Who makes Ultrafine, Ultrafine Plus, and Ultrafine Xtreme Films?

[kivis]

Does anyone know who is the manufacturer of these B +W Films?

 

[Gerald C Koch]

These are rebranded films they could be anything. The actual films sold do change with time. Whatever the company can get in sufficient quantity they will sell.

 

[chip j]

I believe they're Chinese.

 

[timor]

I believe they're Chinese.

They look too good for that. Ultrafine 125 may be a PX. Extreme looks like a Kentmere or less known in America Ilford Pan 100 & 400.
http://darkroom.ru/info/manuals/ilford_pan_100_400_manual_eng.pdf

 

[destroya]

I also think they are to good to be chinese. The xtreme 100 in 35mm is a very very nice film. and I love reversal precessing it. a thing of beauty. But it did take a while to get competent developing times as there is very little info out there (yes, even on massive). as expected, Ultrafine will not give out ANY info on who makes it. I just asked them for a country of manufacturing. Nothing. I asked if they could recomend a similar film as a place to start. Nothing. I should stop using it. but its really a good film. and for less than $40 for 100 feet (shipping and tax) its a great bargin

also, the Xtreme 400 in 120 is really nice. But RUN dont walk from the 100 speed 120 film. That is garbage

 

[alienmeatsack]

What destroya said about the 100 speed 120 film, only triple it.

Unless you want a super cheap film to test a new to you camera and just need to make sure it works, it's still awful film and a waste. Ecept for those who love clumpy ugly grain and having the paper backing dots/numbers in every single shot.

 

[JW PHOTO]

What detroya said about the about the 100 speed 120 film only triple it. Junk, absolute junk and it has to hurt their reputation!

 

[chip j]

What dev time for Ultrafine 125 in 35mm in ID-11, please? By the way, I esed some Chinese film {Shanghai 400} many yrs ago and it was a nice film, but both ends of the roll had light -leaks from he factory.
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[JW PHOTO]

What dev time for Ultrafine 125 in 35mm in ID-11, please? By the way, I esed some Chinese film {Shanghai 400} many yrs ago and it was a nice film, but both ends of the roll had light -leaks from he factory.
y
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I don't know about the Ultrafine 125, but the Ultrafine Extreme 100 35mm is great film. Very nice to scan a film that lies flat, all by itself, in the carrier. Decent grain structure also and it's a conventional film that likes my WD2D+ pyro developer. Most of the Chinese films I've tried( Shanghai and Chinese ERA 4x5 film) were excellent, but what ever Ultrafine 100 in 120 is it is just plain junk. Numbers bleed through and mottled emulsion, which looks like mold or animals growing in the gelatin. Did I say this film was Junk? The Warehouse does have some good film at very good prices, but the Ultrafine 100 in 120 IS NOT OnE OF THEM. JohnW

 

[Dr Croubie]

I haven't used the Ultrafine 100 / 120, but from what I'm reading, everyone is describing the Shanghai 100 / 120 dots-on-emulsion problem.

 

[Simonh82]

I haven't used the Ultrafine 100 / 120, but from what I'm reading, everyone is describing the Shanghai 100 / 120 dots-on-emulsion problem.

It may not be Shanghai film. Lomography 'produce' their own brand black and white film called Lady Grey 400. The film is Tmax 400 but the confectioning and packing isn't done by Kodak and a great film is ruined by the same bleed through spots and numbers.

 

[JW PHOTO]

It may not be Shanghai film. Lomography 'produce' their own brand black and white film called Lady Grey 400. The film is Tmax 400 but the confectioning and packing isn't done by Kodak and a great film is ruined by the same bleed through spots and numbers.

Could be, but it still doesn't explain the mottled emulsion. I'd guess it's a film from the Orient that was stored in some tin shed during the monsoon season. I remember being sent out to another unit when I was in Vietnam during the monsoon season. When I got back two weeks later I opened my footlocker and my leather dress boots were no longer black. Yup, just the prettiest fuzzy green you've ever seen. I'm sure film stored wrong in those conditions would start growing something. You have to use a loupe to see the growth, but it's there and in a slight enlargement it is visible in the sky area. The film works okay for camera test, but that's it. JohnW

 

[Photo-gear]

I only tried Ultrafine films in 35mm.

The Ultrafine Plus 100 is a rather acceptable film although it curls like hell. Grain is ok. The contrast is somehow questionable but it might be related to the Ultrafine dev chart which isn't that reliable. This film could be re-branded Lucky 100 according to the general impression.

I also tried the Ultrafine Xtreme 400 and I am rather satisfied. Grain is ok and the film is flat after drying. I would not mind shooting this film again. From most sources, this film could be re-branded Kentmere 400.

ps: concerning the Xtreme 400, there was no dev. time on the Ultrafine website and until recently nothing on the Massive Dev Chart. I had to call them up to get this info. Also there is a difference between the times given on the Massive Chart and the Ultrafine Chart concerning the Xtreme 400...

 

[Ricardo Miranda]

From most sources, this film could be re-branded Kentmere 400.

Please, read this: (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

 

[Photo-gear]

Please, read this: (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Hi Ricardo.
Thx for the link.
I understand Kentmere isn't made out of re-badged Ilford.
Just wondering if that doesn't eliminate the fact Ultrafine Xtreme is from Kentmere... I don't want to play smart here.

 

[JW PHOTO]

I don't make claim to know who makes the Ultrafine Extreme 100 135mm film, but I will say this, whoever it is they are doing a fine job. I'd be willing to bet my last dollar it isn't the same company that makes the Ultrafine 100 120 film that's for sure.

 

[mklw1954]

You just have to try a roll or two and see for yourself as Ultrafine will not indicate who makes it. I've developed these films in D76 stock solution at their recommended times, 68F, and Ilford agitation (4 inversions over the first 10 seconds, repeat every minute).

I think the following are very good films:
Xtreme 100-135 (8 min. in D76 stock), Xtreme 400-135 (7 min. in D76 stock), Xtreme 400 in 120 (7.75 min. in
D76 stock).

Plus 100 in 120 is very poor quality and I would never use it again.

I noticed recently that Ultrafine is now selling Xtreme 100 in 120 and I plan to try it.

 

[Ricardo Miranda]

Hi Ricardo.
Thx for the link.
I understand Kentmere isn't made out of re-badged Ilford.
Just wondering if that doesn't eliminate the fact Ultrafine Xtreme is from Kentmere... I don't want to play smart here.

I see what you mean: that it is Ultrafine that re-badges the film, not Harman. In this case, it might be! But, I wonder if there are some copyright infringement there as Harman wouldn't allow the re-badging of its emulsions.

This company seems to do a lot of own branding.
I would avoid buying form them if you don't know what is inside the package.
Better buy Ilford/Kentmere products! And in the US, they are cheaper than in the UK.
You lucky people!

 

[MartinP]

Ricardo, if you have the money Harman will make you your very own, personal, unique film. They will produce any special thing for anyone, but they have been very consistent that they will not sell their Ilford brand films (FP4+ etc.) as white-label products. It is certainly possible that Ultrafine purchase large orders of specially prepared and packed products from Harman. Or it might be that they are supplied by Foma, or that the 35mm is something originating further East.

I've tried the Shanghai GP3 in 120, out of curiosity, and found that the numbers can indeed transfer from the backing paper. Initially I hadn't noticed the effect, so it could be related to the ageing of the film, amongst other factors? I'm assuming that this 'feature' is not un-related to the disastrous rollfilm product mentioned above . . .

 

[Ricardo Miranda]

Ricardo, if you have the money Harman will make you your very own, personal, unique film.

lol! Yeap, they will!

 

[timor]

Please, read this: (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Yes, I heard that many times but: business is business. Maybe Extreme 100 and 400 is Pan 100 and 400, maybe Kentmere. Pan is made for certain areas in the world, you can buy it in some European countries and Asia, but not in America (the North one). On the other hand it may be a batch, which for some reason didn't pass Harman QC, but still good. I find Extreme 100 & 400 in 135 format a good, reliable film and with the price of $30 per 100' worthy to be used.

 

[JW PHOTO]

You just have to try a roll or two and see for yourself as Ultrafine will not indicate who makes it. I've developed these films in D76 stock solution at their recommended times, 68F, and Ilford agitation (4 inversions over the first 10 seconds, repeat every minute).

I think the following are very good films:
Xtreme 100-135 (8 min. in D76 stock), Xtreme 400-135 (7 min. in D76 stock), Xtreme 400 in 120 (7.75 min. in
D76 stock).

Plus 100 in 120 is very poor quality and I would never use it again.

I noticed recently that Ultrafine is now selling Xtreme 100 in 120 and I plan to try it.

Wow! I hadn't checked their site lately and you're right. I'm curious about this stuff too. If it is the same as the Ultrafine Extreme 100 135 film I'll buy a bunch, but I have a feeling it's not. Might be Foma 100? If that's the case I'll just buy Arista EDU 100 120 from Freestyle for less cost. I'll let somebody else be guinea pig first. Anybody?

 

[ToddB]

dont waste your time with the 120 100 ISO films.. just aweful. It's imprinted with frame number and dots all over the film. Very disappointing.

Todd

 

[JW PHOTO]

dont waste your time with the 120 100 ISO films.. just aweful. It's imprinted with frame number and dots all over the film. Very disappointing.

Todd

Todd, I couldn't agree more about the Ultrafine Plus 100 in 120, but this is a different film. This is Ultrafine Extreme 100 in 120 and hopefully a much better film than the "Plus" version. Of course, that wouldn't take much would it? Have you tried both the Ultrafine plus 100 and the newer Ultrafine Extreme 100 in 120 size?

 

[ToddB]

Sorry no.. after my experiance with last batch, I want noting to do with thier product in film anyway. Thier papers are pretty decent. I'll stick with Ilford Delta.

Todd