Orwo filming

pierods · 2012-11-28T08:51:06+00:00

Konnte nicht Fotoimpex Orwo filmen verkaufen? Ich habe gehört dass Sie machen es nochmal.

pierods

Wasn't FOTOIMPEX able to sell Orwo film? I've heard they're doing it again.

AchimBauer

Hello Pierods, I don’t know if FOTOIMPEX sells them. But there are several types of Orwo film. One type is the NP films, which are still in production by the old Orwo. These are sold on eBay in various formats, often with an expiry date that’s been past for over 10 years. Opinions differ as to whether it makes sense to use them. The other type are films from Filmotec in Wolfen. These are special films for surveillance that are also suitable for infrared – at least one of them is available in standard 35mm cassettes from Lomo – or cinema films such as the UN 54 with 100 ASA or UN 76 with 400 ASA, and are said to have nothing in common with the old ones. These are only available on rolls, but also as 30.5-metre film that fits into standard film loaders if it’s the version with a core. I bought a roll of UN 54 on eBay and developed two films in Rodinal 1:50 for 9.5 minutes, with great results. I haven’t tried it in a direct comparison with other films yet, though. If you’d like to try it yourself, just ask at Filmotec or Wephota. Regards, Achim

pierods

Thanks, Achim! I’m interested in the 400 ISO film, UN 74; perhaps that’ll give it that ‘vintage look’. I’ll give Wephota a ring.

Wolf_XL

...I’m not sure what you mean by ‘vintage look’, but the N74 is a reliable film with no real weaknesses. As the film is actually produced as cine stock, one can assume that variations in the emulsion properties are of little consequence. In terms of granularity and sharpness, the film can certainly hold its own against standard films such as HP5 or Tri-X. Here are some development data: http://www.digitaltruth.com/devchart.php?Film=Orwo&Developer=&mdc=Search

pierods

Thanks, Wolf! I’m sure of it, but you can only buy 200 metres of Orwo. Even if you want to make your own cassettes, that’s a bit too much... In the US, there are companies that put it into cassettes. So I thought FOTOIMPEX might be able to do that too...

Wolf_XL

...on request, you can also get the film in a 30.5-metre reel...

pierods

You mean from Orwo itself? I'll ask them then.

Wolf_XL

...you can even order it directly from the US – there’s an ORWO distributor there. They even stock the 100-foot can... http://www.orwona.com/b-w-motion-picture-camera-films/

AchimBauer

Well, getting hold of the film about the USA is a bit of a faff if it’s available here. I’m not familiar with the UN 76, but I bought my UN 54 as a 30.5-metre roll – via eBay, mind you – though the person who sold it to me must have got it from somewhere else. Wephota says other sizes are available on request, and rumour has it you can also get it from Orwo as a 30.5-metre roll. In the US, it seems to be quite common to use cinema film for still photography; there are websites where images of this are published; Kodak black-and-white cinema film is also used there, and years ago a colour film was also offered here in Germany that produced negatives with paper prints and slides; that was also based on cinema film, but it flopped because, firstly, it was expensive, had quality issues, and could only be developed in the USA. Based on my two test films with the UN 54, there are no quality issues to speak of; it’s top-notch. But I’ll be testing it soon in a direct comparison with other films. Regards, Achim

KPA40

There’s certainly no need to order from the US. 100-foot rolls are also available here in Germany: http://www.wittner-k...m/kleinbild.php Best regards, Olaf

pierods

Great, thanks!