Film Ferrania - Developments from October 2023 onward

[Andrew O'Neill]

The film is not ISO 80 in the developer you use, better specify it...

It's not ISO 80 in XTol, D-76, 510-Pyro, Pyrocat-HD, neither. I've tested them. Heck, you can shoot it at ISO 80, if you like the look of soot and chalk.

 

[Alessandro Serrao]

There are many more developers, for example P30 is ISO 80 with both Bellini Hydrofen and Ecofilm, as well ISO 64 in Ilford Ilfosol 3. No chalk shadows.

 

[cmacd123]

film ferania DOES have a sugested list.



since it is vaguely based on Movie Film I believe they Push using D96.

 

[cmacd123]

interesting the OLD guide had several developers listed. this is a screen shot fro

m the V3 Guide.

 

[Agulliver]

I do prefer P30 at 50ISO in D76 but it can successfully be shot at 80. I find that most people moaning about it are either veering quite far from the "best practises", using a lab which doesn't divulge what chemicals/regimen it utilises, or simply don't like high contrast films.

Complaining that it didn't render the shadow detail just how they wanted when semi-stand developed in pond water for an hour isn't helpful.

 

[dhkirby]

I just bought a few rolls of 35mm size P30 ... hoping for good things ... but the box has no "expiry" date (or any other date). Is this normal?

And whilst I'm posting, can anyone recommend a suitable developer for this film? I usually use Rodinal (but too grainy for this film?) or D76.

I shoot at ISO 64 and develop in D76 1:1 at 20C (68F) for 13.5 minutes. Here's an example of the result that demonstrates contrast:

(This was in the shadow of a tree on a very bright summer day)

Others may have differing results. I'm curious for those shooting at ISO 32, 25, etc - do you alter your developing times or do you develop as if it was shot at ISO 80?

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

"Best Practices" are what works for you. Period.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I shoot at ISO 64 and develop in D76 1:1 at 20C (68F) for 13.5 minutes. Here's an example of the result that demonstrates contrast:

(This was in the shadow of a tree on a very bright summer day)

Others may have differing results. I'm curious for those shooting at ISO 32, 25, etc - do you alter your developing times or do you develop as if it was shot at ISO 80?

That's a gorgeous result, dhkirby. I use EI 32. I alter the developing time, but with Thornton's 2-bath, it's slight.

 

[dhkirby]

That's a gorgeous result, dhkirby. I use EI 32. I alter the developing time, but with Thornton's 2-bath, it's slight.

Thanks! I love this film. It's definitely not easy, and it can be unpredictable, but when it hits it makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck.

Copy on the Thornton's & developing times. I'm interested in trying other ISOs and development techniques for it, so I'm curious what people's times are, especially in D-76 1:1, which I've found to be my favorite for it.

 

[abruzzi]

I just bought a few rolls of 35mm size P30 ... hoping for good things ... but the box has no "expiry" date (or any other date). Is this normal?

And whilst I'm posting, can anyone recommend a suitable developer for this film? I usually use Rodinal (but too grainy for this film?) or D76.

the first boxes had not expiration date, then I thought later boxes had a qr code that would resolve to a url that would show a production patch. I just scanned the qr on a 120 box in front of me and it is just a slightly misformed qr for the p30 page on Ferrania's site. But my box of 120 does have a expiration on the box. Its not printed but impressed. Mine says 6 2026. I assume all the above is the same for 35mm, but I don't have any to test.

 

[Alessandro Serrao]

Assuming that Ferrania films are always freshly made (being mostly unavailable), considering a 2-3 year timespan for expiration would suffice imho, so no need to have an exact expiration date...

 

[ChrisGalway]

Thank you all for the advice. I'm going to start with shooting at ISO 50 (or even 32), and developing in D76 1:1 (this is the developer I usually have already made up, so I'll try it).

As for expiry dates not being printed on the box, I contacted Ferrania and got this amusing (but not very scientific) reply:

"
Hello
It is just a number with a link that doesn't work anymore.
Then we changed the system with a sticker with a date, don't worry P30 will last for some decades...there is a ProJet to use it for long lasting archive...
"

 

[Alessandro Serrao]

Thank you all for the advice. I'm going to start with shooting at ISO 50 (or even 32), and developing in D76 1:1 (this is the developer I usually have already made up, so I'll try it).

As for expiry dates not being printed on the box, I contacted Ferrania and got this amusing (but not very scientific) reply:

"
Hello
It is just a number with a link that doesn't work anymore.
Then we changed the system with a sticker with a date, don't worry P30 will last for some decades...there is a ProJet to use it for long lasting archive...
"

Obviously who replied to you doesn't have a clue. I'd ask them to define more specifically those "decades" how many years are,,,
I'd bet at maximum three years, not more.

 

[koraks]

Obviously who replied to you doesn't have a clue.

Or, put a little less belligerently: they may have misunderstood the question and thought it was about the processed negatives. They should easily last decades (or even centuries). The reference to a project about a 'long lasting archive' makes me think the question was simply misinterpreted. I noticed before that there are often language issues when it comes to Ferrania in English communication.

 

[albireo]

I would be interested in reviews/samples of their Orto product. Especially in 120! Has anyone tried it?

 

[Alessandro Serrao]

Or, put a little less belligerently: they may have misunderstood the question and thought it was about the processed negatives. They should easily last decades (or even centuries). The reference to a project about a 'long lasting archive' makes me think the question was simply misinterpreted. I noticed before that there are often language issues when it comes to Ferrania in English communication.

Sorry, I have't considered the possibility.
It could be, however I think it's reasonable to give three years maximum of shelf life (expiration date as the manufacturer consider it) to a film after it leaves the factory.

 

[Alessandro Serrao]

I would be interested in reviews/samples of their Orto product. Especially in 120! Has anyone tried it?

Sorry, it's in italian...

La nuova pellicola Ferrania, la ORTO 50... il test - Analogica.it

 

[koraks]

I think it's reasonable to give three years maximum of shelf life

Yes, I agree that this is a good starting point. Maybe a few years extra for a slow film, but 3 years should be safe. "Decades" would definitely be far-fetched unless it was something like Technical Pan.

 

[pentaxuser]

interesting the OLD guide had several developers listed. this is a screen shot fro View attachment 380499 m the V3 Guide.

The times for D76 don't make any sense to me. It needs 8 mins for a lower speed and yet only requires 7 mins for 80 with all others things being equal for rotary but reverting to the Ilford inversíon cycle which you'd expect to take even longer

 

[ChrisGalway]

Obviously who replied to you doesn't have a clue. I'd ask them to define more specifically those "decades" how many years are,,,
I'd bet at maximum three years, not more.

In fairness, I got a quick clarification from Ferrania (who are very responsive):

"
The situation is a bit more complicated, involving a combination of technical and design issues.
Today, the new P33 has a label on the carton box with the production date (different countries have different expiring regulations) and the batch number. In the near future, the P30 will also be updated accordingly.
"

I did not realise that "different countries have different expiring regulations" and I can imagine this whole topic is debatable. (It is for food items.) So I like the idea of giving the production date. I think most of us understand that B&W film lasts longer than colour, certainly several years if stored sensibly. And P30 is nominally 80 ISO, so cosmic ray fogging is relatively low.

 

[Agulliver]

Expiry/Expiration/Best Before/Use By dates....the regulations vary from country to country. The regs in the USA are different to the EU, both are different to the regs in, say, Australia or Japan and while the UK hasn't changed anything yet it could choose to veer away from EU regs.

The EU tightened up the regs some years ago and film expiry dates suddenly changed from 3-4 years after production to about two....basically the film must perform "as new" within the expiry date when stored in the conditions the typical user maintains.

I don't think that photo film is legally required to have an expiry date (please correct me if I am wrong) but it usually does.

With 80SIO B&W film you can count on it lasting a few years without any significant deterioration unless you drown it, experiment with radioactive sources near it or keep it in the greenhouse. The usual "toss it in a cupboard in the living room" will be fine for a few years.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I think film is quite robust, especially if one stores it properly. I've been working my way through a box of 4x5 HIE that "expired" in 1967. Yes, it has much higher base+fog, but one can easily print/scan through it. I've made some nice images with it. Sadly, I'm down to the last few sheets... But! I have a box that's even older! I also have been working my way through a box of TMY that I bought in '98 and expired in "00. Barely any fog. Kodak makes exceptional products.

 

[kitspics]

In fairness, I got a quick clarification from Ferrania (who are very responsive):

Was this a recent message? Their social media doesn't seem updated either, and online stores seem to be mostly out of stock

 

[ChrisGalway]

Was this a recent message? Their social media doesn't seem updated either, and online stores seem to be mostly out of stock

Yes, September (2024).

 

[Agulliver]

Over on the Facebook group for users of Film Ferrania's products, people are whipping themselves into a frenzy and becoming convinced that Film Ferrania have gone bust....simply because several of their films are currently unavailable.

I guess the rumour mill is about to go wild on that front.