Report from the Photokina 2014

[Ricardo Miranda]

Nor do I.
But, it is or was available via ebay as far as I know.

 

[Henning Serger]

Where is it sold......

Mainly in China and some other developing markets.

How does it compare to Fuji and Kodak in terms of price and quality?
Thanks
pentaxuser

Significantly less quality at lower price.
As both Fujifilm's and Kodak's RA-4 papers are excellent and extremely cheap (probably too cheap, you can get RA-4 prints here in Germany for 1 (!!!) Cent at one drugstore chain) Lucky is not such an attractive alternative. Stay with Fuji and Kodak, and your prints will last.

Best regards,
Henning

 

[pdeeh]

Speaking of sheets of things made in China, I used to see Shanghai 8x10 on eBay fairly regularly but it seems to have completely disappeared now that I might want to buy some.

 

[Ektagraphic]

Thank you for such a great report! This sounds far more positive (for the most part..except for KA) than I would have expected. Very reassuring! I would love to be able to make it to Photokina some day in life.

 

[Oxleyroad]

Thanks Henning, almost as good as being there. No I am kidding. I'd love to have been there myself. Thanks to your fine update I've learnt of some more products we can't get here in Australia.

 

[Ricardo Miranda]

Speaking of sheets of things made in China, I used to see Shanghai 8x10 on eBay fairly regularly but it seems to have completely disappeared now that I might want to buy some.

I had seen it in the past. Today I could only find one seller for 50 rolls of Shanghai 120.

 

[prumpkah]

Henning, thanks for a most interesting report.

Did you happen to notice any signs of life for 127 roll film?

 

[MartinP]

The Ferrania project has the necessary finishing equipment for 127 rolls and reported that they had been approached already, by several companies wanting to sub-contract the finishing of their own products in 127 size. See the Ferrania websites for more news . . .

 

[Henning Serger]

Henning, thanks for a most interesting report.

Did you happen to notice any signs of life for 127 roll film?

Besides the "Rera Pan 127", which is finished by an enthusiast Japanese engineer and already available, there is another project going on.
They are working on industrial 127 finishing. Currently some technical problems have yet to be solved.
If these problems can be successfully solved, further 127 films will be available.
More cannot be said by me because of NDA.

Best regards,
Henning

 

[prumpkah]

Henning, vielen dank!

 

[prumpkah]

Martin, encouraging to hear.

 

[Chris Livsey]

Excellent reporting.
This may expand a little on the Ilford situation without breaking any NDA:

http://www.whoarewe.com/uncategorized/100m-investment-planned-for-iconic-mobberley-site/

That was 2013 and the proposal is currently in the planning approval stages, still. There is considerable local opposition, to the housing. The Ilford/Harman representative was presenting a positive message I have no doubt but Cheshire East’s Strategic Planning Group will be deciding on the Ilford Way site on the 12th Nov.

 

[Film-Niko]

Thanks Henning for the excellent, detailed report!
Reading your postings is always very interesting and helpful.
Encouraging news.
But I agree: Lots have still to be done for a sustainable revival.
And we as film enthusiasts have to do our part.
And we can do quite a lot!

I find the following very interesting:
Looks like European manufacturers are the future for film and paper:
- Inoviscoat has already a modern, about right-sized factory for color and BW film and paper in Germany
- Ilford is modernising and re-scaling their factory for BW products at Mobberley
- Film Ferrania is working on building a right sized factory for color and BW in the long term in Italy
- Foma has its medium sized factory in Czech republic
- Adox has a very small factory for finishing and emulsion making in Germany
- Agfa in Belgium has a big factory
- Kodak Alaris is operating a factory for RA-4 paper in Harrow, England
- Fujifilm has a big paper factory in the Netherlands
- Tetenal being a major producer of all photo chemistry, color and BW, Germany
- Fuji Hunt being a major producer of all photo chemistry, color and BW, Netherlands
- CPAC as color chemistry producer, Belgium?
- Bellini as smaller photochemistry producer, color and BW, Italy
- Schoeller as big base paper manufacturer for photo paper, Germany
- Spur, Moersch, Calbe, Adox, all photo chemical producers in Germany

And for gear:
Jobo, Rodenstock, Schneider, Kienzle, Heiland, Plaubel, Leica, DHW, Kaiser, Dunco, Linhof, Reflecta, Braun, Jensen, Götschmann, Diaspeed, Kunze, RBT:
all from Germany.
Walker, Paterson, RH Designs: England.
Arca Swiss: France.
Silvestri: Italy.
Alpa: Switzerland.
Certainly I have forgotten several manufacturers.

Impressive what is all coming from Europe for our film photography.
And fortunately lots of very active, flexible and innovative companies.

 

[AgX]

add:

Slavich, Ornano, Speedibrews, AP, Impossible, Maco, Cambo, Gepe, Reprolux and more...

 

[AgX]

and Tasma, Revolog, Lomography, Fischer

 

[miha]

... ORWO filmoTec, Bergger, Zeiss

 

[AgX]

and Wephota, Wittner

 

[baachitraka]

Do not underestimate ORWO esp., UN54.

 

[Trask]

Thank you, Henning, for the information regarding B/W reversal processing. Those are some impressive images you've put up here. You've given me lots to think about.

 

[miha]

Nova, Minox, (FEM Kunze??)

 

[AgX]

This seems a never ending story...

But... Minox retracted from the analogue field.

 

[miha]

Possibly, but they still sell Minox film trough their shop.

 

[mnemosyne]

Thank you, Henning, for the information regarding B/W reversal processing. Those are some impressive images you've put up here. You've given me lots to think about.

B/W reversal gives some stunning results indeed and I would happily use it more frequently, well that is, if FOMA, who are the last remaining producer of a dedicated reversal b/w film, would finally get their QC act together. I had four rolls of fresh Fomapan 100R developed by Studio 13 recently, the results were exceptional, but most of the pictures are covered with hundreds or thousands of black dots/specks that render them almost unusable. According to the lab, this is a rather common problem with Fomapan film. What a shame ...

 

[baachitraka]

Is it possible to reverse Orwo UN54? Since it gives very fine results when developed as negatives.

 

[Xmas]

Is it possible to reverse Orwo UN54? Since it gives very fine results when developed as negatives.

Yes

http://shop.silverprint.co.uk/Fomapan-R-Black-and-White-Reversal-Kit/product/54404/V70150/

but unless the base is clear projection is compromised.

The normal Foma 35mm negative base is faint blue.

Lantern slides (mono) for projection were done by contacting or enlarging on to plate glass emulsions similar to paper print emulsions.

That allowed better control of density, framing etc.