orthochromatic films

[pellicle]

Hi

are there still any orthochromatic films? I'd like to try something which is sensitive only to (say) green light without needing to put lots of filters on.

thanks

 

[nemo999]

See here:
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)
As far as I know, Ilford Ortho is still available in sheet film, too. Note that all b+w films are sensitive to blue - if you want to photograph with ortho film using only green light, you will have to use a green, yellow/green or yellow filter. The result with ortho film through a green filter will be the same as with panchromatic film with the same filter.

 

[Stan160]

ADOX Ortho is the only one I have used, although only a single roll. Exceedingly sharp and fine-grained. I think Ilford also have an ortho film, but not sure how easily obtainable and I've got a feeling only available in sheets.

Ian

 

[snallan]

Ilford do a range of ortho films in sheet form. And Rollei and Adox produce ortho films in 35mm (Rollei also supplies it in 120).

The films tend to be high contrast, and require soft working developers for pictorial use, and can produce very fine grain and good sharpness.

 

[Martin Aislabie]

Ilford have this - http://www.ilfordphoto.com/products/product.asp?n=55&t=Specialist+Products

It’s only available as sheet film

Note - the 5x4 film is actually 5x4 - not the slightly trimmed down version that fits Darkslides

Ortho film is sensitive to blue & green - but not red.

I am not aware of any film that is just green sensitive

Early photographic emulsions were only blue sensitive - the photographic chemists have over the years managed to extend B&Ws films colour sensitivity to first green, then red and finally infra red

Martin

 

[DeBone 75]

X-ray Film. Comes in green or blue sensitive.

 

[Ian Grant]

Ortho Plus / standard sheet film sizes / fits dark-slides

Over the years I've used many thousands of sheets of the Ilford Ortho films and never had a problem with them fitting dark-slides. Apart from being Orthochromatic the film is fairly similar to FP4.

Ilford's website states "ORTHO COPY PLUS Film is a medium speed fine grain film for studio photography, continuous tone copying, medical and forensic applications. It is available in popular sheet film sizes." which means they are designed to fit normal dark-slides.

Other types of orthochromatic graphic arts films used in the printing trade are not designed for conventional LF camera use so may not fit dark-slides unless cut to size.

Ian

 

[archphoto]

Maybe a stupid Q: has Rollei taken over the old Agfa line of B&W?
I used to make a lot of photo's on Agfa Ortho and want to use that again.

Peter

 

[MikeSeb]

Is Maco ort25 still being made, or is it now called something else? I haven't used it in a few years. Love it though. Spectacular for portraits of men.

I'm told you can simulate the effect on pan film with a blue filter. Anyone tried it?

 

[MikeSeb]

Is Maco ort25 still being made, or is it now called something else? I haven't used it in a few years. Love it though. Spectacular for portraits of men.

I'm told you can simulate the effect on pan film with a blue filter. Anyone tried it?

 

[removed account4]

i miss tri x 400 ortho,
it was beautiful stuff

 

[Ian Grant]

No Rollei is Maco's new brand name for re-branded films, some of which were the last production from Agfa.

Ian

 

[Dave in Kansas]

i miss tri x 400 ortho,
it was beautiful stuff

Yes, I agree with you. It was one of my favorites too, along with Kodak's "Commercial" film. If I recall, it was numbered 4127 in the catalog. Unfortunately, Kodak has discontinued most of my favorite films.

Dave

 

[Jeff L]

I just bought a two 120 rolls of just expired MACOPHOT 100 Ortho. Have no idea who makes it, or how long to develop it in HC 100 or DDX. I also have no idea what to expect.
Is MACO still around? If anyone has any info, it'd be appreciated.
I just saw that Ian Grant says that MACO is now Rollei.
Jeff

 

[ath]

Is Maco ort25 still being made, or is it now called something else? I haven't used it in a few years. Love it though. Spectacular for portraits of men.

I'm told you can simulate the effect on pan film with a blue filter. Anyone tried it?

AFAIK Maco Ort25 was made by Fotokemika (EFKE) and Maco stopped partnership with them.
I think they have a new Ort25 under the Rollei label; and Fotoimpex one under the Adox label.

 

[Jim Noel]

Ilford do a range of ortho films in sheet form. And Rollei and Adox produce ortho films in 35mm (Rollei also supplies it in 120).

The films tend to be high contrast, and require soft working developers for pictorial use, and can produce very fine grain and good sharpness.

If the film is too contrasty it has more to do with developer and development methods than just the film. In fact, since ortho emulsions see only blue blue/green light shadows are opened up which should reduce overall contrast.

 

[Ian Grant]

The Ilford Ortho film is designed for flexibility, processed normally like FP4 etc it isn't any higher contrast, however you can process for much higher contrasts in various developers, and Ilford make suggestions in the data sheet.

FP4 can also be processed to similar high contrasts but the Ortho film has an edge when it comes to quality.

Ian

 

[pellicle]

Hi

Ilford have this - http://www.ilfordphoto.com/products/product.asp?n=55&t=Specialist+Products

Note - the 5x4 film is actually 5x4 - not the slightly trimmed down version that fits Darkslides

interesting ... I didn't know there was a difference

 

[jim appleyard]

Is Maco ort25 still being made, or is it now called something else? I haven't used it in a few years. Love it though. Spectacular for portraits of men.

I'm told you can simulate the effect on pan film with a blue filter. Anyone tried it?

Yes, I've used an 80B filter to simulate ortho film. Does a nice job and is easier than buying and shooting a whole roll of ortho for a few shots.

I've also read where where ortho film is better, but like I said, for one or two shots...

 

[Ian Grant]

Hi
interesting ... I didn't know there was a difference

There isn't in this case, Martin's not read the data-sheet & Ilford info properly, or used the film . However Graphic arts films usually sold in 10x8 and larger are designed for process/repro camera use and so aren't cut to fit dark-slides.

Ian

 

[removed account4]

Yes, I agree with you. It was one of my favorites too, along with Kodak's "Commercial" film. If I recall, it was numbered 4127 in the catalog. Unfortunately, Kodak has discontinued most of my favorite films.

Dave

i wish i was around when a lady i worked for dissassembled / broke down he studio.
boxes and boxes of 5x7 tri x ortho were tossed into the dumpster ...
i loved it when she shot men's portraits with that stuff, it gave them such
"character" ... i guess the closest thing we have left is paper negatives
LOL and they are not close to asa 400 ...

- john

 

[snallan]

If the film is too contrasty it has more to do with developer and development methods than just the film. In fact, since ortho emulsions see only blue blue/green light shadows are opened up which should reduce overall contrast.

Perhaps I should have been a little more complete in my description.

In my experience, the current ortho films are generally designed as graphic films for copy work, and as such, have a higher contrast than normal films when developed using normal film developer and dilutions. They can be developed for normal pictorial use using low contrast, or softer working developers. In contrast (NPI), they can give very graphic, high-contrast results with lith developer.

The effect on the recorded subject local contrast, due to the spectral response of the film, is another factor to take into consideration when used for pictorial work.

 

[Ian Grant]

Steve, your right in many ways, the contrast is inherent in Graphics films, usually contrast is important for their designed aplication. These films do require special developer.

The Ilford Ortho film is used mainly as a copy film but has normal contrast when processed normally and requires much longer dev times/concentrations or different developers for higher contrasts, the reverse of most graphics films. Ilford pulled out of the Xray & Graphics markets many years ago they sold out to Agfa, I did use some of their lith/line type films in the 70's.

Ian

 

[snallan]

The Ilford Ortho film is used mainly as a copy film but has normal contrast when processed normally and requires much longer dev times/concentrations or different developers for higher contrasts, the reverse of most graphics films.
Ian

Ah, interesting. I have been considering using the Ilford Ortho for making enlarged negatives. That info could cut down on the necessary trials (Note to self - Must read data sheet ).