Old Agfa ISS Film

ozphoto · Apr 30, 2015

I was given roll of Agfa ISS over the weekend, untouched, in it's original green foil packaging. I'm looking to use it over the weekend, and was wondering if anyone has some hints on rating it (21DIN/100ASA) and then a starting processing time.

No idea on how it's been stored so it could be a total blow-out, but thought it would be fun to try out.

AgX · Apr 30, 2015

In any case you got a nice cassette for the shelf...

ozphoto · Apr 30, 2015

So true, AgX; I have a collection of old cans and it will be a *very* nice addition.

Kevin Caulfield · Apr 30, 2015

Stand development is maybe the way to go. It must be 30 years old at least?

Richard S. (rich815) · Apr 30, 2015

If it was mine I'd shoot it at ASA 25 and develop in HC-110 dil H for 9 min at 20C.

flavio81 · Apr 30, 2015

Kevin Caulfield said:
Stand development is maybe the way to go. It must be 30 years old at least?

I think ISS exists since 1949 at least. So perhaps about 60 years old or more.

EDIT: These posts have useful info:

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(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Trask · Apr 30, 2015

FWIW, I have a bottle of Rodinal from around 1975-80 in the original box, and it lists developing times at 20C/68F for ISS as:

1+25 at 5 - 7 minutes
1+50 at 9 - 11 minutes

mehguy · Apr 30, 2015

it be pretty cool to develop. the contrast and the grain would be very funky. back when these were produced, did ALL film canisters come reusable?

ozphoto · Apr 30, 2015

mehguy, I also love the reusable steel aluminium cans from the period as well - got 2 or three of those; one is actually an old ADOX can. From memory, most cans came as reusable at least until the late 80s (except for 95% of the Kodak cans).

I remember when they all started to be "crimped" - I worked a semi-pro lab and saved every reusable can I could lay my hands on. I've a 9L bucket full of them now!

ozphoto · Apr 30, 2015

Kevin Caulfield said:
Stand development is maybe the way to go. It must be 30 years old at least?

Hmmm, never tried stand development - I'll have to investigate that further,

Richard Sintchak (rich815) said:
If it was mine I'd shoot it at ASA 25 and develop in HC-110 dil H for 9 min at 20C.

Thanks for a speed rating suggestion; it's 36 exposures, maybe I'll trim to shorter lengths to try out a couple of speed ratings.

flavio81 said:
I think ISS exists since 1949 at least. So perhaps about 60 years old or more.

EDIT: These posts have useful info:

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Thanks for the links - I'll check these out too!

Trask said:
FWIW, I have a bottle of Rodinal from around 1975-80 in the original box, and it lists developing times at 20C/68F for ISS as:

1+25 at 5 - 7 minutes
1+50 at 9 - 11 minutes

Great! A starting point for possible development times.

Thanks all; looking forward to getting it loaded and shooting.

dynachrome · May 1, 2015

In the 1970s both Agfa and Ilford sold b&w film in reusable cartridges. In markets outside of the U.S. Ilford sold film wound onto a spool and sealed in a foil packet. I think there was a cardboard tube protecting it. In a darkroom or changing bag you would open the foil and put the spool with the film into the outside piece of an old cartridge and snap everything together with the old caps. You had to remember to let the leader stick out. I remember using the system and it worked well. It also saved some money. At the time I didn't have a changing bag so I used an old winter coat and turned off the room light. It was an adventure for a 14 year old.

AgX · May 2, 2015

dynachrome said:
In markets outside of the U.S. Ilford sold film wound onto a spool and sealed in a foil packet.

Basically there were two kinds of reloading-packs other than just plain bulk film. Reloading packs were common in Eastern-Europe.

Old Agfa ISS Film

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