Let me introduce you to Svema

[KitosLAB]

Despite everything, film continues to be produced in Ukraine. I want to ask if you know Svema, what do you think about it, how interesting could it be for you?
Svema

 

[markjwyatt]

I would consider trying it some day.

 

[Alan9940]

The "light piping" issue is a bit of concern for me, personally, and it doesn't seem to be readily available in the USA. I was thinking about trying a roll when Film Photography Project stocked it, but it looks like their stock is gone. Kinda hard to try a film when ya can't get it.

 

[removedacct1]

Once a year (or thereabouts) I make a purchase directly from Astrum/Svema to ship to the USA. Its easy and they are very polite and responsive to my requests. The Astrum films are very inexpensive (Average price for a 36 exp. roll of 35mm is $3.50 USD) and perform very well. I am especially fond of Astrum Foto 200. Their Astrum Foto 100 has extended red sensitivity and can make IR-like images when used with an R72 filter.

These films are definitely worth investing in.

If you want contact info for Astrum, message me in private.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Despite everything, film continues to be produced in Ukraine. I want to ask if you know Svema, what do you think about it, how interesting could it be for you?
Svema

Any sheet film?

 

[OAPOli]

Downtown camera in Toronto sells hand-rolled ISO 100 Svema (35mm).

 

[ic-racer]

I thought I'd bee seeing Hot Rods here...

 

[abruzzi]

Once a year (or thereabouts) I make a purchase directly from Astrum/Svema to ship to the USA. Its easy and they are very polite and responsive to my requests. The Astrum films are very inexpensive (Average price for a 36 exp. roll of 35mm is $3.50 USD) and perform very well. I am especially fond of Astrum Foto 200. Their Astrum Foto 100 has extended red sensitivity and can make IR-like images when used with an R72 filter.

These films are definitely worth investing in.

If you want contact info for Astrum, message me in private.

What kind of quantities do you have to order when you buy direct?

And do they make anything other than 35mm? I’d love to support them, but I shoot very little 35mm these days.

 

[removedacct1]

What kind of quantities do you have to order when you buy direct?

And do they make anything other than 35mm? I’d love to support them, but I shoot very little 35mm these days.

It apears they sell one film in 700 rolls, per meter, and they do have some 4x5 sheet films.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Thanks, Paul. I'd be interested in trying their Foto-100 sheet film, mainly for its extended red sensitivity...

 

[OAPOli]

With the recent tutorial by @MCB18 I could see myself hand-rolling their 61.5mm stock.

 

[markjwyatt]

The "light piping" issue is a bit of concern for me, personally, and it doesn't seem to be readily available in the USA. I was thinking about trying a roll when Film Photography Project stocked it, but it looks like their stock is gone. Kinda hard to try a film when ya can't get it.

I suppose theoretically it could be an issue, but I have been using a lot of ADOX the last few years (Silvermax and CHS 100 II), and it is all on clear film, and has not been a problem for me.

 

[pentaxuser]

For what it is worth and depending on your view of his film tests here is a recent video by Greg Davis on Svema 200. What I thought was key to the longer term buyer interest in Svema is that Greg thought it was no longer produced so when its gone it is gone but the OP states it is still made in Ukraine

Anyway here is the video for those who have no knowledge of it but are interested in possibly getting Svema



pentaxuser

 

[Helios 1984]

Greg thought it was no longer produced so when its gone it is gone but the OP states it is still made in Ukraine

It's not frozen new old stock from the Svema heydays, that's a certitude.

 

[removedacct1]

For what it is worth and depending on your view of his film tests here is a recent video by Greg Davis on Svema 200. What I thought was key to the longer term buyer interest in Svema is that Greg thought it was no longer produced so when its gone it is gone but the OP states it is still made in Ukraine

Anyway here is the video for those who have no knowledge of it but are interested in possibly getting Svema



pentaxuser

That is the same YouTube video linked to in the opening post, yes.

I have had personal correspondence with my contact at Astrum in the past 2 weeks, and he assures me they are still very much active and shipping product worldwide.

 

[OAPOli]

The film is likely made somewhere else (Agfa, Foma, Russia?) and packaged/rolled/cut/perforated in Ukraine. @paulbarden is there some indication of expiration date on the film?

 

[Helios 1984]

The film is likely made somewhere else (Agfa, Foma, Russia?) and packaged/rolled/cut/perforated in Ukraine. @paulbarden is there some indication of expiration date on the film?

Potentially. Maybe even made using old Svema emulsion recipes.

 

[Helge]

Post in thread 'Astrum, Svema, Tasma film'
https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/astrum-svema-tasma-film.167609/post-2180779

 

[cmacd123]

I just received a 15 roll order a couple of weeks ago, I have used the PHoto 400, and find it seems to be quite functional. it does have a dye layer on the back. IN these times, I have been sending more of my Photo budget in the direction of Ukraine. (which means I am also collecting FED bodies which need shutter curtain repair it seems....

 

[pentaxuser]

That is the same YouTube video linked to in the opening post, yes.

I have had personal correspondence with my contact at Astrum in the past 2 weeks, and he assures me they are still very much active and shipping product worldwide.

Yes it is exactly the same video but when I saw the word Svema underlined I had not made the connection with that one word being a link to Greg's video

All I meant is that if people look at the video they may conclude that there is no long-term future for Svema as it already has ceased production and what we see is old stock made into cassettes by the use of anonymous cassettes i.e. not Svema labelled cassettes

Your evidence is different but we still seem to have doubts being expressed and all I was trying to say is that it doesn't help Svema's future if there is a respected source such as Greg stating what he believes to be the case is that the film is no longer produced

He asked if anyone who knows of evidence to the contrary to enlighten him so maybe the OP and others here who know differently will now enlighten him that Svema is still producing film

I admit that I am still not clear: Is there a Svema film factory in the Ukraine actually producing this film daily in a similar fashion to say Kodak Ilford or Foma?

pentaxuser

 

[removedacct1]

The film is likely made somewhere else (Agfa, Foma, Russia?) and packaged/rolled/cut/perforated in Ukraine. @paulbarden is there some indication of expiration date on the film?

Yes, there is always an expiration date on the box, usually 2+ years out.

 

[removedacct1]

Your evidence is different but we still seem to have doubts being expressed and all I was trying to say is that it doesn't help Svema's future if there is a respected source such as Greg stating what he believes to be the case is that the film is no longer produced

He asked if anyone who knows of evidence to the contrary to enlighten him so maybe the OP and others here who know differently will now enlighten him that Svema is still producing film

I commented to Greg that Astrum is still producing these films and he didn't acknowledge my statement. So, I did what I could, and if people want to cultivate doubts about the source of these films, they're free to do so. Me - I'll just keep sending orders to Astrum and using the films they send me, with enthusiasm.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Despite everything, film continues to be produced in Ukraine. I want to ask if you know Svema, what do you think about it, how interesting could it be for you?
Svema

I'm not familiar with it, but it could be interesting. We must keep all existing film resources on our list

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Is there a link to purchase, particularly for Astrum Foto 100 4x5?

 

[cmacd123]

My personal Guess is that they are converting some sort of AERO film the Higher red mentioned in th e Video is consistent with that. the film is very thin, and so requires some extra care in loading the tanks. The other Negative thing I can say is the Cassettes in many cases seem to have a very short protruding end compared to more typical cassettes.


all the ones I have (both labels ASTRUM and SVEMA) feature a leader cut the lenght needed for a bottom Loading Leica, which is understanable from the land that provided so many Leica like cameras over the years (FED and KEIV)

I am all in favor of having another sourse of film being available.