Chinese ERA film - your experience?

[Colin Corneau]

I've had a 50-pack of 4x5 ERA film, purchased on a recent trip to Beijing, sitting in my cooler for a while now.

Curious what anyone who's used it thinks...images? Pros/Cons? I've no idea what to expect from this film and want to head into shooting it with my eyes at least a little wider open.
I've printed with their B&W RC paper, and like it a lot, FWIW.

many thanks, Colin

 

[Keith]

I like it and read that it's very similar in it's characteristics to FP4 ... I have about twenty five sheets left.

I also read recently that it's no longer available! 🙁

 

[Nokton48]

I like it and recently loaded up on it, having 250 sheets of 4x5 in my freezer. Very similar to FP4, or maybe even FP3 🙂 Also have 50 rolls in 35mm and am slowly burning them off.

Good silver rich film. I've had good luck in straight D-76 type.

 

[aad]

I have it in 35mm, nice look, seems more contrasty, sort of old fashioned

 

[dfoo]

I very much like the 135 ERA film developed in Rodinal 1+100 for 30 minutes. I have a bunch of 4x5 ISO 100 film, but haven't had a chance to try it yet.

 

[maddoc]

After Keith mentioned it here at RFF, I found the seller on eBay and ordered 100 sheets (4x5). The film is expired end 2009 but was dead cheap, keen to try it (if I only had some more time ... )

 

[andreios]

Yes, in 4x5 is quite nice, somehow I'd call it "classical"..I soup it usually in two bath Stoeckler or divided D23 and I like it.

 

[ChrisN]

Good film for the price. My batch tends to have a few more pinholes in the emulsion than Ilford films.

Edit: has anyone tried the Shanghai 100 iso 4x5 that Isaac Chen is now offering?

 

[dfoo]

I have some of that also in 4x5. I haven't tried it yet, but I will 😉

 

[Nokton48]

Yes I have 250 sheets of 4x5 Shanghai, and 250 sheets of 5x7 Shanghai. I used an online discount coupon and loaded up on it. Looks good so far in PMK Pyro + and also in ADOX Borax MQ (D76 family). Looks like an old-school formulation to me.