nintendo64lad
Member
So far I have narrowed it down to Foma 100 or 200? What's the softest and most retro-looking 35mm film in your opinion? I'm looking for the most 1930s-looking 35mm I can get.
Using a 1936 uncoated Elmar, btw.
Using a 1936 uncoated Elmar, btw.
filmtwit
Desperate but not serious
Kodak Double X
nintendo64lad
Member
Where can I buy it and why do you think so?
filmtwit
Desperate but not serious
It's B&W motion picture film so more grain and slightly softer look.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...tography_project_fpp1079_x2_35mm_b_w_iso.html
or do a google and/or ebay search for better prices.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...tography_project_fpp1079_x2_35mm_b_w_iso.html
or do a google and/or ebay search for better prices.
newst
Well-known
nintendo64lad
Member
Any other films?
There seem to be several versions of that film
There seem to be several versions of that film
agentlossing
Well-known
Foma 200 is a good one. I just shot and developed some Shanghai GP3, I like the looks of it a lot:
Untitled (32) by Andrew Lossing, on Flickr
Untitled (13) by Andrew Lossing, on Flickr
Untitled (6) by Andrew Lossing, on Flickr
Might be worth a look, harder to source at the moment though.
Untitled (32) by Andrew Lossing, on FlickrUntitled (13) by Andrew Lossing, on FlickrUntitled (6) by Andrew Lossing, on FlickrMight be worth a look, harder to source at the moment though.
newst
Well-known
I am not sure exactly what you mean by "the most 1930s-looking 35mm" but I realy like the look that Fomapan 200 delivers, and it is a film that I believe was being produced in the 1930s. How could you go wrong?
lynnb
Veteran
Hard to go wrong with either suggestion, XX or Foma200.
Here's Fomapan 200 in XTOL 1+1 taken with my Summar 5cm f/2, which has a finely scratched front element - a combination made in heaven
Here's Fomapan 200 in XTOL 1+1 taken with my Summar 5cm f/2, which has a finely scratched front element - a combination made in heaven
nintendo64lad
Member
Which do you think has the edge: XX or Foma 200?
Thanks
Thanks
markjwyatt
Well-known
That's funny. I just processed a roll of Foma 200 (Rodinal 1:50), and was thinking these look like images I see in photo books from the 1930s! Less grain, but otherwise similar. Lens is a Carl Zeiss 50mm f1.8 Ultron, M42, so a pretty modern lens (relative to the 1930s).
crash by Mark Wyatt, on Flickr
trash cans by Mark Wyatt, on Flickr
crash by Mark Wyatt, on Flickr
trash cans by Mark Wyatt, on Flickr
markjwyatt
Well-known
The Fomapan 200 followed Fomampan 100 ( I am doing a one camera, one lens, one film manufacturer [Foma], three emulsion series [Foma 100, 200, 400]- two developers planned [I do not intend to develop the Foma 400 in Rodinal, so HC110 instead]), which I felt looked a little more modern, but still looked like a classic emulsion.
Beach Scene by Mark Wyatt, on Flickr
Utility Pole by Mark Wyatt, on Flickr
Beach Scene by Mark Wyatt, on Flickr
Utility Pole by Mark Wyatt, on Flickr
Bingley
Veteran
I think Fomapan 200 is a great film for your purposes. I’ve also been trying out Eastman XX and the version sold by Cinestill. Not enough photos of the latter to show. Of course, if you can find some Kodak Plus X, buy it! Here are some photos taken with Fomapan 200:
Range by Steve Macfarlane, on Flickr
Jellys Ferry Road by Steve Macfarlane, on Flickr
Morning walk by Steve Macfarlane, on Flickr
Range by Steve Macfarlane, on FlickrJellys Ferry Road by Steve Macfarlane, on FlickrMorning walk by Steve Macfarlane, on Flickr
Godfrey
somewhat colored
Actually, 1930s B&W films were anything but soft looking as shown in their original glory. If you ever come across the DVD of the 1939 classic "Lost Horizon", the DVD produced in the early 2000s, the extras on the DVD include a few prints from original negative clips that were never used in the final production release and thus were unaltered original print quality, without any of the artifacts created by the digital remastering of the film. The quality, contrast, sharpness, and drama of those clips outstripped the digital remaster handily!
My favorite vintage-like film is Ferrania P30. It is now again in production, fresh, and available from a few shops at about $10-11 per 36 shot roll. The modern production is as close to you can get to a 1930s era 35mm film.
The only problem is that the film is limited production and sells out rapidly.
G
Phil_F_NM
Camera hacker
I'll add another vote for Kodak XX, AKA 5222. It's Kodak's (and the world's) oldest emulsion in current production.
You might try some of the Russian films like Svema. Other than that, try looking for some out of production film, no more than 3 decades old. You'll get plenty of "old" look from the base fog.
You could also rub your finger on your nose then apply that grease to the lens.
In all reality, you could make any black and white film have that look by altering your development. The developer and developing technique used is going to have as much of an effect on the look, if not more so.
Phil Forrest
You might try some of the Russian films like Svema. Other than that, try looking for some out of production film, no more than 3 decades old. You'll get plenty of "old" look from the base fog.
You could also rub your finger on your nose then apply that grease to the lens.
In all reality, you could make any black and white film have that look by altering your development. The developer and developing technique used is going to have as much of an effect on the look, if not more so.
Phil Forrest
nintendo64lad
Member
Actually, 1930s B&W films were anything but soft looking as shown in their original glory. If you ever come across the DVD of the 1939 classic "Lost Horizon", the DVD produced in the early 2000s, the extras on the DVD include a few prints from original negative clips that were never used in the final production release and thus were unaltered original print quality, without any of the artifacts created by the digital remastering of the film. The quality, contrast, sharpness, and drama of those clips outstripped the digital remaster handily!
My favorite vintage-like film is Ferrania P30. It is now again in production, fresh, and available from a few shops at about $10-11 per 36 shot roll. The modern production is as close to you can get to a 1930s era 35mm film.
The only problem is that the film is limited production and sells out rapidly.
G
Humphrey Spender went around a town called Bolton in the very late 1930s with a Leica and a Contax II, really high-end cameras. He used Agfa Isopan and a Kodak film and the photos in the archives look very soft. His original camera got stolen so the Contax II was a replacement. Looks so modern, yet the photos all look so soft.
https://boltonworktown.co.uk/photo-collection
compilation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfQSXYZbjfU
Even a photographer for Magnum said they look pretty soft.
One of his cameras: https://boltonworktown.co.uk/humphrey-spenders-camera
The prints were also shown in a 1980s book, so I don't think it's down to compression. I do think some of the film back then was slightly softer.
nintendo64lad
Member
Why do you think Ferrania is the best? Says it has almost no grain.Actually, 1930s B&W films were anything but soft looking as shown in their original glory. If you ever come across the DVD of the 1939 classic "Lost Horizon", the DVD produced in the early 2000s, the extras on the DVD include a few prints from original negative clips that were never used in the final production release and thus were unaltered original print quality, without any of the artifacts created by the digital remastering of the film. The quality, contrast, sharpness, and drama of those clips outstripped the digital remaster handily!
My favorite vintage-like film is Ferrania P30. It is now again in production, fresh, and available from a few shops at about $10-11 per 36 shot roll. The modern production is as close to you can get to a 1930s era 35mm film.
The only problem is that the film is limited production and sells out rapidly.
G
lynnb
Veteran
Not mentioned here is the processing, along with any post processing either in the darkroom or in digital image software. You can get a vintage look as much by manipulating these as from the film. I've produced soft and retro looking pictures with quite a range of emulsions, not always on purpose! Also, as Godfrey suggests there are many 1930s "looks". Some were sharp and contrasty - see this 1930s beach photo by Herbert List on the Magnum photos site:
https://www.magnumphotos.com/shop/c...prints/picnic-by-the-baltic-sea-germany-1930/
I haven't tried XX yet - I have 50' sitting in my fridge.
Mr_Flibble
In Tabulas Argenteas Refero
Fomapan 100 (Summarit 50mm f/1.5) with HC-110
Kodak Double-X (Sonnar 50mm f/1.5) with HC-110
And just for extra grainy softness I'll offer up:
Foma Retropan 320 Soft (Nikkor-HC 50mm f/2) with HC-110
lynnb
Veteran
Here's some Ferrania P30 developed in XTOL 1+1. Taken with a CV 21mm f/4 Color-Skopar LTM, a coated lens with a fair bit of contrast. Your uncoated 1936 Elmar would probably do a better job than the Skopar in these conditions. I think the Foma 200 and XX are softer.
Manly beach, Sydney summer #832 by lynnb's snaps, on Flickr
Manly beach, Sydney summer #832 by lynnb's snaps, on Flickr