Best B&W Film Reversal Kit: Foma, Adox Scala, or Bellini

[Henning Serger]

Looking forward to trying the film out. Any tips on what EI to use if it's different from the box speed?

Hello Miha,

decisive is that the real effective speed of film+developer matches the meter in your used camera.
Therefore for a first test I would recommend to make some test series with a step wedge of 20 steps, and several different scenes / objects outdoors with +2/3, +1/3, 0, -1/3 and -2/3 stops exposure.
And you will see perfectly with which E.I. with your used 35mm camera you will get the best results.

Best regards,
Henning

 

[miha]

Hi Henning,

What you suggest is both obvious and the right approach. That said, if there were a general consensus on Foma film such as exposing it at EI 160 to avoid blown highlights or something along those lines it could help establish a more accurate starting point.

 

[Henning Serger]

Miha, when I used the Fomapan R reversal film I exposed it at ISO 100/21° for usage in my F6. Exposure was perfect.
But I wasn't satiesfied with the film in general (I much preferred ADOX SCALA 160 at that time), and therefore I stopped using it.

Best regards,
Henning

 

[miha]

Thanks. One role is already in my Canon A1. I should have the first slides developed by this evening.

 

[miha]

I have just developed the first roll, rated at EI 100, and everything seems to have gone perfectly. I exposed the film using my Canon A1. According to Foma's instructions, gentle agitation is recommended, so I performed five inversions every 30 seconds. The temperature was closely controlled, though it was held at 21C instead of the suggested 20C.

For the second exposure, the film was on a white plastic JOBO reel, exposed for 60 seconds with a 150W opal bulb at a distance of 50 cm. So far, the results look great, and the film appears to have developed beautifully.

 

[miha]

This evening, I put together a small slideshow for my family, with mostly family members on the slides. I used GEPE AN frames, the Leica Colorplan lens, yada yada, ... I must say, I was pleasantly surprised by the results. The sharpness, resolution, and tonality were all up to my satisfaction. A few slides came out slightly darker than I’d hoped, so I’ll need to figure out where to adjust, whether on the exposure or developing side. But I’m really happy with the outcome of the first attempt, and so were the kids!

 

[Alessandro Serrao]

I have just developed the first roll, rated at EI 100, and everything seems to have gone perfectly. I exposed the film using my Canon A1. According to Foma's instructions, gentle agitation is recommended, so I performed five inversions every 30 seconds. The temperature was closely controlled, though it was held at 21C instead of the suggested 20C.

For the second exposure, the film was on a white plastic JOBO reel, exposed for 60 seconds with a 150W opal bulb at a distance of 50 cm. So far, the results look great, and the film appears to have developed beautifully.

Of course, Foma reversal kit is probably the best that there's around, given that it has a tremendous longevity (kits expired by 4 years work perfectly). Plus it's engineered to work flawlessly with Fomapan 100 R. Just follow the instructions religiously and life it's good.
If you have time, I'd suggest you to try Fomapan 100 also (the regular one), you'll be surprised.

 

[loccdor]

Excellent, you've made me want to take out Scala 50 as my next film...

Update: I tried 3 films of the Scala 50 in Rodinal. 1+25 10 minute 22C semi-stand with a gentle turn at 5 minutes.

What jumped out at me:
Film is quite curly (actually can tie itself into a knot, something I've not experienced before)
High detail
One of the 35mm casettes had a very loose cap that you could remove without any tool and it did leak a little light
Even as a negative, exposure latitude is quite limited. For example in the shot below, I was just on the edge of being to expose for the trees and sky in the same picture.

Overall, enjoyed it and would use it again! It worked especially well for infrared. I'd like to purchase the reversal kit from Adox for it but it's a little expensive and I didn't see a response on if it can be stretched beyond its stated capacity with reasonable results.

 

[Alessandro Serrao]

Update: I tried 3 films of the Scala 50 in Rodinal. 1+25 10 minute 22C semi-stand with a gentle turn at 5 minutes.

What jumped out at me:
Film is quite curly (actually can tie itself into a knot, something I've not experienced before)
High detail
One of the 35mm casettes had a very loose cap that you could remove without any tool and it did leak a little light
Even as a negative, exposure latitude is quite limited. For example in the shot below, I was just on the edge of being to expose for the trees and sky in the same picture.

View attachment 380268

Overall, enjoyed it and would use it again! It worked especially well for infrared. I'd like to purchase the reversal kit from Adox for it but it's a little expensive and I didn't see a response on if it can be stretched beyond its stated capacity with reasonable results.

The Adox kit has a capacity of approx. 8 rolls, depending on how big is the developing tank.
It's about plus 10€ comparing to the Foma's one.
The Foma's kit has the same capacity.

 

[ADOX Fotoimpex]

Does anyone know if you can reuse the Adox Scala Reversal kit to get more than their advertised capacity, as is the case with C-41 and E-6 kits? I want to try it but I'd like to get at least 15 rolls (5 separate developments in a 1000ml tank) from a kit of that price.

You certainly can. But the bleach times will need to be increased (towards the end substantually). Recent testing here at ADOX show that you can actually open the tank to inspect on this. However this information is Beta and not yet official. If you do this the capacity can more than double but we cannot publish constant and easy to follow bleach times like this. The first/second developer has this capacity for sure.

 

[miha]

I have just developed the first roll, rated at EI 100, and everything seems to have gone perfectly. I exposed the film using my Canon A1. According to Foma's instructions, gentle agitation is recommended, so I performed five inversions every 30 seconds. The temperature was closely controlled, though it was held at 21C instead of the suggested 20C.

For the second exposure, the film was on a white plastic JOBO reel, exposed for 60 seconds with a 150W opal bulb at a distance of 50 cm. So far, the results look great, and the film appears to have developed beautifully.

Some recent snaps (EF 28-80L, and FD 50 f1.4 - the very last frame), smartphone through a loupe:

 

[loccdor]

You certainly can. But the bleach times will need to be increased (towards the end substantually). Recent testing here at ADOX show that you can actually open the tank to inspect on this. However this information is Beta and not yet official. If you do this the capacity can more than double but we cannot publish constant and easy to follow bleach times like this. The first/second developer has this capacity for sure.

Thank you so much for the confirmation. I definitely plan on ordering one now!

 

[loccdor]

Lovely shots @miha !

 

[miha]

Lovely shots @miha !

Thanks. I'm still getting to know the film.

 

[Jan-Peter]

Thank-you, miha from Slovenia - and all of you, indeed;

since over here in Germany there is hardly a lab to process b&w-slide-film - reversal processing. - Thus I also bought them two kits: The Adox and the Foma kit about two years ago - however - did not dare to go on it, yet.

I may expose several film of each trade mark and want to develop them films in a row - in order to adjust the process within days.

As this thread is very long indeed I have to read it over again inf full detail.

Jan-Peter

 

[1957ExaktaVarexIIa]

Thank you so much for the confirmation. I definitely plan on ordering one now!

I admit that I have not yet checked out the Adox Scala Kit (sorry to say, I will do it in future) - but if it should work with a permanganate bleach bath you might be able to set up additional bath by yourself.
There is a receipt here (sorry that it's in German - deepl might help if necessary) which I have used for more than a year now with good results.
I use a rotating Jobo 510 tank for 1 film with a bit more than 200 ml liquid. Those 200 ml can bleach 3 films 135/36 which I develop during one day.

 

[miha]

Thank-you, miha from Slovenia - and all of you, indeed;

since over here in Germany there is hardly a lab to process b&w-slide-film - reversal processing. - Thus I also bought them two kits: The Adox and the Foma kit about two years ago - however - did not dare to go on it, yet.

I may expose several film of each trade mark and want to develop them films in a row - in order to adjust the process within days.

As this thread is very long indeed I have to read it over again inf full detail.

Jan-Peter

You are welcome. Just go ahead and follow the instructions precisely. Make sure to prepare everything in advance. You'll need four jugs, mark them so you don't mix them up during the process, and one larger jug with warm water. Foma's instructions suggest several 2-minute washing steps, but I've been using the Ilford washing method instead. Be sure to finish the process with Photo Flo or a similar agent.

 

[Alessandro Serrao]

Thank-you, miha from Slovenia - and all of you, indeed;

since over here in Germany there is hardly a lab to process b&w-slide-film - reversal processing. - Thus I also bought them two kits: The Adox and the Foma kit about two years ago - however - did not dare to go on it, yet.

I may expose several film of each trade mark and want to develop them films in a row - in order to adjust the process within days.

As this thread is very long indeed I have to read it over again inf full detail.

Jan-Peter

For information: did it happen to you to see some sediment floating into the developer bottle of the Adox kit?

 

[Jan-Peter]

Thankyou very much; miha from Slovenia; - and also Alessandro for your advice!! - Coming days I will be off to Lago di Como in the very North of Itaöly again, where I have no aquipment to develop b&w slide's film. I will try here at Lake Constance in December or January.

Thanks a lot indeed for encouraging me!!
Jan-Peter

 

[Alessandro Serrao]

Thankyou very much; miha from Slovenia; - and also Alessandro for your advice!! - Coming days I will be off to Lago di Como in the very North of Itaöly again, where I have no aquipment to develop b&w slide's film. I will try here at Lake Constance in December or January.

Thanks a lot indeed for encouraging me!!
Jan-Peter

Hi Jan-Peter, enjoy your trip and please keep us updated.

 

[River Mantis]

According to MSDS paper the composition of Bellini first dev closely resembles D-19. That makes it the most highly buffered developer of all reversal kits on the market. So theoretically it can give you a linear density growth for almost any film stock possible, it will be just a matter of a development time. So I would start with it. And don't trust chemical fogging bath much, they don't store well.

 

[Alessandro Serrao]

According to MSDS paper the composition of Bellini first dev closely resembles D-19.

It's possibly mixed as per D-19 recipe because once mr. Bellini told me they uses Kodak formulas exclusively.

 

[Ivo Stunga]

E100 is capable of sharp results, even very sharp results with excellent (modern design) lenses

Are you aware what the difference might be in 70's design Vs "modern"?
Because my Zuiko lenses can record very sharp and detailed images on every other film out there that's capable to withstand 50x projection magnification at a short viewing distance.

Considering the proven quality and capabilities of Zuiko - why would E100 be sharper through a "modern lens"?

 

[Samu]

It's getting quite hard in EU countries to do BW reversal, except with the official kits. The problem is the bleach. Sulfuric acid is banned in concentrations more than 10% for consumers, it is considered a precursor for explosives, Diluted H2SO4 is not sold anywhere. Potassium dichromate is totally banned, and the alternative, potassium permanganate is listed as 2nd schedule narcotics precursor, and is subject to controls. Yes, there are kits available, but as always, they are very small and expensive. For instance, one Foma kit has the capacity of developing 8 rolls of 135-36 film. Not bad, but for cinema film it is a joke. It is one 30, roll of 16 mm film, and costs about 50€,

 

[dokko]

It's getting quite hard in EU countries to do BW reversal, except with the official kits. The problem is the bleach. Sulfuric acid is banned in concentrations more than 10% for consumers, it is considered a precursor for explosives, Diluted H2SO4 is not sold anywhere.

I don't now about other EU countries, but in Germany we can buy 10% concentration from Fototechnik Suvatlar without problems at reasonable prices.

same with Potassium Permanganate.

I used to buy it through my local pharmacy before that. also no problems but I had to fill in a form about the intended use and prices were a bit higher.