highscore
Hi everyone
I’ve just picked up three Orwo NP20 rolls from eBay to get my hands on the film cartridges for my Petri half-frame camera.
As I hate wasting film, I quickly shot the first one full.
Developed in R09 for 10 minutes (12 minutes would have been better).
The result is both interesting and gruesome.
All the prints have developed a sort of spider’s web pattern.
Given the expiry date of 12/92, I’d assumed there was only about 15 DIN (residue) left and exposed accordingly.
But it seems the radioactivity has really done its job here.
It’s a shame, as it seems to have a fine grain.
If anyone fancies having a bit of fun with these two leftover rolls of film,
I’ll post the film material to you; otherwise, it’s off to the bin.
In any case, I now have my three empty cassettes.
Regards,
Highscore
Sandro
If you develop Orwo NP films in their original developer, they turn out really well. Even if they’ve been exposed for 30 years. ;-)
Toga
Orwo NP 22 films are generally still in good condition.
tomsand
So, are they still usable…? If they’ve been kept refrigerated the whole time, they might still be okay. But even then, the films have lost some of their speed and developed a base fog. If you expose the NP20 as 50 ASA and then develop it in D76 stock or A49 stock or F43 (Final) or Rodinal 1:25 or in ascorbic acid 2g/soda 5g/metol 0.2g (1:1) with relatively short development times, you’ll get fine grain and usable results. Of all the phenidone developers, such as X-Tol or Mikrophon, I would steer clear of them when using films that have been exposed in this way.
Gast
A spider’s web pattern sounds as though the emulsion has dried out and become brittle. This can happen with older films. The mechanical stress caused by rewinding (in the camera or in the developing tank) causes cracks in the emulsion that look like this.
