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

Sid836

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