture *cough* color infrared *cough*, but unfortunately they won't be able to do everything we would like to have. the economics just are not there. Just the fact they are even going into film production takes a certain amount of risk taking. Just read their updates and see the problems they are having just trying to get their factory started.

 

[Jeff L]

Hopefully soon there'll be some great news. Looks like progress is being made judging from photos on twitter.
Hopefully Dave will give us a little inside info!

 

[RattyMouse]

Buying colour film these days makes me wince-prices have more than doubled in the last 20 years

Prices of a lot of things have doubled in 20 years.

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

Prices of a lot of things have doubled in 20 years.

Nope. At least not on average. Actually inflation from 1994-2014 was at about 53% on average. In other words something in 1994 that was say $5 is about $7.67 today. Now last 30 years, yes. 124% or so. $5 in 1984 would cost $11.22 today.

Source: http://www.westegg.com/inflation/

 

[Photo Engineer]

In 1965, when I joined EK, Silver was less than $10 / troy oz. Today? Go see.

Oh, and Gold was less than $100 / troy oz.. Again, look it up.

I could add Oil and other items which have skyrocketed in price.

These are critical in film making as you all know.

At the same time, color tv sets have gone way down in price, as have computers and other similar items.

PE

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

In 1965, when I joined EK, Silver was less than $10 / troy oz. Today? Go see.

Oh, and Gold was less than $100 / troy oz.. Again, look it up.

I could add Oil and other items which have skyrocketed in price.

These are critical in film making as you all know.

At the same time, color tv sets have gone way down in price, as have computers and other similar items.

PE

Silver is about $14 a troy ounce today.

 

[Sal Santamaura]

...Gold was less than $100 / troy oz.. Again, look it up....These are critical in film making as you all know...

Is gold still used in any film production since Super-XX was discontinued around 1994?

 

[Photo Engineer]

From monex.com "In fact, between January 2, 2009 and December 31, 2012, the price of gold increased over 90%, while the price of silver increased over 160%. In addition, there is a compelling argument for silver investing because the economic and monetary fundamentals in place today are even more bullish than the conditions of the 1970s when the silver price exceeded $50 per ounce. Yet today's market prices, at well below the $50 level, are a mere fraction of levels projected by silver industry experts for the future"

Thus, current prices must amortize the fluctuations to achieve a profit while maintaining reasonable prices. A thing most of you fail to see or understand.

And yes, although used in small amounts, gold is still used in film making. The emulsions use sulfur + gold in sensitization among other uses.

PE

 

[Derek Lofgreen]

Okay, let's get this train back on track. Any news on new color film? Any? For what it's worth I didn't get into photography to save money... I just want some film to keep feeding my hobby.

Thanks,
D.

 

[Nzoomed]

Okay, let's get this train back on track. Any news on new color film? Any? For what it's worth I didn't get into photography to save money... I just want some film to keep feeding my hobby.

Thanks,
D.

I expect we wont see any film until the first quarter of 2016.

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

I expect we wont see any film until the first quarter of 2016.

Spring 2016 earliest, maybe Summer.

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

Spring 2016 earliest, maybe Summer.

If Dave is listening... that suits me just fine. The weather around here* doesn't usually clear until almost summer anyway. I don't really want to be trying out such a momentous new film offering... trapped down inside my cramped basement... because it's 20F/-7C outside in the howling wind...



Ken

* Greater Seattle, Washington region.

 

[AgX]

... besides Ferrania have not made B&W film for some time now, so they will have to re-engineer all the chemistry.

They made a variety of b&w films until a few years ago.

 

[FILM Ferrania]

If Dave is listening... that suits me just fine. The weather around here* doesn't usually clear until almost summer anyway. I don't really want to be trying out such a momentous new film offering... trapped down inside my cramped basement... because it's 20F/-7C outside in the howling wind...

Hi Ken, I'm still listening.

An update is imminent.