Quality control experiences with 120 B&W negative films on PET base?

Oren Grad · Mar 27, 2022

Lachlan Young said:
If people were willing to pay Ilford money for Fomapan, I understand the Fomapan 200 issues would largely resolve themselves. Given the choice, I think that the manufacturers would prefer to coat on Estar, were it not for the risk of a film jam causing potential camera destruction - and it makes considerable sense to move to Estar bases for 120, as and when coating packages come up for review etc (or intro-re-introduction to a news format).

Indeed. I would gladly pay Kodak or Ilford money for this. I guess Kodak is a likelier bet in the foreseeable future as they've evidently already started to move their 120 color neg to PET, or perhaps Adox depending on how long it takes them to get their 120 equipment fully operational.

cmacd123 · Mar 27, 2022

Lachlan Young said:
Given the choice, I think that the manufacturers would prefer to coat on Estar, were it not for the risk of a film jam causing potential camera destruction - and it makes considerable sense to move to Estar bases for 120,.

I do recall that simon galley once described an accident with a polyester coating run where major repairs were required. and he was not in favour of making any more Polyester runs after that. Poly is amazingly hard to break, and so any problems result in steel breaking first.

MattKing · Mar 27, 2022

Polyester is a pain with 35mm film due to light piping issues. I would be leery of using it with a bulk film loader.

AgX · Mar 28, 2022

MattKing said:
Polyester is a pain with 35mm film due to light piping issues.

This is one of those photographic stories told over and over again, which though will not become true by this.

The lightpiping effect seen at at current films with PET base is due to that very base not being designed for type 135.
A PET base designed for type 135 would not show this effect.

Lachlan Young · Mar 28, 2022

cmacd123 said:
I do recall that simon galley once described an accident with a polyester coating run where major repairs were required. and he was not in favour of making any more Polyester runs after that. Poly is amazingly hard to break, and so any problems result in steel breaking first.

No, I'm pretty sure it was Ron describing a very high speed cinema camera being tested in a department of KRL with polyester base stock & jamming - ripping the camera apart with incredible force. Ilford coat on polyester for all their sheet film products - and the majority of what they coated at Marly was on polyester (Ilfochrome in its various forms).

Helge · Mar 28, 2022

I think I’d prefer Estar on almost all counts. Except being able to “panic” rip when developing or unloading a jammed camera.
Clearer base. Can dry flatter. Harder.

Auer · Mar 28, 2022

As a sidenote, The Lab-Box tank is unsuitable for PET films in 120 (and some 135 too apparently but I never had that problem).

This would be a setback for those who use one from time to time. Like me.

grat · Mar 28, 2022

Problems with PET films was the primary reason I avoided the lab box.

Quality control experiences with 120 B&W negative films on PET base?

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