maris,
I've shot and processed several rolls of Shanghai 220 format and the packaging is interesting:
The backing paper is obviously re-cut from 120 stock.
Only the sticky paper closing the roll designates 220 format.
The (masking?) tape joining the leader and tail papers to the film is not full width.
The cutting and assembly of this film is in detail slightly crooked everywhere. I speculate that Shanghai 220 is hand assembled by hard working Chinese people spending their days in a black room. I remember years ago Kodak in Melbourne, Australia employed about thirty blind people for tasks just like this.
The Shanghai 220 films I've used had flawless emulsion on a grey base but without edge markings. No maker's name or frame numbers. With my light meter, Sekonic 758, and my metering method, chasing Zone III shadow detail, I have to rate this film at E.I. = 25 to get the negatives I like.
The backing paper is obviously re-cut from 120 stock.
Only the sticky paper closing the roll designates 220 format.
The (masking?) tape joining the leader and tail papers to the film is not full width.
Whatever is in the GP3 box, las long as the boxes have the same emulsion number printed on, ist must be the same material.
I did receive 2 different films with same emulsion number on the box.
Was it an oversight, or is it a business model? Who knows ....
I do expect Shanghai is using its own backing paper independed which material is rolled in the backing paper.
All the film manufactures had the same problem at the same time.
+1 on it being a concern if GP3 changes without any change of name or info on the packaging. If one batch really is Fomapan 100 and another is something else....that's not good if you're expecting your two batches of film to perform similarly. While it's a bit dodgy to say "This is new Shanghai GP4" or "This is new and improved GP3" at least you know it's changed.
Shanghai GP3 100 (220) is like a grab bag.
I purchased 10 GP3 220 in November 2022 and 10 GP3 220 in December 2022.
All 20 films have the same data on the boxes (Emulsion number: 3101 - Develop before: 2024-02).
The first 8 films (November delivery) I used behaved like FOMApan 100 ( see my post #236 in this thread ).
But ...
Yesterday I developed film the 9th film and it was total different to the 8 other films.
The color of the water used to pre-soak had been light green for the fist 8 films. The color was dark gray-blue on film #9.
The film requieres different developing times than the first 8 films.
And ... The film had a bright, looped stripe in the middle of the film over its entire length.
Since I was uncertain, I performed another test. I exposed a film from the December delivery with a gray card (Zone I to Zone X at 100 ASA). I split the film in half and developed both halves in separate tanks. One film with ATOMAL 49 and one film with FX39. The results were exactly the same as with film 9. There was no FOMApan 100 like film and the error in the emulsion was also present.
I think I will dispose of the remaining films.
As much as I like 220 format films, I will not be using "exotic" films in the future.
Farewell Shanghai GP3 !
I agree with you, but it's obviously acceptable in China.And of course such a complete change of material without any info to the customer is not acceptable.
I agree with you, but it's obviously acceptable in China.
Unfortunately not only in China.......as western film rebranding companies have done it, too. Like Maco, they are even doing that quite permanently.
Yes, it’s a shame or i should say, a sham, but it has become acceptable to do so. Question is how do we stop it from continuing? I think the cat is out of the bag and no one is going to be able to catch it.
How it could be stopped?
At least we as experienced photographers can report about that here on photrio, on youtube in the comment section when one of these film scams is presented, in other film photographer groups like those on facebook, on instagram.
We as affected consumers should not be quiet.
Oh, if we had the power to make any changes.
We have the power. We just have to start, and stop being passive and quiet.
I have a new use for my Shanghai 220. I have a couple of Graflex RH20's, which I've loaded up ready to shoot. Running it through my Jim Galvin Back, attached to my Peco Juniors. The Galvin Back was designed to be used with the Graflex Wind Lever Backs, which BTW are super nice IMO.
220 is photo firepower. That really hasn't changed over time. Some times short rolls are a PITA and this stuff still has a place
I go through 36 exp of 35mm easily walking around for an hour or so,
Just out of curosity, what do you with the images after you have shot them? Do they go on a social media feed, do you make prints and hang/exhibit them somewhere, or do they simply lurk in Print-File pages in a large binder?
Photography to me is...an escape in the best way. And the process of film photography just adds to that.
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