Gast
Hello Mirko,
You’ve listed a new film in the new FOTOIMPEX catalogue: “CLASSIC PAN 100 ECO”. As well as Efke 100, I also process CP 200 as 4x5 and 8x10 sheet film. Unfortunately, that’s not available at the moment (or perhaps not at all anymore?) I have always developed CP 200 with good results using Pyrocat HD and ABC-Pyro.
Can I use the CLASSIC PAN 100 ECO as a substitute without any drawbacks? With sheet films, I don’t mind slightly lower detail reproduction, so that’s not a reason for me not to use it. But how does it perform in pyro developers?
Will the Classicpan 100 still be available in 8x10 in future?
I noticed on www.jandcphoto.com that they also stock a CP 100. Is it the same film? It’s also listed there as 8x10.
What emulsion is actually used in this film?
Many thanks for your reply
Jürgen
MirkoBoeddecker
Hello Jürgen,
The CP 100 ECO is in a different league to the Classic Pan 200 and 400.
The film is rock-solid and manufactured using traditional techniques.
Unlike other low-cost imported films, it has a grey base and therefore no ‘over-exposure effects’.
Initial tests in the USA have shown that it works very well in pyro and is otherwise a flawless material (yes, it is the same one).
Unfortunately, the first batch was not cut to the correct dimensions and did not fit into the Linhof cassettes.
As you are no doubt aware, we test all our materials first before offering them to you (see also Lucky), so we have postponed the launch of the film slightly.
Our US partner company was quicker off the mark, as there are other types of cassettes over there and the films fitted into those.
But that has now been sorted out. A new delivery is on its way, which will hopefully arrive in 2–3 weeks.
Bottom line: the price is good, so why not just give the film a go?
We can also have 8x10 cut with the next delivery.
As for the CP 200 and 400: please don’t all run away just because Forte is having problems.
Ilford is still going strong,
and their mountain of debt is ten times higher than Forte’s.
We’re doing our bit and keeping the flag flying for the Hungarians. Tomorrow they’ll receive money from us to pay the electricity bill. In return, we’ll get sheet films and photographic paper as raw materials. We’ll then have them processed. In 4–6 weeks you’ll have Classicpan again, and we’ll see how things go in the spring.
Mirko
Gast
Hello, I’d also like to know what kind of emulsion is used in the “Eco-Pan” camera. Is it perhaps related to Agfa ISS, or does the film now tend to come from the Far East?
MirkoBoeddecker
This film has not been available until now.
It is comparable to any standard 100 ASA single-layer film without flake crystals.
However, no other film is ‘identical’ to Classic 100 ECO.
Where it is produced is a trade secret.
Mirko
uworischki
Will the 100 ECO also be available in 9x12 soon?
MirkoBoeddecker
...probably not, given how complicated it was to ‘teach’ the camera to handle 4x5" film.
This film is very inexpensive. That’s only possible because we’re ‘piggybacking’ on the large sheet film orders from our American partner company.
But they don’t need 9x12 over there. If you had an internationally standardised back, 4x5" sheet film cassettes would fit too....
Or are you perhaps the proud owner of the Linhof variants with a contact plate (sigh...)? I wouldn’t want to swap those for Fidelity either :-)
Mirko
uworischki
Unfortunately not... Mentor 13x18 with reduction masks down to 9x12... I suppose I'll just have to wait for Efke 100...
uwe
