Shanghai GP3 100 in 220 now available...

[Huss]

Absolute junk film. I had a miserable time with their 400 ISO film in 220 that I tried that I would never recommend this company's products. The worst quality control you can imagine - unless you are cool with uneven emulsion and you like your film pre-scratched from the mfg.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Absolute junk film. I had a miserable time with their 400 ISO film in 220 that I tried that I would never recommend this company's products. The worst quality control you can imagine - unless you are cool with uneven emulsion and you like your film pre-scratched from the mfg.

I shot a few rolls a few years ago. Nothing stellar, but never had any issues with quality control. I must have been lucky... At any rate, I don't think I'd like 220 as I prefer the shorter 120 rolls.

 

[MattKing]

IIRC, much of Huss' problem with the 220 he tried related to the really slipshod way it was converted into 220.

 

[Cholentpot]

Absolute junk film. I had a miserable time with their 400 ISO film in 220 that I tried that I would never recommend this company's products. The worst quality control you can imagine - unless you are cool with uneven emulsion and you like your film pre-scratched from the mfg.

Their GP3100 before they moved the factory was pretty good stuff. I cut my teeth on it. They shut down, moved and jacked up the prices while trashing the quality.

 

[Huss]

IIRC, much of Huss' problem with the 220 he tried related to the really slipshod way it was converted into 220.

I guess I get how converting it to 220 'could' account for them to scratching the heck out of it, but it does not explain the uneven emulsion coating.

 

[Agulliver]

Absolute junk film. I had a miserable time with their 400 ISO film in 220 that I tried that I would never recommend this company's products. The worst quality control you can imagine - unless you are cool with uneven emulsion and you like your film pre-scratched from the mfg.

Don't be so fast to judge. Was this the 220 film that appeared last year? THat was hand converted to 220 by an individual in his private darkroom and the conversion was not done well.

This appears to be a factory product. I've tried Shanghai GP3 100 in 127 format from one of the first batches and it's....decent. It's not the most up to date looking film but perhaps that's not what they want to make. It's lower contrast than, say, FP4+ or TMAX. But it's quite nice. The two rolls I shot were consistent and performed fine in 127. The Shanghai website does specifically say they're bringing back factory made 127 and 620, last time I looked it didn't mention 220 but if they've been able to do 220 also that's great.

The fact that 220 costs more than two 120 films has been discussed to death. Always did.

 

[Helge]

@ $7 (plus shipping no doubt) it’s just not competitive with Delta 100 in the EU.
The difference is 15 kr. in Denmark. Just not worth it.
@ $5 and in bricks, it would start to look like something.

 

[John Wiegerink]

Their GP3100 before they moved the factory was pretty good stuff. I cut my teeth on it. They shut down, moved and jacked up the prices while trashing the quality.

Your experience was the same as mine. I really liked the film in Rodinal 1:100 and Pyrocat-MC, but the reason I bought it in the first place was it was dirt cheap. It worked great to test newly acquired 120 folders and the like. Soon after trying it I bought more and used it for pretty much everything. In fact I sang its praises on this very forum, but the older GP3's ink number transfer had many people scared off. Now for the new films quality? I can't say because I won't buy it. Why won't I buy it if it's as good as the former? Price! Way too much compared to films from Ilford. If it did something special, such as Fuji Acros, I might be tempted, but it doesn't. If I hadn't sold my 220 backs then maybe??? Too much money for what it is for me, but hey, "There's a sucker born every minute". JohnW

 

[Cholentpot]

Your experience was the same as mine. I really liked the film in Rodinal 1:100 and Pyrocat-MC, but the reason I bought it in the first place was it was dirt cheap. It worked great to test newly acquired 120 folders and the like. Soon after trying it I bought more and used it for pretty much everything. In fact I sang its praises on this very forum, but the older GP3's ink number transfer had many people scared off. Now for the new films quality? I can't say because I won't buy it. Why won't I buy it if it's as good as the former? Price! Way too much compared to films from Ilford. If it did something special, such as Fuji Acros, I might be tempted, but it doesn't. If I hadn't sold my 220 backs then maybe??? Too much money for what it is for me, but hey, "There's a sucker born every minute". JohnW

I too sang its praises many times. The stuff was a classic looking film for a great price. I used it all the time, I would buy bricks of it. But only because it was cheap! The price point that it's at now? I'd rather just but from Kodak or Ilford., why mess with shoddy Chinese junk at premium prices?

 

[John Wiegerink]

I too sang its praises many times. The stuff was a classic looking film for a great price. I used it all the time, I would buy bricks of it. But only because it was cheap! The price point that it's at now? I'd rather just but from Kodak or Ilford., why mess with shoddy Chinese junk at premium prices?

I won't go as far describing it as Chinese junk, but I will say it ain't no FP4+, Tmax or Fuji Acros that's for sure. As for buying some of it??? Here's my thought and reason for buying some. 120 and 220 are out for me. I don't shoot 127 film and I roll my own 620 for my Medalist I, II and Monitor 620, but if they came to market 116 and 616 at a reasonable price then count me in. I love those old 116 Kodak No. 1a and 2A cameras along with some rather good 616 cameras. Now you're talking near large format size in a roll film camera. Enlarge or contact print yourself crazy. So, never say never I guess. JohnW

 

[Cholentpot]

I won't go as far describing it as Chinese junk, but I will say it ain't no FP4+, Tmax or Fuji Acros that's for sure. As for buying some of it??? Here's my thought and reason for buying some. 120 and 220 are out for me. I don't shoot 127 film and I roll my own 620 for my Medalist I, II and Monitor 620, but if they came to market 116 and 616 at a reasonable price then count me in. I love those old 116 Kodak No. 1a and 2A cameras along with some rather good 616 cameras. Now you're talking near large format size in a roll film camera. Enlarge or contact print yourself crazy. So, never say never I guess. JohnW

I've been rolling my own Plus-X Aero from 70mm rolls recently. Odd film but it does the job.

 

[GP3 Offical Account]

Hi All
Thanks for all who are interesting in 220 format GP3.
We knew that there are few bad experiences may happen due to the quality control before. We keep improving our film quality all the time. and get better experience for using our Film.
Hope this account can solve some questions for your guys. also you can email us on info@shjcfilm.com

Thanks



Our arm is Let GP3 film be the most reasonable and affordable price but with good quantity's black and white film.

 

[Cholentpot]

Hi All
Thanks for all who are interesting in 220 format GP3.
We knew that there are few bad experiences may happen due to the quality control before. We keep improving our film quality all the time. and get better experience for using our Film.
Hope this account can solve some questions for your guys. also you can email us on info@shjcfilm.com

Thanks



Our arm is Let GP3 film be the most reasonable and affordable price but with good quantity's black and white film.

Bring back the bargain bricks of GP3 120.

 

[Agulliver]

Hi All
Thanks for all who are interesting in 220 format GP3.
We knew that there are few bad experiences may happen due to the quality control before. We keep improving our film quality all the time. and get better experience for using our Film.
Hope this account can solve some questions for your guys. also you can email us on info@shjcfilm.com

Thanks



Our arm is Let GP3 film be the most reasonable and affordable price but with good quantity's black and white film.

Thank you for having a presence here on Photrio.

I will assume that the price is as competitive as you can make it, and that we're never going to see the bargains we had before.

What I'd like to see is more unusual formats. I can use 127 and 620, but also 220 and 116. I am sure many here would appreciate factory produced film in unusual formats. I've tried your 127 GP3 and it's nice, not as good as Rerapan but it is cheaper and always nice to have another option available. Ensure quality control is of a high standard. Keep supplies going. Distribution is important too.

 

[flavio81]

Hi All
Thanks for all who are interesting in 220 format GP3.
We knew that there are few bad experiences may happen due to the quality control before. We keep improving our film quality all the time. and get better experience for using our Film.
Hope this account can solve some questions for your guys. also you can email us on info@shjcfilm.com

Thanks



Our arm is Let GP3 film be the most reasonable and affordable price but with good quantity's black and white film.

So nice to see presence of another manufacturer in Photrio. Welcome to photrio!!

I see 220, 620 and 127 formats are there with factory boxes which is great news.

I love using 220 film and I am really excited by this announcement, even though the current price for GP3 220 doesn't make too much sense to me, to be honest. As for the backing paper problems, people should remember that 220 film doesn't have a backing paper for the actual film, only for the leader and for the end of the roll. So there should be less problems.

Again, the price leaves me scratching my head a little bit; i would be glad to buy a 10-pack or 20-pack of rolls if the price was at a nicer discount.

People are saying very bad things about GP3, perhaps due to quality issues in the past, but i've seen very beautiful results from GP3.

 

[Cholentpot]

So nice to see presence of another manufacturer in Photrio. Welcome to photrio!!

I see 220, 620 and 127 formats are there with factory boxes which is great news.

I love using 220 film and I am really excited by this announcement, even though the current price for GP3 220 doesn't make too much sense to me, to be honest. As for the backing paper problems, people should remember that 220 film doesn't have a backing paper for the actual film, only for the leader and for the end of the roll. So there should be less problems.

Again, the price leaves me scratching my head a little bit; i would be glad to buy a 10-pack or 20-pack of rolls if the price was at a nicer discount.

People are saying very bad things about GP3, perhaps due to quality issues in the past, but i've seen very beautiful results from GP3.

I had wonderful results from the stuff in the past. And it was even better that it was less than $2 per roll!

 

[flavio81]

I am not that interested at this time to use 220. 120 works well for me with my limited use of MF; though i can see that usage increasing.

220 film lets you shoot twice the amount of frames without any kind of interruption that could be a detriment on your creative flow or process. With 6x4.5 format i get 30 shots (some backs can get 32) which is a lot, very close to a 35mm shooting experience.

Then, if you develop at home, you're developing twice the amount of film in only one operation, with only one spool, using only the same amount of chemicals. Yes you can do the same by taping two 120 rolls back to back, but it's a bit more effort (unwind two spools, tape them, etc).

Backing paper problems are lessened since the backing paper is used only at the beginning and end of the film.

220 film can be rewinded easily since the film is taped to the backing paper at the beginning AND at the end. Opening up more creative possibilities. Redscaling a C41 220 film should be very easy.

I love 220 film so much, i can't understand why it hasn't won over 120, considering that a lot of the pro medium format cameras are ready to take 220 film or have wide availability of 220 backs, like Mamiya C330/220, Pentax 6x7, some Rolleiflexes, Bronica ETR, SQ, GS, and others. I mean, 220 film was introduced in 1965, so many, many, many classic cameras have the capability to use 220.

 

[abruzzi]

You mention the exact reason 220 doesn’t work for me—too d@nm many frames. The ETRSi 15 frames on a 120 roll is the upper limit—10 frames 6x7 is perfect. The ubiquity of 36 exposure 35mm is one of the reasons I mostly bulk load on 35, so I can do 15-20 frame rolls.

 

[Paul Howell]

Foma is about half the price of Shanghai GP3, unless I was shooting a wedding in B&W I would rather carry a few additional 120 backs.

 

[Huss]

Don't be so fast to judge. Was this the 220 film that appeared last year? THat was hand converted to 220 by an individual in his private darkroom and the conversion was not done well.

This appears to be a factory product. I've tried Shanghai GP3 100 in 127 format from one of the first batches and it's....decent. It's not the most up to date looking film but perhaps that's not what they want to make. It's lower contrast than, say, FP4+ or TMAX. But it's quite nice. The two rolls I shot were consistent and performed fine in 127. The Shanghai website does specifically say they're bringing back factory made 127 and 620, last time I looked it didn't mention 220 but if they've been able to do 220 also that's great.

The fact that 220 costs more than two 120 films has been discussed to death. Always did.

I'm judging by my experience with a factory branded product. No where on the box did it say "hand rolled by Kleetus in his mom's basement".
It was an officially branded and labelled Shanghai product. And it was junk.

 

[John Wiegerink]

With regards to the "NEW" price compared to what I used to pay, which was around $2.50 or less, we're forgetting one thing. We have another player in the game when it comes to Shanghai GP3 pricing. Before it was all Shanghai GP3's company setting the price, but not anymore. Enter Cat-Labs into the picture and things change. I'm guessing there was an agreement between Cat-Labs and Shanghai Corp. (whatever it's called) so that Shanghai Corp. could not undercut Cat-labs retail price. We're putting a lot of blame on Shanghai Corps. pricing structure when we should be directing it toward Cat-Labs for screwing up a good thing. Thank you Cat-Labs and NO, I won't buy your over-priced GP3 film. NIce try! I'll use Foma for my camera test from now on. JohnW

 

[Cholentpot]

With regards to the "NEW" price compared to what I used to pay, which was around $2.50 or less, we're forgetting one thing. We have another player in the game when it comes to Shanghai GP3 pricing. Before it was all Shanghai GP3's company setting the price, but not anymore. Enter Cat-Labs into the picture and things change. I'm guessing there was an agreement between Cat-Labs and Shanghai Corp. (whatever it's called) so that Shanghai Corp. could not undercut Cat-labs retail price. We're putting a lot of blame on Shanghai Corps. pricing structure when we should be directing it toward Cat-Labs for screwing up a good thing. Thank you Cat-Labs and NO, I won't buy your over-priced GP3 film. NIce try! I'll use Foma for my camera test from now on. JohnW

I thought the factory was a government entity or something.

I suspect something else.

For the domestic Asian market the price was far lower, someone decided that it was worth pricing out the domestic market and worth just focusing on the western market. The cost of operation hasn't gone up, but the opportunities to make a buck may have been perceived to have gone up.

In other words, good old fashioned greed.

 

[markjwyatt]

220 film lets you shoot twice the amount of frames without any kind of interruption that could be a detriment on your creative flow or process. With 6x4.5 format i get 30 shots (some backs can get 32) which is a lot, very close to a 35mm shooting experience.

Then, if you develop at home, you're developing twice the amount of film in only one operation, with only one spool, using only the same amount of chemicals. Yes you can do the same by taping two 120 rolls back to back, but it's a bit more effort (unwind two spools, tape them, etc).

Backing paper problems are lessened since the backing paper is used only at the beginning and end of the film.

220 film can be rewinded easily since the film is taped to the backing paper at the beginning AND at the end. Opening up more creative possibilities. Redscaling a C41 220 film should be very easy.

I love 220 film so much, i can't understand why it hasn't won over 120, considering that a lot of the pro medium format cameras are ready to take 220 film or have wide availability of 220 backs, like Mamiya C330/220, Pentax 6x7, some Rolleiflexes, Bronica ETR, SQ, GS, and others. I mean, 220 film was introduced in 1965, so many, many, many classic cameras have the capability to use 220.

My main 6x6 cameras (Mamiya TLRs) do use 220, and I used to use a lot. If I were to start shooting more 6x6 and less 35mm, I could see liking 220 a lot again. I do hope it comes back (and at a reasonable price point).

 

[GP3 Offical Account]

Bring back the bargain bricks of GP3 120.

SRP already is a reasonable price, cannot change, but will have promotion period (Like Black Friday or XMAS )
so you can subscribe us on offical store, and stock more when it discount.

Thanks

 

[GP3 Offical Account]

Thank you for having a presence here on Photrio.

I will assume that the price is as competitive as you can make it, and that we're never going to see the bargains we had before.

What I'd like to see is more unusual formats. I can use 127 and 620, but also 220 and 116. I am sure many here would appreciate factory produced film in unusual formats. I've tried your 127 GP3 and it's nice, not as good as Rerapan but it is cheaper and always nice to have another option available. Ensure quality control is of a high standard. Keep supplies going. Distribution is important too.

Thanks for your supporting, and yes, as you know the old state-operated factory closed for a long time, our arm is not let GP3 die, so we bring them back to market and transitory stage for us is hard, which did lead some bad experience . Thats the reason we did not open any oversea marketing before, which you bought before are all test phase products in China marketing and someone resell to oversea.
we will keep improving the quality and do the best quality control as well.