Agfa Scala - Just commiserating

[kxl]

Today marks the end of Agfa Scala processing at Main Photo in Santa Ana, CA, so unless you process Scala yourself, AFAIK your only lab option in the US is dr5, which uses a different proprietary process than the erstwhile "official" Scala labs.

Sad to hear that news, but here's the kicker -- the Main Photo manager told me he has 500 rolls of Scala (I didn't ask but likely short-dated) in the freezer, and that he'd be willing to sell them to me for $2.50 per roll if I take at least 200 rolls.

I'm sorely tempted, since I have always liked Scala, but $500 is an awful lot of money for me to spend on film right now, especially since I've just ordered 110 rolls of Neopan 1600. I may buy a few rolls of the remaining Scala at Main Photo, but they certainly won't be at $2.50 per roll.

So, if there are any Scala-loving Southern Californians with $500 burning a hole in their pockets, head on down to the OC and stock up. You can always process it in Rodinal, if you have any of that left. I'm just saying...

 

[Mephiloco]

Rodinal is still easily attained, freestyle still has it. Never shot agfa scala though due to my tendency to self process

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Krapenheit!!! 😱 And here I am with two rolls exposed with my trusty Nikon bodies!

Nothing but send them to Dave Woods at dr5 now...

It is a real disgrace. Did the manager tell you why? Low volume? Cost of chemicals?

 

[kxl]

Krapenheit!!! 😱 And here I am with two rolls exposed with my trusty Nikon bodies!

Nothing but send them to Dave Woods at dr5 now...

It is a real disgrace. Did the manager tell you why? Low volume? Cost of chemicals?

Both. Low volume just did not justify the cost of continued support... very unfortunate.

 

[kxl]

Rodinal is still easily attained, freestyle still has it.

Have you checked lately? All I see are "equivalents."

 

[Rico]

So much for the USA: any remaining "official" Scala processors in the world?

 

[yoyo22]

So much for the USA: any remaining "official" Scala processors in the world?

Here in Germany a couple of labs still offer development services for Agfa Scala:

Phototechnik Berlin

Photostudio 13

Bildmanufaktur München

 

[Pirate]

Wish I weren't moving back to the States next week....

 

[Mister E]

I always wanted to try Scala, but never had a chance. I don't want to buy 200 rolls of it either.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Scala was... OK. I actually preferred its (much slower) predecessor, Dia-Direct. But both were very critical for exposure; expensive; and of limited use.Dia-Direct scanned well on drum scanners, though.

Cheers,

R.

 

[JayGannon]

Have you checked lately? All I see are "equivalents."

Exact same formula = exact same developer in a different bottle.

 

[italy74]

Guys
sorry to say that also the last store that had it here doesn't display it any longer.

 

[Brian Levy]

I am sad to see it go. I love b&w slides and began shooting and developing them long before it was available. Back then I used Tech Pan, another big loss. The 1st rolls of Scala I shot convinced me it could be an acceptable substitute for the more complex Tech Pan process. I've not been shooting much for the past few years and still have some Scala in the freezer so I guess I'll shoot it and develop it as a negative. I do want to go back to b&w slides, principally MF 645 so need to research a new lower speed b&w emulsion, hopefully available in both 120 and 35mm.

 

[HHPhoto]

Both. Low volume just did not justify the cost of continued support... very unfortunate.

Hi Keith,

your lab don't have to shut down their Scala reversal processing line!!
Because both Rollei Superpan 200 and Rollei Retro 400S can be developed in the Scala process with excellent results. I am regularly using them, and I am very satiesfied.
Both films are already used in Europe as Agfa Scala successors.

Both films are available in the US by Freestyle.

The german Scala labs are developing Rollei Superpan 200 and Rollei Retro 400S in the Scala reversal process with 3:45 minutes first development time.
Expose both films with ISO 125/22° or ISO 160/23° (I like the ISO 160 results more).

I think the best is to inform your lab about it!
They can continue their business by using these two films. They have only to inform their customers about the alternative.

For further detail they could contact the leading german Scala lab www.photostudio13.de or Maco/Rollei-Film www.mahn.net

BW slide is alive!

Cheers, Jan

 

[HHPhoto]

I think the best is to inform your lab about it!
They can continue their business by using these two films. They have only to inform their customers about the alternative.

Keith, sorry, I have forgotten to mention it: There are indeed four films that can be processed in the Agfa Scala process:
Not only Superpan 200 and Retro 400S, but also Rollei IR (without IR filter it can be used without problems as a normal film) and Foma R100 slide film.

Cheers, Jan

 

[dr5chrome]

old post - new comment

old post - new comment

While dr5 is a different process, as mentioned, it is a better process than the AGFA process itself. We process "ALL" of the remaining scala film and much of it from Europe as well - simply because we process it better.
As-well; with dr5 one does not even have to use SCALA or the ROLLEI film for that matter! You can use the ILFORD films, the KODAK films, the EFKE films - and many of them producing better positive-result.

A foot-note to Mainphoto. I don't like to bone on another lab, but Mainphoto is a terrible lab. They produced very poor work and even worse customer service. Why did they have less volume for scala? ..because folks sent the film to us. Mainphoto DIDNOT use the agfaphoto chemistry after agfa went belly-up. They used a mix from Clayton-chem, which was pretty bad and why the quality was bad as well. If you ever had good processing from Mainphoto 'post-agfa', you got lucky.
A recent visit from the head of ILFORD-US commented on how disturbed he was by still seeing the SCALA processing pages up in the Mainphoto website! He said - "how devastating to their clients not to provide a reference to process the film and to have customers send film that cant be done and may never see again". I cant tell you how many complaints we have had from this lab.

THERE IS SCALA processing in the US! dr5.com. ..and 20 other films you can use as well.

dr5.com

Today marks the end of Agfa Scala processing at Main Photo in Santa Ana, CA, so unless you process Scala yourself, AFAIK your only lab option in the US is dr5, which uses a different proprietary process than the erstwhile "official" Scala labs.

Sad to hear that news, but here's the kicker -- the Main Photo manager told me he has 500 rolls of Scala (I didn't ask but likely short-dated) in the freezer, and that he'd be willing to sell them to me for $2.50 per roll if I take at least 200 rolls.

I'm sorely tempted, since I have always liked Scala, but $500 is an awful lot of money for me to spend on film right now, especially since I've just ordered 110 rolls of Neopan 1600. I may buy a few rolls of the remaining Scala at Main Photo, but they certainly won't be at $2.50 per roll.

So, if there are any Scala-loving Southern Californians with $500 burning a hole in their pockets, head on down to the OC and stock up. You can always process it in Rodinal, if you have any of that left. I'm just saying...

 

[mfogiel]

I loved this film...Some home processed SCALA shots:


2008030114 by mfogiel, on Flickr


2008020232 by mfogiel, on Flickr


20092706 by mfogiel, on Flickr

 

[kmallick]

^^ those are incredible! especially the last one.

I have some scala tucked away in a freezer and I have been meaning to shoot and send them to the dr5 lab here in Denver where I live. But I might process at home if I can get the results like yours. Would you like to share your developing routine for the scala?

 

[jdriffill]

Arka lab in Paris still develops and also sells Scala. www.arkalab.com

 

[HHPhoto]

O.k., as dr5 lab has resurrected this old 'zombie thread' ;-), lets have a summary on the current situation:

1. Agfa Scala 200X ist still available. Due to an official statement of Fotoimpex there is enough stock to last until 2017.
Furthermore, Adox is working on a successor. So when the stocks are depleted, there will be probably a new film.

Scala 200X is available for example from
www.fotobrenner.de
www.fotoimpex.de
www.nordfoto.de
www.spuersinn.de
www.arkalab.com

2. With Agfa Copex Rapid there is already a new film for the original Scala process. It is the BW slide film with by far the highest resolution, finest grain and best sharpness.
Besides, Foma R100, Retro 80S, Superpan 200, Retro 400S and Rollei IR can also be reversal developed in the original Scala process.

3. The following labs can develop Agfa Scala film (in alphabetical order):

Australia:
The lighthouse lab

France:
Arka lab in Paris

Germany:
Bildmanufaktur in Munich
Photostudio 13 in Stuttgart
Phototechnik Berlin in Berlin
Schwarzweiss-Dia-Service Klaus Wehner in Paderborn (own designed process delivering the highest Dmax with Scala film worldwide; He hals also designed a special process for Retro 80S as BW infrared slide)
Schloms und Schmitz in Cologne (not running the original process, running an own, more simple process).

Italy:
Agenzialuce (also offering reversal of conventional films).

USA:
dr5 (also offering reversal of conventional films).

AFAIK all or most of these labs are offering international service. So if you are from an other country, just send your films across the border to one of these labs.

BW slide is worth it! The tonality is outstanding and unique.
To get the best quality with BW slide film avoid scanning, and instead project the slides with a very good projection lens onto a screen.
With scanners you can not get the full detail out of BW (slide) film. You always have a loss in resolution, and grain is increased by scanner noise. And you can not use the full Dmax.
You don't have this problems in projection: The grain stays as fine as it is on the film, and the resolution and sharpness are outstanding.
Furthermore you can use the full contrast range of the film in projection. That is not possible with scanning, and not with printing, where the contrast is limited by the paper (5-5,5 stops).
The best BW slide films have a max. contrast range of more than 10 stops.
One of the reasons of their awesome brillance in projection.

BW slide is alive and kicking 😎

Cheers, Jan