Svema film at Freestyle Photo in USA

[brianmquinn]

I see that Freestyle film has several types of Svema film listed in their new products section.
See here for the 400 speed

https://www.freestylephoto.biz/100170-Svema-Foto-400-ISO-400-35mm-x-36-exp.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

It is scam. Repackaged film.

https://kp.ua/life/639835-proschai-svema-lehendarnyi-zavod-srovnialy-s-zemlei

"
В 1990-е годы "Свема" оказалась в затруднительном положении. К середине 90-х годов перестали платить зарплаты, сотрудники начали увольняться. Но нашлась небольшая группа, выкупившая за 50 тысяч долларов один из цехов с оборудованием, зарегистрировала на себя торговую марку и работает по сей день.

Как рассказывают местные, пленку покупают в Китае, подгоняют под старые советские ГОСТы, упаковывают и перепродают под именем легендарной марки. Продажи ведутся только по предзаказу партиями от 10 до 100 коробок. "

"
In the 1990s, Svema was in a quandary. By the mid-90s, they stopped paying salaries, employees began to quit. But there was a small group that bought one of the equipment shops for 50 thousand dollars, registered a trademark for itself and is still working today.

According to locals, they buy film in China, customize it under old Soviet GOSTs, pack it and resell it under the name of the legendary brand. Sales are conducted only on pre-order in batches of 10 to 100 boxes."


http://shostka.info/shostkanews/na-publichnyh-torgah-realizovana-bolshaya-chast-imushhestva-svemy/

"85% of state-owned movable and immovable property of Svema was sold at public auction. This Shostka.INFO reported in the administration of the enterprise.

The process of selling property of Svema AK is controlled by the State Property Fund.

The once known enterprise is in the process of liquidation. His property is sold, including buildings, which are about 300. The vast majority of them have long been in disrepair, so the buildings sold at public auction are now demolished.

The vacated Svema squares will be used to create various industries. In particular, investors plan to build a solar power station here."

 

[AgX]

That is a misleading statement by FreestylePhoto.

The film is rebranded stock not coated by Svema. There no longer is the filmplant Svema. Just people at best converting film stock produced elsewhere and packaging it as "Svema".


That converting and rebranding as such need not be a bad thing, Maco has shown with several films otherwise difficult or unavailable to the average consumer. It all depends what is in these packages...

 

[Rudeofus]

The key properties of this "new" Svema film are advertised as "0.10mm polyester base" and "spectral sensitivity to up to 750 nm", which are the exact properties of Agfa's Aviphot 200PE1. Don't get distracted by the ISO200 vs. ISO400 mismatch - Rollei Retro 400s does the same thing.

 

[removedacct1]

Here is my comment: I suspect these "Svema" films are the same thing that Astrum is selling under the same names (IE: Astrum Foto 400, etc), and I have used all three of the Foto emulsions (100, 200, 400 ASA) and I like them a lot. The 400 ASA Foto film is, however, manufactured on a shockingly thin polyester base. Its thin enough that pushing strips of developed film into negative file sheets is VERY tricky.
However, the 200 and 100 speed Foto films are on thicker polyester base (again, making the assumption that these are the same as Astrum Foto films) and handling is easier. I especially like the Foto 200. Its kind of like Tri-X but at a slower speed and finer grain. I highly recommend it (if its the same thing, that is).

 

[removedacct1]

It is scam. Repackaged film.

Is Acros Neopan II a scam also?, because its "repackaged film" from Harman Industries.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Is Acros Neopan II a scam also?, because its "repackaged film" from Harman Industries.

the difference is between clear statement where and by whom is film manufactured and just not existing anymore brand sold as it still exist.

 

[Cholentpot]

Say what you want but I've been getting fresh bulk 120 from some guy in Ukraine. They also have 127 sized among others.

 

[AgX]

Is Acros Neopan II a scam also?, because its "repackaged film" from Harman Industries.

The term scam likely was used due to the statement by FreestylePhoto that "This new film is produced in Shostka, using much of the equipment from the old Svema factory."
And the idea of a new Svema having arisen from the ashes may come up.

Well, the term manufacture is ambiguous, and that is why I spoke of a misleading statement.

 

[Sal Santamaura]

Is Acros Neopan II a scam also?, because its "repackaged film" from Harman Industries.

There has been no definitive information publicly released that indicates whether ACROS II is coated and finished by HARMAN or coated by Fujifilm and merely finished by HARMAN or some other combination of work split. Therefore the answer to your question is "we don't know."

 

[pentaxuser]

Is Acros Neopan II a scam also?, because its "repackaged film" from Harman Industries.

So on the Svema film, Paul, what is your opinion as to how it should be classified based on what has been said about whether the current situation with Svema?

pentaxuser

 

[removedacct1]

So on the Svema film, Paul, what is your opinion as to how it should be classified based on what has been said about whether the current situation with Svema?

pentaxuser

To me, the word "scam" suggests you are not going to get anything for your money - that you are about to be ripped off if you purchase this film. I doubt anyone actually thinks that.

What Freestyle actually states is: "Svema was the film produced by the Shostka Chemical Plant, located in Shostka, Ukraine. It was founded in 1931 and ceased production in the 1990s. This new film is produced in Shostka, using much of the equipment from the old Svema factory."
They state clearly that Svema ceased making film in 1990. They also state that the film is being produced using the old equipment from the Svema factory. What that does not tell us is: who is using the equipment to make the new film? (I'm betting its Tasma) There is room to interpret that statement to mean that some other manufacturer bought some of the Svema equipment and is using it in their production. Who and where is unknown.

How should this product at Freestyle be classified? Does it need to be classified? I expect its the same film that Astrum packages (I don't believe they make it themselves - I expect that also comes from Tasma), and as I've used the Astrum films and like them A LOT, I would have no problem buying at least a couple rolls from Freestyle and decide for myself whether I liked what I got, and if it was worth it. What more does one need?

 

[AgX]

What Freestyle actually states is: "Svema was the film produced by the Shostka Chemical Plant, located in Shostka, Ukraine. It was founded in 1931 and ceased production in the 1990s. This new film is produced in Shostka, using much of the equipment from the old Svema factory."
They state clearly that Svema ceased making film in 1990. They also state that the film is being produced using the old equipment from the Svema factory. What that does not tell us is: who is using the equipment to make the new film? (I'm betting its Tasma)

Why should Tasma as major, huge plant should dig machinery out of the ruins of Svema so say, in times each major plant is crimping down ?

Concerning the people behind the current Svema film there is enough name-dropping on the net.

 

[mohmad khatab]

: www.astrum-ltd.com
There is still a small part of the factory that was not sold, not destroyed, and capable of production, and was bought by a group of investors who want to obtain huge profits due to contracts for supplying aerial photography and microfilm movies with many governments.
This part of the factory is responsible for manufacturing aerial photography films. And this section is linked to contracts for supplying air movies with many governments, including the Egyptian government (officially)

 

[AgX]

Astrum is known as dealer not as manufacturer in the strict sense.

There are already 3 manufacturers of aerial films, all crimping-in their range.

 

[removedacct1]

Astrum is known as dealer not as manufacturer in the strict sense.

As I stated, I am well aware of that fact.

 

[pentaxuser]

Thanks for the reply, Paul. Yes it depends on how you define scam and I agree that in the sense of a "con" where you are tricked into parting with money for no return Svema film is not that. You do get a film called Svema. The question that arises is: How much of the film is made by the former Svema equipment? It is the answer to that question that seems to be engaging most of the respondents

pentaxuser

 

[brianmquinn]

It would be interesting to see if the Astrum films and the Svema films are the same.

When I tested films that I suspected were the same film under another name I would test like this. Take a photo with the last shot of the first roll and then reload the camera with the other name film. Shoot the exact same scene with the first frame of the new roll. I would later develop both rolls together in the same tank. A quick side by side view would tell me if the films were really the same emulsion formula. I know this seems totally logical, but I have seen many film “tests” where each film was shot under different lighting or with different cameras and sometime even using different developer times. Then someone tries to compare results and say if the films are the same.

 

[brianmquinn]

My favorite subject for a quick film test. A car that sits LOW to the ground. Take a photo with the car in full mid day sun with fluffy white clouds in a blue sky. There will be deep shadows under the car to look for detail in. The clouds show how the highlights work. The blue of the sky tells you how much you might need a yellow filter or not. The car itself can have any shade from bright chrome to black tires and around it you may have green trees etc in the shot to cover the other shades of grey. I would BRACKET this shot by a stop or so depending on the film I'm using.

I know not everyone can have a day like I just mentioned but if the weather is on your side give it a try.

 

[mohmad khatab]

There is still a small part of the factory that has not been sold, has not been demolished, and is capable of production, and it has been purchased by a group of investors who wish to obtain huge profits due to contracts for supplying aerial photography and microfilm movies with many governments.
This part of the factory is responsible for manufacturing aerial photography films. This section is linked to contracts for the supply of air films with many governments, including the Egyptian government (formally) >>>
- I contacted the sales department of this factory before and sent me the attached documents.

 

[cmacd123]

interesting that the price for the foto 400 on that list is significantly higher for the bulk film than for 36 exposure rolls.

 

[mohmad khatab]

interesting that the price for the foto 400 on that list is significantly higher for the bulk film than for 36 exposure rolls.

In fact, I did not feel comfortable with these prices.
But the seller, Alex, said that it is new and fresh films, and the prices are preliminary and negotiable, according to the required quantity.
He wants to make a huge deal of at least 10,000 rolls until I get a reasonable percentage of the discount.
Of course, in fact, I am a poor man, and I am not a businessman so I can manage these huge sums.
- I asked the seller to send me samples for experiments and tests. In fact, the man agreed, but he stipulated that someone go to him face to face to receive the samples, he would be authorized by me to receive the samples, since the seller does not want to send samples through the mail.
- So I tried to find help in this matter from my dear colleague (Vova) and he is a colleague of this forum and a Ukrainian citizen, I tried to persuade him to help me but he apologized as the location of this factory is very far away and needs a train ride for 6 hours and this is a difficult issue And expensive.
So I am so unlike the idea.

 

[AgX]

I see that Freestyle film has several types of Svema film listed in their new products section.
See here for the 400 speed

https://www.freestylephoto.biz/100170-Svema-Foto-400-ISO-400-35mm-x-36-exp.

Freestyle meanwhile have changed their product description. They call it Astrum film made by Astrum and much less provoke the belief that Svema have arisen from their ashes.

 

[removedacct1]

If you’re willing to buy direct from Astrum (which is what I do) you can shave at least a dollar (Per roll) off those prices.

 

[cmacd123]

and the decription "The spectral sensitivity of (all of them) is expanded into the near infrared range of the energy spectrum. Its spectral sensitivity to up to 750nm. Due to its very fine grain, its explicit detail rendering, and its ability to be processed at low contrast, this film is produces very low noise when scanned."

sure sounds like someone is converting some sort of Areo Film. perhaps a slitter and perforator were the equipment that they salvaged from the former factory.