Wonderpan 400 - whatever next?

[retina_restoration]

Those sample photos on casualphotophile are brutal. Looks like a discount film, pushed two stops too far for "pictorial" results. Bloody awful. But hey! It's a "new" film!

 

[Squeakygrump]

I put a roll into my modest Yashica J (other cameras are full at the moment) and had a snappy half hour yesterday evening when some sun finally emerged. Once the film was in the developing tank, the spool gave me a clue or two about its original manufacturer. My go-to developer is Ilfotec HC: working on its datasheet and those of a couple of likely films, I developed it about 90 minutes ago. 8 minutes in 1:16 at 22.5° (it's a warm day here) and I have some reasonably exposed but very contrasty-looking negatives. The film rebate betrays its origins at once; but, in fairness to AW, I won't say here what it is (maybe once they've sold the run). The negs don't look easy to print (I find this film nice and punchy at box speed) so, if I scan it, I may put up a couple of cropped basic scans.

It's marked as 24 exposures; but I stopped at 25 and could have got two or three more. The price is a bit above the market but not a rip-off, in my opinion. I'll put my next roll through a more up-market camera (but the J does have a fine lens). Maybe just shoot the third at box speed or just keep it intact as a memento.

Quite fun.

[forgot to mention: the guesses don't include the actual film]

I’m one of the people who have joined because I’d love to know what I’ve just exposed (and for a better idea of what time to develop it in LC29). I’m still quite new to film photography and am only just getting my head around who actually makes films and who repackages existing film stock.

 

[koraks]

Welcome to Photrio, @AliceDoesFilm ! You'll find a plethora of information on this forum about the issues you've raised, although sometimes, the best all of us can do is make an educated guess. Not all manufacturers and retailers are forthcoming with information on the origins of their products.

 

[Squeakygrump]

Welcome to Photrio, @AliceDoesFilm ! You'll find a plethora of information on this forum about the issues you've raised, although sometimes, the best all of us can do is make an educated guess. Not all manufacturers and retailers are forthcoming with information on the origins of their products.

I’m starting to realise that! I’ve been reading a lot and it turns out I have 2 rolls of repackaged Kentmere 400 and possibly one of Kentmere 100 in my fridge! I’m not a massive fan of the 400 so it’s a little frustrating but I now know to do a bit of reading before I buy anymore film. Not the end of the world but definitely good to be more aware.

 

[koraks]

Knowledge is power, as they say.
But I think most of us here act on the premise that knowledge is amusing, much of the time

 

[Ballinderry-Michael]

Alice, welcome to Photrio from here too.

 

[railwayman2]

Can't see the point in wasting time and effort on weird new films.
I have used Ilford for many years, am totally familiar and satisfied with the processing and results, and have enough of the various types in my freezer to last me for 5 or 6 years at present usage. I'll restock as I go on, and, in the meantime, enjoy my real photography as long as I can.

 

[Don_ih]

Can't see the point in wasting time and effort on weird new films.

You somewhat imply you don't see the point by saying it's "wasting time".

Anyway, variety is the spice of life - it's not the meat of life.

 

[railwayman2]

You somewhat imply you don't see the point by saying it's "wasting time".

Anyway, variety is the spice of life - it's not the meat of life.

These days, I'd rather spend time out with my family and friends taking real photographs than on my own in a darkroom.
I'll agree that I probably used the wrong word in "wasting" rather then "spending", but far be it from me to dictate what anyone prefers to do with their time or hobby.
It's quite a nice day here, so just off out with my wife and a couple of friends for lunch at the local "National Trust" house, then hopefully, a few nice shots in the gardens. Colour transparency film in the camera today, so a quick trip by mail to the Birmingham E6 lab will be all that is needed for it. Any that are any good I may scan and inkjet print.

 

[Squeakygrump]

I put a roll into my modest Yashica J (other cameras are full at the moment) and had a snappy half hour yesterday evening when some sun finally emerged. Once the film was in the developing tank, the spool gave me a clue or two about its original manufacturer. My go-to developer is Ilfotec HC: working on its datasheet and those of a couple of likely films, I developed it about 90 minutes ago. 8 minutes in 1:16 at 22.5° (it's a warm day here) and I have some reasonably exposed but very contrasty-looking negatives. The film rebate betrays its origins at once; but, in fairness to AW, I won't say here what it is (maybe once they've sold the run). The negs don't look easy to print (I find this film nice and punchy at box speed) so, if I scan it, I may put up a couple of cropped basic scans.

It's marked as 24 exposures; but I stopped at 25 and could have got two or three more. The price is a bit above the market but not a rip-off, in my opinion. I'll put my next roll through a more up-market camera (but the J does have a fine lens). Maybe just shoot the third at box speed or just keep it intact as a memento.

Quite fun.

[forgot to mention: the guesses don't include the actual film]

From your clues, plus an article with someone posting the time they used for HC110 B, I guessed what the film was and used a time based on that for LC29. Betrayed is a word for it, when it comes to the rebate. But, given I got £2 off my roll, it’s a fair deal for what it is and I suspect they might let on once they’ve sold out as it’s obviously just to try and encourage people to experiment with pushing film.

 

[Ballinderry-Michael]

Alice, £2 off your roll plus a bit of fun and detective work sounds much like how I found the episode - and actually the negatives are not that hard to print. The other candidate I had in mind when wondering what the emulsion was was Delta 100 (Wex in Belfast sell 100 and 400 as their main regular stock; so I assume that it's fairly popular - I quite like the 400). I haven't really been encouraged to push any more "Wonderpan" when it comes to it, as I'm more used to bulk rolls of that emulsion plus PanF+ and XP2 Super rated at 100 and developed in Ilfotec HC.

I hope that you will have a good photographic summer (what's left of it) and autumn.

 

[Squeakygrump]

Alice, £2 off your roll plus a bit of fun and detective work sounds much like how I found the episode - and actually the negatives are not that hard to print. The other candidate I had in mind when wondering what the emulsion was was Delta 100 (Wex in Belfast sell 100 and 400 as their main regular stock; so I assume that it's fairly popular - I quite like the 400). I haven't really been encouraged to push any more "Wonderpan" when it comes to it, as I'm more used to bulk rolls of that emulsion plus PanF+ and XP2 Super rated at 100 and developed in Ilfotec HC.

I hope that you will have a good photographic summer (what's left of it) and autumn.

I’d ruled out Delta 100 because of the grain situation. Great films if you want to minimise grain as much as possible.

Need to scan my negatives still and I’ll decide if I’ll be pushing it to 400 again! I suspect not as I love HP5 so don’t necessarily feel the need, but maybe to 200 would be an option. Ironically, I haven’t shot any at box speed yet but I have a roll so will be good to see the comparison.

And thank you. Hope the rest of the summer and autumn are good for you too.

 

[michaelelliottphotog]

Welcome @AliceDoesFilm.

I have the same issue as you:

I’m one of the people who have joined because I’d love to know what I’ve just exposed (and for a better idea of what time to develop it in LC29). I’m still quite new to film photography and am only just getting my head around who actually makes films and who repackages existing film stock.

Whether it be AW, Kosmo Foto (don't get me started on that, hyped up Foma 100/Kentmere 400 malarkey), CatLabs, JCH... it's really frustrating to a large, and growing segment of the community to not know what these films actually are.

But they'll continue to do it for 2 reasons:
1) ego
2) wallet

They can say they are reviving film and saving the community as much as they want; it's all an ego trip and a money spinning exercise.

 

[Squeakygrump]

Welcome @AliceDoesFilm.

I have the same issue as you:



Whether it be AW, Kosmo Foto (don't get me started on that, hyped up Foma 100/Kentmere 400 malarkey), CatLabs, JCH... it's really frustrating to a large, and growing segment of the community to not know what these films actually are.

But they'll continue to do it for 2 reasons:
1) ego
2) wallet

They can say they are reviving film and saving the community as much as they want; it's all an ego trip and a money spinning exercise.

Kosmo is the one that’s really annoyed me, but mainly as I now know I basically have 2 rolls of over priced Kentmere 400 in my fridge. I wouldn’t mind if I liked the film more. I’m definitely going to be more aware of what I’m buying in the future though. Without this whole WonderPan thing, I probably wouldn’t have started looking into the films more so I’m kind of happy.

When it comes to AW, I do wonder if WonderPan is making them any money given a lot of deals on it and the cost of respooling as they have the right DX coded cartridges and it doesn’t seem to be bulk film. Unless the manufacturer did them an amazing deal or it’s actually expired film.

 

[Ballinderry-Michael]

...

When it comes to AW, I do wonder if WonderPan is making them any money given a lot of deals on it and the cost of respooling as they have the right DX coded cartridges and it doesn’t seem to be bulk film. Unless the manufacturer did them an amazing deal or it’s actually expired film.

I see a batch number on the rebate: I'll contact the manufacturer and ask for its expiry date. To be fair to AW, they were upfront about its being a known brand and not their original.

 

[michaelelliottphotog]

I see a batch number on the rebate: I'll contact the manufacturer and ask for its expiry date. To be fair to AW, they were upfront about its being a known brand and not their original.

Yeah, but they won't tell you what it is, which is the main problem with it. What if I want to use a developer not on their selected list? I'm gonna have to burn a roll or two to establish my times, since I can't lean on the established knowledge.

End of the day, the whole thing is a load of marketing balls, and I'm frankly fed up with the amount of fluff and junk like "Chef Ambrosia" and "Agent Shadow", it's all a waste of money and time.

 

[Squeakygrump]

Yeah, but they won't tell you what it is, which is the main problem with it. What if I want to use a developer not on their selected list? I'm gonna have to burn a roll or two to establish my times, since I can't lean on the established knowledge.

End of the day, the whole thing is a load of marketing balls, and I'm frankly fed up with the amount of fluff and junk like "Chef Ambrosia" and "Agent Shadow", it's all a waste of money and time.

In this case, the cost versus what you’d pay for the actual film is pretty similar, though you would think of pushing it to 400 normally.

 

[michaelelliottphotog]

True, true. I am a grump when it comes to AW and their antics. Like when they pushed the price of Fuji Pro 400H up to £90-95 a pro pack for 120 rollfilm even when everywhere else was still selling it for £50. Capitalising on the discontinuation of the film well before anyone had started running out.

 

[Ballinderry-Michael]

Yeah, but they won't tell you what it is, which is the main problem with it. What if I want to use a developer not on their selected list? I'm gonna have to burn a roll or two to establish my times, since I can't lean on the established knowledge.

End of the day, the whole thing is a load of marketing balls, and I'm frankly fed up with the amount of fluff and junk like "Chef Ambrosia" and "Agent Shadow", it's all a waste of money and time.

Dear me, I bought three rolls of "Wonderpan" expecting it to satisfy my idle amusement, which it has done. It was rather obvious that it wasn't to be taken seriously in the long run. If it annoys you not to know precisely what film is being offered, don't buy it.

I e-mailed the real manufacturer, who replied that what I described is not one of their products; so now I photographed a strip on a lightbox and have replied in turn, attaching that.

 

[Squeakygrump]

Dear me, I bought three rolls of "Wonderpan" expecting it to satisfy my idle amusement, which it has done. It was rather obvious that it wasn't to be taken seriously in the long run. If it annoys you not to know precisely what film is being offered, don't buy it.

I e-mailed the real manufacturer, who replied that what I described is not one of their products; so now I photographed a strip on a lightbox and have replied in turn, attaching that.

Why does it not surprise me they are acting like it isn’t their film!

 

[michaelelliottphotog]

Why does it not surprise me they are acting like it isn’t their film!

Someone somewhere will say that there have been NDAs signed, it's how they always get out of being honest about the origins!

 

[Ballinderry-Michael]

and 8 minutes later, a reply comes in acknowledging that my strip does say that it's their film but still declining to advise me of the date of the batch.

 

[michaelelliottphotog]

and 8 minutes later, a reply comes in acknowledging that my strip does say that it's their film but still declining to advise me of the date of the batch.

The intrigue continues!

 

[Niglyn]

True, true. I am a grump when it comes to AW and their antics. Like when they pushed the price of Fuji Pro 400H up to £90-95 a pro pack for 120 rollfilm even when everywhere else was still selling it for £50. Capitalising on the discontinuation of the film well before anyone had started running out.

Not sure what the fad is with this rebranded film?

Nick & Trick are good in stating exactly what the film stock is, so if one likes it, one knows what to buy again.
They are my go-to for film stuff. Very helpful and no hipster fairy tales about their film.

Why not stick to a known brand, which has all the specs and plenty of examples of pulling & pushing. Just doing this is complex enough, without throwing in an unbranded film, which may have already been labled with a different iso from intended.

There are only a few actual film manufactures left,
Would be good if there was an updated list of these. I know Ilford & Shanghai, but what about Rolli, Adox & the like, are thae actual film manufacturers?

What happened to Kodak, it got split into separates parts. Do they still have a working film plant & what films are they actually producing?

I have always stuck to Ilford film & chemicals (and Bonus Print colour negative )
Most recently did buy the powdered Adox chemicals from N&T (cheaper postage cost than liquid) and found them really good.

 

[MattKing]

What happened to Kodak, it got split into separates parts. Do they still have a working film plant & what films are they actually producing?

Building 38 in Rochester New York - and they are growing and can't keep up with demand.
Thy are making the following films: T-Max 100, T-Max 400, Tri-X, various flavours of amateur market colour negative film, Ektar 100, Portra 160, Portra 400, Portra 3200, Ektachrome 100 - all in various formats.
They are also making aerial film plus a bunch of technical products.
In the motion picture realm, they are making 5222 and its 16mm cousin in black and white. Plus a recent special run of IMax film for the shooting of Oppenheimer.
In colour negative, the various Vision films for camera use, in 16mm, 35mm and IMax. They are also making the intermediate emulsions that are used in the editing process. And they are making some projectio print stock as well.
The manufacture remjet omitted Vision stocks for Cinestill and others.
I've probably missed a few.
Plus they will do contract coating if you have the money. And they do make other, non-photographic products that make use of their coating expertise.
Thy aggressively seeking to hire young, trained employees, if you happen to fit within that description, and are looking.