Old Svema Foto 125 film, two rolls, how to expose and develop it?

[Sid836]

Recently I have bought two 135 rolls of this black and white film for 2 euros. I have been surprised by its packaging. Just rolls of film on spools with paper wrapped around the film. I have loaded the first film to my camera and now I am wondering how to expose and develop it.
There is not much information about this, or at least I cannot find any.
It is supposed to be an ASA 125 film, but it has expired in 1991. Should I shoot it at box speed? Is there any information on development times for that film? The massive development chart has nothing on this. Has anybody experience on this film?

 

[MikeDimit]

Yes it is 125 ASA. It was a film with lots of silver - very grey 🙂. It was kept in unknown conditions, so I would advice you to shoot it as 100ASA or 1 stop less. It could be developed in Rodinal or any similar developer as a usual B&W film. Veiled results due to age is almost curtain.

 

[Pherdinand]

if you wanna go certain with the development times, you can use diafine. That stuff is almost completely independent of film, regarding dev times/ temp.
The only problem is, diafine also increases fogging problem, and for an old film that might very well be too much.
And definitely expose it as less-than-125. Maybe with a fulls top, even.

 

[MikeDimit]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/lancephoto/6178375724/

 

[Sid836]

If Rodinal and home brew D-76 are available which one would suit best? Suppose I run it at EI 80 for how long should I develop it?

MikeDimit, did you expose it at ASA 125?

 

[MikeDimit]

No. At one stop less. But the developing was jedi - R09 (old) 1:50 at 20 C, 10 minutes - not bad results. But having in mind that SVEMA was never constant on film sensibility you should not be expecting miracles . Just shoot the film as 80 or 50 ASA and develop as 100 ASA film. 🙂

 

[Sid836]

Great, thanks! I have just two rolls of it. Getting close to the mark with the first one will also make the second worth.