Ferrania P30 B&W Film Thread

[Argentia1]

"Each to his own. If you like that, do that." Words to live by!

I haven't seen that Adox film available here yet but I'll be happy to try it out. I recall they had a slow film available but it needed its own developer iirc so I passed due to expense and hassle. But the more choice the better.

Where are you located? I've bought Adox HR-50 at Fotoimpex. They do ship internationally.
There is indeed a new developer offered as well : Adox HR-50 DEV.
I've tried it, too. Very good stuff, not only for the HR-50 film, but also for all other films. It is a developer with very high speed, very good sharpness und push capabilities. I've got very good results with Tri-X, TMY and Delta 400 for example.
The results of Adox HR-50 in HR-50 DEV are excellent. But I have also tried Ilford DD-X with HR-50 and have got very good results, too.

 

[jawarden]

Where are you located? I've bought Adox HR-50 at Fotoimpex. They do ship internationally.
There is indeed a new developer offered as well : Adox HR-50 DEV.
I've tried it, too. Very good stuff, not only for the HR-50 film, but also for all other films. It is a developer with very high speed, very good sharpness und push capabilities. I've got very good results with Tri-X, TMY and Delta 400 for example.
The results of Adox HR-50 in HR-50 DEV are excellent. But I have also tried Ilford DD-X with HR-50 and have got very good results, too.

Sorry for my tardy reply.

Fotoimpex do ship internationally, but I'm in the USA and the shipping cost for the film is impossible (35 euro regardless of quantity, compared to 4 euro to ship P30). I checked my usual retailers and don't see it here, but do see other Adox films. Perhaps it will be available here one day. I'll be happy to experiment with it alongside P30.

 

[Argentia1]

Sorry for my tardy reply.

No problem at all. Thanks for your reply.

 

[Argentia1]

I've been watching this thread having given up on P30 after coming to these very same conclusions. I too have spent many decades shooting many films (and testing via densitometer), I found P30 to be too contrasty, and nearly impossible to process for darkroom printing. My best attempts required grade 1/2 to 0 and still had marginal tonality. I didn't go for a water bath development, which was going to be my next step to try and tame the contrast in this stuff. I'm glad to see some folks getting fair or better results with this, but it seems nearly every shot contains blown highlights and empty shadows. I would love to see FF succeed, but this is absolutely not a film I have any interest in continuing to battle.

Thanks Bob for sharing your experience and test results.
As explained in detail above in my postings, my results are very very similar.

 

[Mackinaw]

Finally some news on Ferrania. I guess their factory has been (finally) upgraded. They're now doing some R&D, and have hired a new member to their team.

http://www.filmferrania.it/news-articles/2019/p30-is-back-on-track

Jim B.

 

[jawarden]

Finally some news on Ferrania. I guess their factory has been (finally) upgraded. They're now doing some R&D, and have hired a new member to their team.

http://www.filmferrania.it/news-articles/2019/p30-is-back-on-track

Jim B.

Very nice. I'm glad to see they're progressing.

 

[Ricochetrider]

Hello, I'm dredging this old(er) thread up because I just got 2 rolls of Ferrania P30 and wanted to see what people are doing and how everyone is liking the film stock. Seems there are mixed reviews, with folks getting varying results, some of which seems to be according their own preferences? I see the last post here was just about. one year ago, +/-.

Anyway, I wanted to give it a try. Ive been shooting Pan F + 50, and Rollei Superpan 200 in 35mm. I bought this P30 film from Ebay and the seller said, of the film, "not beta" so I assume this means it's from their 2nd production run? (possibly true? I'm asking)

Admittedly I have not been following the saga of Ferrania's "come back" too closely, if at all. I know they built a new factory and have been making film after a successful kickstarter campaign, and that's about all I know. I have been looking at this thread for a few days off & on, have gotten pretty much al the way thru. It sounds like there's a lot of mixed love/hate or maybe a bit more like/dislike going on here. I get the feeling that at least a couple folks have sort of given up or written this film off as too problematic.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Ferrania seems not to be able to keep the supply up, or maybe they haven't gotten consistent in their production? Either way, no new film is currently available from them. I'm certainly not hoping to make this my for-ever BFF film, but I thought what the heck. SO here I go (at some point, weather permitting).

I've seen some saying it is NOT an 80 iso film, but the Ferrania PDF states it as such, so that's how I'll shoot it.

Oh and one other thing, I don't process my own film, so hopefully the lab I use can deal with it OK. If anyone has a lab suggestion, I'd happily entertain any such.

Any updated opinions or experiences with P30?

Thanks!

 

[Ricochetrider]

OK I've shot 2 rolls of P30 so far. Sent both out to labs. 1st roll went to Richard Photo Lab in California. I guess they aren't necessarily "sanctioned" for P30 but they did an admirable job of it.

Some shots came out WAY dark, maybe a better post processor could bring out the shadow detail but I'm not well versed in PP. Maybe this had to do wut the way it was developed?

 

[Ricochetrider]

Roll number 2 went to Blue Moon Camera in Portland Oregon. Although stupidly expensive, +/- 35.00 USD for processing and "regular" scans, their scans came back and all I can say is wow.

To say I'm excited might be to understate it a little. I've ordered 5 more rolls of P30.

 

[Larry Cloetta]

If shadow detail is the hill one chooses to die on, then this film is not for you, but I like it, and always shoot it at 80 ASA, which I have been told is so very, very wrong, but I'm scanning not wet printing. It's got a "look", but if you like the look, there you go.


P30 @ 80 ASA Leica M3

 

[Larry Cloetta]

P30 @ 80 ASA Leica M3

 

[Larry Cloetta]

P30 @ 80 ASA Leica M3

 

[Mackinaw]

If shadow detail is the hill one chooses to die on, then this film is not for you, but I like it, and always shoot it at 80 ASA, which I have been told is so very, very wrong, but I'm scanning not wet printing. It's got a "look", but if you like the look, there you go......

Nice. I shoot Ferrania P30 at ASA 40 and develop in Rodinal. I agree that this film is best scanned, and the scanning software you use can make or break a scan. I use Silverfast and have no problem teasing detail out of shadows or taming highlights. This film does have a "look," and I'm looking forward to it coming out in 120.

Jim B.

 

[relistan]

If shadow detail is the hill one chooses to die on, then this film is not for you, but I like it, and always shoot it at 80 ASA, which I have been told is so very, very wrong, but I'm scanning not wet printing. It's got a "look", but if you like the look, there you go.

In this hobby someone will always tell you you are "wrong" about something. If you get results you like, that's all that matters. Haters gonna hate.

 

[agentlossing]

Roll number 2 went to Blue Moon Camera in Portland Oregon. Although stupidly expensive, +/- 35.00 USD for processing and "regular" scans, their scans came back and all I can say is wow.

To say I'm excited might be to understate it a little. I've ordered 5 more rolls of P30.

Blue Moon are perfectionists, I love going in there when I'm in the area (rarely) but I always feel a little inexperienced compared to the technicians there, hustling and bustling away with film processing. Lovely camera selection.

 

[Larry Cloetta]

Leica iiib + Ferrania P30 Alpha