ORWO PF2 Positive Print Film

Just got some of this, both fresh-ish and "historically packed". It's specified at ISO 3, the images I've seen look orthochromatic, and it is a "positive print film".

Developer is indicated to be D97, which I have no problem mixing up and using. I am making an assumption that since it's D97, it will still develop as a negative image. If I am using it in camera, I will get a negative image, but it's a "positive print" film because it's taking a negative of a negative in normal use, right?

I know D97 is supposed to be much higher contrast for producing slides, but if I am using it in-camera processing it as normal black-and white negatives would still work, with some experimentation on exposure and development times, correct?

Thanks.

I'd expect so, yes. As always, load a short section into a cartridge and do some tests. It's half the fun of working with an 'unknown' film!

Wolfram Malukker said:

I am making an assumption that since it's D97, it will still develop as a negative image. If I am using it in camera, I will get a negative image, but it's a "positive print" film because it's taking a negative of a negative in normal use, right?

Click to expand...

exactly

Wolfram Malukker said:

I know D97 is supposed to be much higher contrast for producing slides, but if I am using [the film] in-camera processing it as normal black-and white negatives would still work, with some experimentation on exposure and development times, correct?

Click to expand...

yes, but you'll get negatives with bigger dynamic range and easier printing/scanning by using a classic negative developer like Kodak D-96, D-76 or XTOL. so unless there's a reason why you prefer higher contrast negatives I'd start with one of those.

Oh I fully intend to start with HC-110, D76, or D96, as I have those on hand. I already have to place an order with Bostick and Sullivan for components to make HW Control, for some microfilm experiments, and I may have a go using that as well-it brings an ISO 12 microfilm up to ISO 100 with good contrast, but I am not sure how or why yet.

D97 is for developing motion picture positives to gammas ranging from 2.60 to near 3.0 from negatives exposed and processed from .55 to .75 gamma in D96.

In other words, these contrast ranges really don't typically fit into a still photo workflow (outside of alternative processes), because the end result for motion pictures is a project-able transparency, not a reflection print.

Just treat it as an extremely slow, ortho film and use your typical b&w film developer.