FSU film

[reellis67]

Does anyone know anything about film used in the FSU? I have found bits in a couple of Zorkis and it seems really thick, but I would love to know something more. It would be especially cool if someone had an actual cartridge! Or at least an image of one...

Also, has anyone ever found any old exposed film in his or her FSU cameras? I get a kick out of reading the found film threads on PN always wanted to get an FSU shooter with an intact, partially exposed roll. I can't help but wonder who used my cameras when they were new? Where did they go? And what kind of images did they take before they found their way to my workbench and camera bags...

Ah, the mystery!

- Randy

 

[phototone]

Me Too!!!

Me Too!!!

I too am very curious about Ukraine or Russian film. Wish we could get some here in the USA.

Phototone

 

[varjag]

I've used Svema 32 and 64 BW films in my childhood. Can't recall much details, but it was probably worse than any slow modern film in every aspect important. Sometimes I still find various Svema/Tasma films (all well expired) on the flea market, so if any of you wants to trade that for Tri-X just let me know 🙂

Also, this weekend am going to buy a few spools of Fomos, a modern Russian ISO 100 BW film.

 

[Pherdinand]

I just have enlarged a few frames from a >10 years old Svema 64 black and white film. Good old days.
It was expired for at least 5 years when I got it, used and developed. Not very good quality i have to say; dunno how much the expiry matters but it has giant grain and flat tonality. In good sunlit scenes, it can perform okay. Will post some examples later, from a Smena 8M scale-focus camera.

The film itself does not seem to be thicker than an ilford BW, but it is less flexible and curls terribly. It's not because of age, it always did so.
The cassettes were, as far as i recall, standard size.

 

[Pherdinand]

In fact, these Svema negs were not in cassettes, they were rolled up ( i think even without a spool), and wrapped in tin foil+boxed in cardboard.

 

[varjag]

Svema came both in cassetes and without.

 

[reellis67]

I've used Svema 32 and 64 BW films in my childhood. Can't recall much details, but it was probably worse than any slow modern film in every aspect important. Sometimes I still find various Svema/Tasma films (all well expired) on the flea market, so if any of you wants to trade that for Tri-X just let me know 🙂

Also, this weekend am going to buy a few spools of Fomos, a modern Russian ISO 100 BW film.

Call me crazy but if you run into an old FSU film like that I would be willing to trade one Tri-X short roll for it. I don't plan on shooting it or anything, but I would love to have it in the collection.

- Randy

 

[wilt]

Not FSU, but same political system:

When I was a student in the 80's, I shot some Orwo NP22 in MF. Think it was from East Germany. Got good results.

Think I have an exposed but undeveloped roll somewhere ...

 

[varjag]

Sure Randy 🙂

PM me the shipping address; I was about to visit the market tomorrow anyway.

 

[Pherdinand]

Some FSU film examples

Some FSU film examples

as promised. Svema 64 iso film, Smena 8M scale focus camera.
Very old stuff, sorry for the low quality of the images.

A few friends of mine, and my father asleep in a sunny sunday afternoon.