Polypan F issues

Truzi · Jan 18, 2014

AgX said:
With all respect then you should not be surprised when some mishap occurs.

Because I only read English or because I had used equipment? lol. Seriously, though, I was not surprized. It was part of the learning experience. I then searched APUG for hours; the threads that did have information on agitation had, as usual, so many different opinions. Then I found one thread (of many) that explained development, and finally understood what was going on. I think it was an article, but I just searched and cannot find it again. It was tough to find the first time.

David Lyga · Jan 18, 2014

Does anyone have a RELIABLE link for a retailer who sells Polypan F in bulk rolls of 35mm perforated?

I have tried other links from other threads and have experienced either no reply or no working website! Are there distributors in the USA or must one buy from Germany? - David Lyga

pdeeh · Jan 18, 2014

a little googling turned up the following Dead Link Removed

Truzi · Jan 18, 2014

David Lyga said:
Does anyone have a RELIABLE link for a retailer who sells Polypan F in bulk rolls of 35mm perforated?

I have tried other links from other threads and have experienced either no reply or no working website! Are there distributors in the USA or must one buy from Germany? - David Lyga

I got mine from the ebay seller in Germany (haven't tried it yet). The user is cameraboerse, and usually has auctions for the film separately in English/USD and German. If it disappears, give it time, there will be a relisting. Here is a link to a current auction:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/POLYPAN-F-5...5663854?pt=US_Camera_Film&hash=item51b7c79eee

David Lyga · Jan 18, 2014

pdeeh and Truzi:

First, thank you both, but I will rant:

I am aware of the photography project and don't want 36 exposure rolls. Besides their prices are quite high.

And, I do not want to buy from ebay. Maybe I am nuts to say that but I have my reasons.

One would think that Europe actually has a store where bulk rolls of Polypan F are actually sold every business day. Not auctioned. Not 'maybe'. Not 'once in a while'. This film is supposedly quite popular there and not too expensive. But to find a retailer is rather difficult. I ask for too much? - David Lyga

AgX · Jan 18, 2014

Truzi,

I started photography in the 70s.

I friend took me home and once showed me how to develop a film.

I bought myself a Jobo 1000 tank, a measuring cup, developer and fixer and I started.

I had no textbook of any kind. All went fine. After 3 or 4 films I started bulk loading. I had no bulk loader, no dark room, no changing bag. Still no textbook.
All went fine.

Today one got the internet and thousand times more information for free I could have had if I bought books.

Truzi · Jan 18, 2014

David Lyga said:
And, I do not want to buy from ebay. Maybe I am nuts to say that but I have my reasons.

You're not nuts. I've been phasing out ebay for some time. It is now an option of last resort for me.

@ AgX
I at least didn't totally ruin the film with the agitation. It was decade-old Tri-X of unknown origin, so I'd also over exposed 1-stop. It ended up with high contrast, but I think it'll be printable. The nice thing is, it lead me to learn some things I'd not have if I'd done everything "right" in the first place. This past year my agitation has been good, too.

AgX · Jan 18, 2014

pdeeh said:
a little googling turned up the following Dead Link Removed

80$ ???

That is more than you pay for Ilford and much more than for Agfa bulk films!

georg16nik · Jan 18, 2014

David Lyga said:
....
One would think that Europe actually has a store where bulk rolls of Polypan F are actually sold every business day. Not auctioned. Not 'maybe'. Not 'once in a while'. This film is supposedly quite popular there and not too expensive. But to find a retailer is rather difficult. I ask for too much? - David Lyga

http://www.lumiere-shop.de/index.php?page=categorie&cat=79

AgX · Jan 18, 2014

That is also 80$ (though including VAT now).

So far Polypan F was depicted as cheap film. At this price it definitely is not.

pdeeh · Jan 18, 2014

AgX said:
80$ ???

That is more than you pay for Ilford and much more than for Agfa bulk films!

I didn't say it was cheap, but David just asked for a reliable link for a source for bulk film, and that's what I posted.

all filmphotographyproject films are ludicrously overpriced.

pdeeh · Jan 18, 2014

http://www.lumiere-shop.de/index.php...tegorie&cat=79

AgX said:
That is also 80$ (though including VAT now).

So far Polypan F was depicted as cheap film. At this price it definitely is not.

but it is the price for a 150 metre can of film.
$80 for 152M (nearly 500 feet) is very cheap indeed surely?

AgX · Jan 18, 2014

Sorry, I did not read correctly. Yes, that is an attractive offer (in contrast to the preceeding offer).

ath · Jan 18, 2014

georg16nik said:
http://www.lumiere-shop.de/index.php?page=categorie&cat=79

Just to add that lumiereshop is closed until Jan 27.
http://www.lumiere-shop.de/index.php?page=index

georg16nik · Jan 18, 2014

AgX said:
That is also 80$ (though including VAT now).

So far Polypan F was depicted as cheap film. At this price it definitely is not.

back in 2012, a single Polypan F 152m film can used go for ~ 30 Euros, the 90m was ~ 20 Euros.
in 2010 was going for even less.. I am too old to remember what i paid for it in 2008

AgX · Jan 18, 2014

I always wanted to buy used film...

Xmas · Jan 19, 2014

David Lyga said:
Does anyone have a RELIABLE link for a retailer who sells Polypan F in bulk rolls of 35mm perforated?

I have tried other links from other threads and have experienced either no reply or no working website! Are there distributors in the USA or must one buy from Germany? - David Lyga

Try google but Ge is best bet

But even free to your door it is hard work exposing and processing.

No presoak, water stop, temper to less then 1C, no squeegee & then you still get light piping and halation...

Xmas · Jan 19, 2014

Truzi said:
You're not nuts. I've been phasing out ebay for some time. It is now an option of last resort for me.

@ AgX
I at least didn't totally ruin the film with the agitation. It was decade-old Tri-X of unknown origin, so I'd also over exposed 1-stop. It ended up with high contrast, but I think it'll be printable. The nice thing is, it lead me to learn some things I'd not have if I'd done everything "right" in the first place. This past year my agitation has been good, too.

Hi Truzi
I just pour in the dev, water, plain hypo fix, or hypo clear never agitate, except for Ilfords three bath archival final wash when I invert the Patterson tanks more frequently
But I always temper.
so Im bad bad bad person cept for C or F...
Noel

David Lyga · Jan 19, 2014

gerog16nik

Thank you for the link to the Lumiere webpage. Yes, indeed, the film is priced quite low but the shipping is rather expensive at the equivalent of about USD 60 (unless you spend more than 10,000 Euros!!!). This was difficult for me to find but hopefully it will be helpful for many. - David Lyga

grommi · Jan 19, 2014

Hi David, Lumiere seems to be the only source for PPF at least here in Germany at the moment. And a seller on a camera market told me last year that the Polypan aera will end soon. There shall have been only one production run years ago and the (frozen) supply declines. That sounds reasonable since there seem to be no more 90-m bulk rolls available, only 152 m, and there's only one seller left. That also would explain the increased price.

I never had any quality issue with Polypan F. I can't confirm a non-hardened emulsion, never had any scatches, e.g. from bulkloading or other raw treatment. I also don't care much for the temperature of the washing water. Plus/minus 0.5 °C? Good joke! Also no problems with light piping if loaded in subdued light. Besides the lack of the AH-layer it is a robust and high quality film imo. Developing times for Ilford PanF work perfect for me ;-) I mostly expose at EI 100, a scarse exposure and a "fast" developer like Xtol or (yes!) Caffenol-C help to save the highlights. The remaining little "glow" can be rather charming.

I'm really amused by all these "Polypan is..." and "Polypan is not..." statements here.

Best - Reinhold

David Lyga · Jan 19, 2014

Thanks, grommi.

I do, indeed, hate your VAT tax in Europe. I thought that US residents were exempt? The film is priced fairly although I understand that it was even cheaper a year or so ago. And, that shipping minimum of the equivalent of USD 60!!! (46.7 Euro) - David Lyga

georg16nik · Jan 19, 2014

David Lyga said:
gerog16nik

Thank you for the link to the Lumiere webpage. Yes, indeed, the film is priced quite low but the shipping is rather expensive at the equivalent of about USD 60 (unless you spend more than 10,000 Euros!!!). This was difficult for me to find but hopefully it will be helpful for many. - David Lyga

David, you are welcome.

shipping to / from USA is a topic of its own

Xmas said:
...No presoak, water stop, temper to less then 1C, no squeegee & then you still get light piping and halation...

in regards to light piping... yes you can ruin the first or second shots of the roll if you don't know how to handle film coated on PET base.
halation with Polypan F is possible but easy (for me) to control, just use a hood and learn your way around aggressive light scenes.

between film coated on triacetate base and film coated on PET base, i pick the archival PET base.

David Lyga · Jan 19, 2014

georga6nik:

Can't we bribe a Lufthansa stewardess to carry the film in order to avoid high shipping costs? She lands right at Philadelphia International, only a 20 minute train ride from center of Philadelphia! - David Lyga

georg16nik · Jan 19, 2014

David Lyga said:
georga6nik:

Can't we bribe a Lufthansa stewardess to carry the film in order to avoid high shipping costs? She lands right at Philadelphia International, only a 20 minute train ride from center of Philadelphia! - David Lyga

thats a good one, Lufthansas are tough to crack

AgX · Jan 19, 2014

David Lyga said:
Thanks, grommi.

I do, indeed, hate your VAT tax in Europe. I thought that US residents were exempt? The film is priced fairly although I understand that it was even cheaper a year or so ago. And, that shipping minimum of the equivalent of USD 60!!! (46.7 Euro) - David Lyga

Well, we hate many things overseas too...

Lumiere Shop indeed employs the automatic service NOT to bill VAT for buyers outside the EU.

I have not found anything hinting at a minimum order or shipping costs of 60$. To the contrary, they state to bill the actual shipping costs. (In times with no more surface parcels that might be high though...)

Polypan F issues

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