Agfa Scala (but not from a RF)

M

merciful

Guest
Sorry: didn't have a roll to test in one of the Leicas; but thought you guys might like to see what Agfa Scala (developed in Rodinal as a negative) looks like at ISO 800. I'm pretty impressed, and just might have to spring for some to run through the M3 and Canon 50/1.2.
 
Ha! 1+50/20C/30min/5min intervals.

Stuff is mighty expensive: C$10 roll for 35mm.
 
That's a beautiful portrait! Thanks for the developing time. I have a roll in the fridge and I'm tempted to develop it as negatives.

Gene
 
sorry for the dumb questions, but i'm new to developing my own b&w negs...

what is 1+50 ? is that 1 part developer to 50 parts water, or the other way around?

also, is Scala not negative film - is it b&w slide?
 
50 parts developer to one part water would be a might strong solution: it's the other way 'round.

Scala is whatever one wants it to be, within reason. For example, I think it would make a very poor colour film (neg or slide); but it makes a very nice negative, even if Agfa never intended it to be.
 
Agfa stopped producing Scala 31 dec 2004 so what you get is from Agfas storage - will probably last two max three years - fewer labs are developing Scala slides now - the only lab in Scandinavia stopped half a year ago so i have to send my scala film to germany og holland - that sucks - Scala is a fatastic slidefilm - the iso is not so much about speed - on a sunny day you use it at 200 - at a hazy day at 400 - same grain different contrast - love the stuff - If i could afford it I would buy what they had left and a mashine to develope it as slides and I would never have to worry for the rest of my life. The lab that did scala films in Copenhagen was trying to sell there machine at about 5000 usd - i can not afford it and I do not have room for it either :-(
 
Are you sure about the production news, Ruben?

Time to re-stock... or else, get Fonopan film!

That's really bad news... I only use Scala for B&W. :(
 
I am not sure if the new agfa company has changed policy on Scala and RSX II and APX but summer 2004 Agfa were very sure that they wouldt halt production dec. 2004. As I understand they store film in large rolls or sheets in order to have it cut into formats in portions when it is demanded. Summer 2004 they stated that stock would last at least two years from production halt. I use these 3 films for about 95 % of my work! The RSX II slide film is no one for photographing art as it is much more neutral than kodak and fuji - the APX is a great all round 100 iso BW film
 
I seem to remember something along the lines of Scala no longer being available in 4X5... But then, if Ruben's work is done in Scala, he must know something.

Let's quietly put a lid on the matter and run to eBay to stock up... :)
 
I think it is how we define "production" the may be producing 135 and 120 film for the consumer from stock film but I do not think they are going to produce more stock film if there is a word like stock film ?
I will write them today and have this matter clearified
cheers ruben
 
merciful said:
Ha! 1+50/20C/30min/5min intervals.

Stuff is mighty expensive: C$10 roll for 35mm.
Click to expand...


Scala in the UK is C$23! Now that's mighty expensive!

I shot a couple of rolls (finally,after years of intending to try it) just as the only UK processor went bust :( . This meant the films were sent to France. The results were super. Then agfa found a new UK processor and I don't think they are anywhere near as good. The slides I got back had dust and watermarks. Things may have changed as they were as new to the film as I was but I've not tried any since. Perhaps some UK users can give a little input on their experiences.

BTW merciful the portrait youposted is excellent. Wish I'd taken it.

Paul
 
Merciful - nice result! How much did you crop from the full frame? Just to make it square-ish or more?

Surprising to hear that one can skip the expensive special commercial development of the Scala and go for a negative.
 
Manolo Gozales said:
Hey:)

Me again.

Just checked the conversion rate and it's GBP1=C$2.29, so at Calumet prices a roll of Scala would cost about C$13.14. Sounds to me like you're including the processing cost also in your comparison, Paul. :eek:

Cheers

ManGo
Click to expand...

Yes I think I did have the processed paid version. Got it from 7dayshop.com at about £10 a roll. I tried it because I had such trouble finding a decent B&W processor.



Paul
 
Pherdinand said:
Merciful - nice result! How much did you crop from the full frame? Just to make it square-ish or more?
Click to expand...

Thanks, guys.

Pherdinand, this is not much of a crop: but it's from a 120 neg. Used my Rolleiflex.
 
I've bought Scala on eBay and all kinds of places. Outdated, of course. Now... in Adorama they sell the propacks for $32. and some (without shipping). Then, developing costs around $6 or $7.

Right now, I have some twenty rolls of the stuff in my cooler.
 
Hi I got this message back from AGFA - I am not sure how clear the statement is but as I read it we will have bot RSX and SCALA in 365 and 120 arounf for a while - cheers ruben :):


""
Hello,

thank you for your inquiry.

Both RSX II and Scala films are still in our assortment and yet we have
no plans of closing down sales of those films. Of course, the big changes
towards
digital imaging in the market will have influence on their production in
the future, which
means that unfortunately I can not promise you many years of production any
more.

We are aware that during last year some rumours were spread about closing
down
the production of Agfa professional films, but this was a rumour and
incorrect.
RSX II and Scala films are still available both in 135 and 120 sizes in
bigger professional
photoshops.


Ystävällisin terveisin - Kind Regards

Paula Ruoho
Tuoteasiantuntija - Product specialist """
 
Thanks a huge lot, Ruben! This was a much needed message that the world isn't suddenly abandoning us.

Very, truly appreciative of your effort, allow me to remain,

Sincerely,
 
Scala is still around and well here in the U.S. I think I mentioned this, but there is a lab in LA called dr5 (dr5.com), and they offer reversal processing for most any black and white film, including scala. I tried their processing for scala and like it, but I think I like their processing for Delta 100 even better. It comes out a beautiful hue, on the brownish end of neutral. I am including some shots:

Agfa scala processed at dr5 (these shots are with a Mamiya 7II)
mountain-road-scala1.jpg

mountain-road-scala2.jpg

scala-mountains.jpg


For contrast, this is Delta 100 shot at 80 and developed as a transparancy. Leica MP and 50 summicron for all shots. Note, for some reason the scanner has difficulty getting good shadow detail in the scans. It is a good scanner, (scan multi pro), but for this, it did not work well...

lotus-blossom.jpg

weird-flowers-dr5.jpg

The image below in particular has much more shadow detail in the slide -- you can see palm fronds in the top of the image, the entire bench and trellis, as well as hanging vines in the left part of the frame.
chiaroscuro.jpg

courthouse-eerie2.jpg

il-canzoniere.jpg
 
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