NEW Ultrafine Plus Black-and-White Films

filmbug · Sep 25, 2008

http://ultrafineonline.com/newulplblfi.html

Any idea what these might be? The prices are really good.

Jedidiah Smith · Sep 25, 2008

Good question...what a price! Anyone know who's film base it is?

Jed

Jeff Kubach · Sep 25, 2008

Excellent prices. Ultrafine says that they have been around for 50 years or so. I never heard of them until now. I wonder how good the film is?

Jeff

David A. Goldfarb · Sep 25, 2008

Ultrafine is Photo Warehouse. They have long been known as a supplier of ULF films cut to size from master rolls that they used to buy from Ilford and graphic arts films. They usually have good deals on short dated color film from Fuji.

As for the source of the film, Ilford isn't selling its own films under private labels anymore (though Harman is coating different emulsions for other brands); Kodak is significantly more than half a century old, as is Agfa I believe; and Efke doesn't make a 400 speed film of its own. That leaves Fuji, which makes Neopan 100 and 400, and sells some private label film, and Foma, which makes 100, 200 and 400 speed films. My guess would be Foma, since they coat film on a blue PET base, which is kind of unusual, and Ultrafine makes reference to "the latest state-of-the-art film base."

jim appleyard · Sep 25, 2008

Foma would be my guess as they also make film for Freestyle (Arista brand).

Jedidiah Smith · Sep 25, 2008

Interesting. I just noticed that Freestyle's house brand film was updated as well, and the price is great there too.
Are these worth trying?
Jed

Thomas Bertilsson · Sep 25, 2008

If it's Foma films - heck yeah! They're great! Only problem is with 120 film, the base curls like mad and is a bit of an issue when loading film holders in a scanner. But if you print in the darkroom, at least on my Omega they're not more difficult to handle than anything else, at least not much. The 400 is lovely, haven't tried the 100, but hear good things.
One thing though, if it is indeed Foma, it's strange that they don't offer the ISO 200 emulsion. But since it'll be available in sheets too, it's an interesting proposition.
- Thomas

pesphoto · Sep 25, 2008

Why do they have a $35 minimum order !

jim appleyard · Sep 25, 2008

Jedidiah Smith said:
Interesting. I just noticed that Freestyle's house brand film was updated as well, and the price is great there too.
Are these worth trying?
Jed

Hey Jed, How's Alsaka treating you?

Freestyle has 2-3 house brands (EDU and Premium among them) and EDU is Foma and it's thought that the Premium is rebadged Kodak Plus-X and Tri-X.

See Thomas B. re:Foma and you already know PX & TX; short answer: yes.

david b · Sep 25, 2008

where's the developing times for these films?

Could it be Fuji ?

phenix · Sep 25, 2008

First time I heard about them. Bookmarked their page next to Freestyle, in my photo suppliers folder. Just hope they have a decent shipping to Canada.

Happy to see such prices, and also happy too to get a first confirmation to my prediction, made several months ago, concerning the film surviving: since most pros did switch to digital, film relies today on a majority of passionate amateurs, students included. And this should bring the price down to about $2 for a 135/24 roll. These people shut for pure pleasure and/or artistic interests, and do not make a living from sailing photographs, so they are not ready to pay higher prices on supplies. But they are the majority of today’s film shutters.
Moreover, there’s the price competition with digital shutting that counts too in maintaining the film market alive.

Jedidiah Smith · Sep 25, 2008

Hi Jim (and all). Actually, I just moved to California, have been here for about 1 month now. Working on getting a practice going in the Bay Area (Novato).
I'm in an apartment now, and thinking about where I can make a darkroom.
I'll have to send you a PM off forum in awhile when I get some time.

Just might have to try some of this film - it is a good price and with starting my own business, everything counts these days!

Jed

removed account4 · Sep 25, 2008

i spoke to photowarehouse today about this news
they said in about 90days it will all be a reality.

i wasn't able to figure out where the film was from
but there aren't may film makers who make 100 and 400 speed films ...
so either guess is a good one as far as i am concerned.
i wonder if they will be getting master rolls of new fiber paper as well?

paul ... 35$ isn't much, it used to be a box of 100sheets of 4x5 film cut and notched for film holders.
(when the next cheepest alternative was $60+)

i love photowarehouse!

john

mabman · Sep 25, 2008

phenix said:
First time I heard about them. Bookmarked their page next to Freestyle, in my photo suppliers folder. Just hope they have a decent shipping to Canada.

I hope they've changed, but about 1.5 years ago I looked into shipping to Canada, and they had no prices to Canada listed, so I emailed them.

After a couple of repeated requests, I finally got a response from someone there, the prices weren't bad, but I also asked what kind of film it actually was and if they had a steady supply of it as I was trying to standardize at the time, and didn't want it to change on me. Communication stopped after that, so I guess they didn't want my business after all (Freestyle on the other hand has answered those questions in the past, with the exception of their most recent "Premium" films).

MartinB · Sep 25, 2008

I ordered off the website some Agfa 400 film and 312 RC paper and a box of 4x5 Velvia 100f at the end of Aug, sent by mail to Calgary. It was at my house in about 2 weeks. Shipping costs were reasonable but I would guess about 10% more than Freestyle. I had no problems with communication but I did not ask any questions before placing the order - they emailed an order confirmation right after I placed the order although no further email. The status page link did not update the shipping status which would have been annoying if the order had taken longer in getting here.

I was happy with the service to Calgary and would buy again.

Martin

ItsReallyDarren · Oct 9, 2008

I've called photoware house earlier this week to ask about the film, though they did'nt give my any specific details they did say that neither their regular or "new" black and white films are made in the US.

The development times for the regular Ultrafine films seems to match the offerings from Foma. When I called to ask about their "plus" film they said the development times were the same for the "new" films to the regular ones. Not sure how accurate the information is since they put me on hold while the person talked it over with a co-worker.

If I were to take a wild guess I would lean towards Efke, like others have said in the thread not too many companies out there make 100 and 400 speed films. Unless We're all totally wrong and this film comes from China or somewhere else...

pschauss · Nov 5, 2008

I just finished developing my first roll of the ISO 100 120 size. Over the phone, they suggested HC-110 dilution B at 5 minutes, so I used dulition H at 10 minutes. The negatives look a bit dense so I may cut the time back a bit.

The film has no identifying markings of any kind on the backing paper or the edges of the film itself. A google search on Shanghai photographic film, however, brought me to this site http://www.alibaba.com/product-free/103487543/Shanghai_GP3_120_B_W_100.html which looks exactly like the way the film from Ultrafine was packaged.

I will post some samples if any come out decently.

pesphoto · Nov 5, 2008

jnanian said:
paul ... 35$ isn't much, it used to be a box of 100sheets of 4x5 film cut and notched for film holders.
(when the next cheepest alternative was $60+)

i love photowarehouse!

john

true true, things are just a little tight these days. Maybe in a couple weeks I'll oreder some.

Thomas Bertilsson · Nov 6, 2008

It appears only the ISO 100 film is available in 120 format. The 400 is 35mm only.

- Thomas

pschauss · Nov 10, 2008

I shot a second roll of Ultrafine Plus 100 (120 size), developing it this time in F09 (Rodinal) 1+40 for 12 minutes. The negatives were considerably thinner than my previous attempt with HC-110 and much easier to print. The film is rather thin and the negatives do curl more than Tri-X and Plus-X, but not as much as Foma.

Here are some samples (scannned from the prints):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/75758245@N00/3021198534/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/75758245@N00/3021198536/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/75758245@N00/3021198530/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/75758245@N00/3021198528/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/75758245@N00/3021198514/

Photo-gear · Dec 21, 2011

pschauss said:
I just finished developing my first roll of the ISO 100 120 size. Over the phone, they suggested HC-110 dilution B at 5 minutes, so I used dulition H at 10 minutes. The negatives look a bit dense so I may cut the time back a bit.

The film has no identifying markings of any kind on the backing paper or the edges of the film itself. A google search on Shanghai photographic film, however, brought me to this site http://www.alibaba.com/product-free/103487543/Shanghai_GP3_120_B_W_100.html which looks exactly like the way the film from Ultrafine was packaged.

I will post some samples if any come out decently.

I have never worked with Shanghai films but did order and shot some Ultrafine Plus 100. This films curls quite a lot which is not the case with Fomapan films. I did try to compare development times but there ain't much times given for Ultrafine Plus 100.

Concerning the shipping, it was just fine, even though I live in Canada.

Someone asked why 35$ as a minimum amount for ordering. If you consider the average price of the 100ft roll is 30$, it opens the door for ordering a second roll in the same transaction, which I did.

"The film is rather thin and the negatives do curl more than Tri-X and Plus-X, but not as much as Foma."

I do agree: the film is amazingly thin and, as I said, curls quite a lot. Not Foma, almost sure.

Nicholas Lindan · Dec 21, 2011

Photo-gear said:
the film is amazingly thin and, as I said, curls quite a lot.

Might be slit and perfed aero film - normally a 4mil mylar/estar base.

Photo-gear · Dec 21, 2011

Nicholas Lindan said:
Might be slit and perfed aero film - normally a 4mil mylar/estar base.

Since this film looks like no one else and since I have never worked with an aero film, I would not be surprised it could be the case...

muhacakep · Dec 22, 2011

hi all...
i have tried Ultrafine plus 100 too, and this is what I can say :
thin film with a little bit purple & transparent-grey base color (its nearly same as "Lucky") ;
after i develop it with home made paRodinal the clear area are totally clear, again its same as "Lucky" ;
after i scan it the different between ultrafine & lucky are revealed , the ultrafine seem have "anti halation layer" that can make the result won't glow even I shot exactly to a lightsource (http://www.flickr.com/photos/muhacakep/6375866213/in/photostream).
not like Lucky that usually glow if we shot exactly to a lightsource (http://www.flickr.com/photos/muhacakep/6236278195/in/photostream).

thats all i can say

rpsawin · Dec 22, 2011

david b said:
where's the developing times for these films?

Could it be Fuji ?

http://www.ultrafineonline.com/fidech1.html

Best regards,

Bob

NEW Ultrafine Plus Black-and-White Films

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