Good news for Scala

[boilerdoc2]

Just got done talking to Kevin at Main Photo in LA. (I had some'issues' with some of my last rolls of Scala I sent them.) He informed me that there is plenty of fim and chemsitry available (incl. 120) for the foreseeable future. A company called Integra has bought the Agfa process and plans on keeping it going. Main Photo does ~40 rolls a day and wants more. Scala is a uniquely gorgeous film. If you haven't shot it before give it a try. Scans and prints superbly. Tonal range is incredible. Kevin suggested rating at 100 ISO and pull processing for even better shadow detail. Ishot a model in the bright light inside an old barn and all detail was held. Also is awesome stuff for setting camera on 'bulb' and using a flashlight to 'paint' your subject with. Try it you'll like.

 

[Flinor]

That's really good to hear that the film will be available. After Main said that they could duplicate the processing chemistry I ordered a bunch from B&H.They will be honoring the Color Reflections mailers until 30 June.

Do you know anything more about Integra?

 

[Flinor]

make that Main photo, not B&H, will be honoring the mailers. Sorry about the imprecise wording.

 

[robert blu]

Scala is excellent ! I find some pictures very good when projecting but difficult to scan! Some are (for me) impossible, probably my limit ! But each one should try it !
rob
ok the cost is not low but...silver is expensive !

 

[bmattock]

Uh, guys? I hate to keep doing this, but I would hate it more if you were believing what is untrue:

http://www.imaginginfo.com/article/article.jsp?id=1490&siteSection=26

http://www.integrawest.com/index.php?id=order&p=chemistryproducts

Agfa Scala will not be produced again, nor will any Agfa film products. The Agfa film production facilities were purchased by a South Korean company which intends to use them to produce 'speciality films', which means thin plastic films for LCD monitors and things like that, not, repeat NOT photographic films.

Integra has taken over the servicing of Agfa mini-labs around the US, and will be facilitating the chemicals via a&o, the company that bought the chemical production part of Agfa (and which is making Rodinal again, etc). To the best of my knowledge, they do not process Scala in their minilabs - I could be wrong about this.

The OP, boilerdoc2, said that the supply of EXISTING film and chemicals for Scala was acceptable for the 'forseeable future' according to his contact at a photography store in LA. What that means is that there is an existing stockpile. Once it is gone, it is gone.

Sorry, Scala is not saved. Agfa is gone. Really.

http://mainphoto.com/scala_processing_update.htm

Film supplies are again plentiful and in stock, and we have secured new sources for chemistry that allow us to be very confident in our ability to continue offering this service.

Please note that they are NOT saying that Agfa Scala is being produced again. They say, very carefully, that film is 'plentiful' and 'in stock'. That just means that they have a lot of it. And that's the truth, I'd guess. They have a lot of it. But when it is gone, it is gone. Doesn't mean you should not buy it and enjoy it, but no, it is not 'back'.

Sorry, guys.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[JoeFriday]

that was my impression too, Bill.. such a shame since Scala was by far my favorite b&w film

 

[Chaser]

There is always ...

http://www.dr5.com/main.html

haven't used them but i plan to try it once i have some extra cash.

 

[bmattock]

There is always ...

http://www.dr5.com/main.html

haven't used them but i plan to try it once i have some extra cash.

Yes, they've been doing B&W reversal for a long time. Used to be located in Denver, I believe they moved shop.

http://www.dr5.com/scala.html

They also are trying to correct the 'careful' wording that Main is putting out. See, they are being (sorry, not intentionally bashing) Clinton-like in their parsing of words. DR5 explains:

SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT: AGFAPHOTO is out of business. There is NO scala film or chemistry being made PERIOD! The scala film left is all that there is, there is no more. There are no official agfa scala labs! Simply put, there is no company left to support the agfa-scala-chemistry or the machines they produced. The dr5 lab will be committed to running this film type as long as it is available. While we would stress you to test several of the other films we run as transparency, dr5-lab is the only lab left in the world capable of processing the scala-film & we still process it better than anyone! dr5-chrome: Is committed to running this film for as long as it exists.

Also, for those who may care - if B&W reversal film is your thing, there have been DIY B&W reversal processing instructions available for over 50 years. Any old book on Darkroom Chemistry should have several developers listed, and many include a formula for DIY B&W reversal. I agree that simply dropping a roll of film in the mail is easier, though!

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[darkkavenger]

Have you got some samples of photos taken with this Scala film ? I'm curious, suddenly. Thanks!

 

[robert blu]

these are a few samples, scala exposed at 200 iso. Sorry, but taken with Nikon FM2 .
tried to scan at the best of my capacity. I also think Scala will be available just untill the existing stock is empty, that s life (and business)
I know some lab in italy are planning to offer possibility to invert normal B&W film as a new service, tech trials ongoing.
ciao

 

[JoeFriday]

here's a link to my scala gallery on flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joefriday/tags/scala/

 

[SCOTFORTHLAD]

Just for info',I am a member of a small Club in the UK,which caters mainly for those interested in home processing of colour reversal film.According to the latest Club Newsletter,B/White reversal film is still available.It is a Foma film,sold in the UK. by Retrophotographic.Their website is www.retrophotographic.com

Brian.

 

[peterc]

Midway bees on Scala developed as a negative. Nikon FE, Nikkor-O 35mm.

Peter

 

[Flinor]

Thanks, Bill, even if was a little wet blanket-ish. The truth is tough.I'll go back to plan B.

I've used dr5 for Tech Pan 120, which was magnificent but also gone and Tri-x and Ilford Pan F, both very nice. He is a viable alternative if you like B&W positives. He started in LA, moved to NY, back to LA, and is now in Denver.

 

[bmattock]

Thanks, Bill, even if was a little wet blanket-ish. The truth is tough.I'll go back to plan B.

I've used dr5 for Tech Pan 120, which was magnificent but also gone and Tri-x and Ilford Pan F, both very nice. He is a viable alternative if you like B&W positives. He started in LA, moved to NY, back to LA, and is now in Denver.

Sorry, I wasn't trying to be a wet blanket. I just saw the way the thread was going. From a reasonable "Good news! We can still buy Scala and get it processed," it was becoming "Hooray, Scala is saved!" We've had a lot of that lately, especially surrounding the Rodinal developer (it *is* saved, by the way). I don't use Scala, but I wish it was saved.

And the actual truth of the situation appears to be that Main *has* a lot of Scala set aside, and has come up with a process to develop it. So if you wanna use it, it appears you can, at least until they run out.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[boilerdoc2]

Now that I think re it, you're right. He didn't say that Scala is being made, just that there is "plenty" available...which is good news. I had been buying it up on Ebay. And yes, if you have any old mailers better use them by 6/30. I have a bunch of Duggal mailers I'm trying to use up. I keep a roll of Scala in my M7 all the time. I'm using the Coolscan 8000 and have no difficulties other than can't use Digital ICE. I also plan on shooting a roll of Tmax to send to dr5 as a test. He has a 30% discount for those trying his services for the first time.
Sorry for the apparent confusion. I guess you sometimes hear what you want to hear.

 

[darkkavenger]

It is true that the film is impressive 🙂 Thanks for sharing some photos!