Review - Shanghai GP3 120 black and white film

quejai · Feb 1, 2013

quejai submitted a new resource:

(there was a url link here which no longer exists) - Review - Shanghai GP3 120 black and white film

GP3 is the cheapest film you can buy new. Its 100 ISO, in 120 format, and is B&W.
It's good, especially for the price.

On opening the box, which looks quite cool, the reel is inside a grey plastic wrap. Nowhere as easy to open as the ubiquitous Kodak or Fuji rolls, this takes some tack to split. When its open, youll find it has a bit of generic sticky tape stuck haphazardly in an attempt to stop the roll from...

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

fotch · Feb 1, 2013

Hello quejai and welcome to APUG. Thanks for posting. Way to much to do or worry about for me to use this film, however, it contributed to my curiosity about this film.

amac212 · Feb 1, 2013

Thank you for the thorough review of your experiences with this film! What developer did you use? I've waffled whether to try it out and still hesitate because I don't like 'surprises'. But it seems that you've figured out how to (more than) optimize your output from this film. I absolutely love the 1st image you posted. So, so beautiful!

Rick A · Feb 1, 2013

Having shot nearly 50 rolls of the stuff myself, I have never experienced the issues you are posting. My only complaints are the curl, and the frame numbers are not easily seen in a red window of my Franka. I have shot it through my Mamiya C series and Yashica Mats(and D) with no issues (other than the curl). You are correct about the junk tape holding the rolls and they are a bugger to open, but all (so far) have tape at the end of the roll (which I never use on any film, opting for a rubber band instead) Processing and printing has been smooth and grain is no issue. I still have another 50+ rolls to shoot from my initial purchase. I just pulled a couple from the freezer to shoot in my Mamiyas.

Richard S. (rich815) · Feb 1, 2013

What camera did you use for the above images?

I really like this film:

ECHIUM - Emeryville Marina RolleiflexSL66 80PlanarSC ShanghaiGP3 Rodinal1-50 by rich8155 (Richard Sintchak), on Flickr

Berkeley Marina Ben Rolleiflex3-5E3 Xenotar ShanghaiGP3 Rodinal1-50 by rich8155 (Richard Sintchak), on Flickr

pdeeh · Feb 1, 2013

I use GP3 as my main 120 film.
I've not experienced any "print through" problems or any "scum" either.
I get the occasional roll that hasn't been taped properly but it's so cheap I can live with that.
It does curl like a beeyatch though, which I do find extremely irritating

In D76 1:1 it's very smooth looking but lacks a bit of sharpness and contrast to my eye
Lovely in Rodinal 1:50, quite "punchy"
Caffenol, somewhere between the two (but also I've shot rolls at 80, 100 and 400 then developed in caffenol for the same time and got perfectly acceptable results)

If you want to shoot a lot of film but don't have much money, I'd recommend it. But I wouldn't use it if my living depended on the pictures I took.

quejai · Feb 1, 2013

amac212 said:
Thank you for the thorough review of your experiences with this film! What developer did you use? I've waffled whether to try it out and still hesitate because I don't like 'surprises'. But it seems that you've figured out how to (more than) optimize your output from this film. I absolutely love the 1st image you posted. So, so beautiful!

Thanks, amac - I used D-76 1:1 at 14mins/20c.

quejai · Feb 1, 2013

rich815 said:
What camera did you use for the above images?

A mamiya 6 with the 50mm. Nice shots, by the way!

quejai · Feb 1, 2013

desertratt said:
Scan? What is a scan. Is it like a scam?

A scan, the result of scanning negatives to a computer. Scams rarely are good for looking at, so I normally don't get confused.

Oxleyroad · Feb 1, 2013

I too find the curl irritating, but wanted to advise it is brilliant when used for b&w reversals due to the clear base.

gorbas · Feb 1, 2013

So, how much is average price of this film? Is there any other source than Xbay?

Richard S. (rich815) · Feb 1, 2013

I loaded up and brought back to the US around 200 rolls a couple years ago from Beijing for about 75 cents a roll. Last time I tried to get more when my father-in-law went back we were told its been discontinued and any found is simply remaining stock. That was about 9 months ago I think. Who knows if its true. Other than eBay or if you go to China not sure where else to find it.

Molli · Feb 2, 2013

I seem to be the only person who hasn't experienced any of the problems mentioned here or on other photo sites. No curling whatsoever, no backing paper residue or print through and no violently blue dye coming out during development (a complaint mentioned on another thread).
Overall, I don't mind it at all. I appreciate the time you took to review it, however, and also for posting examples. Thank you to rich815, also, for showing what this film is capable of

Richard S. (rich815) · Feb 2, 2013

I do get the curl, and the blue dye, sometimes some minor imperfections and artifacts, and even the numbers showing occasionally (but seemingly only when I use it in my Fuji 645 cameras), but its still a film capable of gorgeous results. Would not use for a paid gig but I pretty much shoot for myself anyway, at least rarely doing paid in advance stuff...

ambaker · Feb 2, 2013

Molli said:
I seem to be the only person who hasn't experienced any of the problems mentioned here or on other photo sites. No curling whatsoever, no backing paper residue or print through and no violently blue dye coming out during development (a complaint mentioned on another thread).
Overall, I don't mind it at all. I appreciate the time you took to review it, however, and also for posting examples. Thank you to rich815, also, for showing what this film is capable of

Molli,

What developer are you using? I've heard that some work better than others, for avoiding the curl. I've got 10 rolls waiting to be used here.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

flyinfiddlesticks · Feb 2, 2013

Ah brilliant. This is a timely review for me.
I have just got myself a mamiya rb system and ordered a first batch of shanghai (along side my fav Delta 100) for those. I shall be following the recommendations closely!

cheers!

RalphLambrecht · Feb 2, 2013

remember, if you choose this today over high-quality ilford or kodak films, this may be the only film you can buy tomorrow. no way!i'm not going to touch it with a 10-foot pole.

flyinfiddlesticks · Feb 3, 2013

RalphLambrecht said:
remember, if you choose this today over high-quality ilford or kodak films, this may be the only film you can buy tomorrow. no way!i'm not going to touch it with a 10-foot pole.

Oh no, no. Not over the Ilford's definitely. I love the quality of the Deltas, they show the kind of contrast and detail that I typically love of B&W.
However, one always needs something to experiment! Shanghai might very well be it.

pdeeh · Feb 3, 2013

It seems a little extreme to suggest that we should actively avoid supporting one of the few remaining a film manufacturers.

One could equally say that not buying Shanghai might lead to the demise of yet another film.
Alternatively, increased sales might become an incentive to greater QA and QC on their part.

In the meantime, it is nice to have a choice. And we are not all professional photographers

Dennis S · Feb 3, 2013

The part about excessive curling is not evident in the rolls I have used (30ish). What I use is ID-11 @ 1-1 and the water I use here in Vancouver is quite soft so that might what is helping the flatness of the negs. As for the "scum" that is reported I just do a longer than normal with more agitations through the wash. One of great things about it it is a great practice film to use in between my usual Neopan Acros film and I did have several rolls that were printable. And with "free" shipping I always have this film in my freezer.

jp498 · Feb 4, 2013

I think it's good to be price conscious, but at least in the US, Acros has been pretty affordable,and Kodak's 120 stuff has recently come down in cost by about 15%. I'm not interested in buying mediocre quality film to save a dollar when it could ruin the results of a once-in-a-lifetime photo. A false economy compared to the gas, camera equipment, etc.. Foma used to be a cheap film, but it's not cheaper now, and it's not as good as kodak/fuji/ilford in terms of quality.

Dennis S · Feb 5, 2013

The shipping prices are a VERY big issue here. eg. I can buy a 5x rls of GP-3 with purchase & deliverey for $19.00 OR go with Kodak T-Max 100 (x5) .....for $26.50 with delivery charge (36.25) amounts to $62.75 and if I order more I get a reduced shipping rate.....wgaf. And with local prices wanting even more it is a small wonder that that it sells so well here.

ohnostudio · Feb 5, 2013

Is there anyone in the USA who stocks this at a decent price? I have looked on and off at a few places and it's always ut of stick. I would prefer a regular vendor as opposed to ebay auctions. I shoot 120.

Thanks!

dubtom · Feb 5, 2013

I have used it quite a bit,actually have some 4x5 on the way. I've never noticed scum on the negs but have had the numbers coming through on a few rolls, I had thought that it was from the use of cheap ink on the paper, I've only noticed it on underexposed rolls.

Molli · Feb 5, 2013

ambaker said:
Molli,

What developer are you using? I've heard that some work better than others, for avoiding the curl. I've got 10 rolls waiting to be used here.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Apologies for the belated response. This was my first run with both Shanghai films and a Yashica D camera so I just went "by the book", so to speak. D-76 1:1 for 14 minutes at 20c/68f. Agitate for the first 30 seconds, then ten seconds every minute thereafter. Thirty seconds agitated in stop. Around seven minutes in the fix (a couple more than I usually would, but I've already had a few rolls through it). Ten minutes wash using a modified version of the Ilford wash - agitate ten times, dump; agitate 20 times, dump, agitate 30 times, dump. Then a minute or two soaking in Photoflo. I also let the shower run until it fills with steam before hanging my film with two clips at the top of the negative and two weighted ones at the bottom. As mentioned, none of the aforementioned problems whatsoever.

With regard to those advocating the complete avoidance of any "cheapie" films - for those of us who are just testing the waters, whether switching from digital, coming back to film, trying out a new camera - these films are invaluable. If it weren't for the price of, say, LegacyPro films when I first got back into film a few years ago, I'd have been too paralysed to ever trip the shutter. The availability of Shanghai GP3 120 film gave me a little bit of breathing room, economically, to invest in a medium format camera that I'd never have bought had I only had access to the more expensive films. One of these days I hope to take photos worthy of a better medium but, until then, I choose to commit my atrocities to the cheapest film and paper I can get my hands on.
There HAS to be a market for the novice, the dabbler, the plain, old flat broke or there won't be a "beginners" level to start in; ergo, no newcomers moving into film photography and taking it to a professional level. Then, also, not everyone wants to take it to that level.

Review - Shanghai GP3 120 black and white film

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