ORWO N74 anyone?

Steve M. · Sep 18, 2018

Is it just me, but do those shots look really, really grainy, and more grey and white vs black and white, to anyone else? Is this how the film is supposed to behave?

presspass · Sep 18, 2018

How much grain shows up may have been determined by the scanner. I use a Nikon film scanner and it seems to capture every bit of grain from HP5+, Tri-X, and Kentmere 400. Setting the scanner to capture the negative as color rather than B&W will help fix this problem. As to the amount of gray versus blacks and whites, that may also have been determined by post-scan processing. If we don't know that information, we cannot make a good determination from the scans presented here.

Pentode · Sep 18, 2018

I’ve shot a few rolls of the N74+ at box speed developed in D-76 1:1 for (IIRC) 10 minutes at 68F and I’ve been very pleased with the results. It has a look, to my eyes, similar to the pre-2007 TX400 Tri-X. I also found it handles nicely in the darkroom, behaving well going onto reels and drying very flat.

I haven’t yet tried it at other speeds or with Rodinal but I’ve got 100’ of it in the fridge so I can afford to experiment a little.

I purchased mine directly from Orwo USA and George is a very nice guy to deal with.

I have a stock of the UN54+ as well but I’ve only developed a couple of rolls and I’m still adjusting times. My first impression of both of these films is very positive and I think I’m really going to enjoy using them.

Artingei · Sep 18, 2018

Steve M. said:
Is it just me, but do those shots look really, really grainy, and more grey and white vs black and white, to anyone else? Is this how the film is supposed to behave?

Yes, it seems to have kind of a "base grain", don't know how to call it. But it seems to help retaining the highlights better than any other 400 ISO film.

I've only souped it in hc-110 so far, one roll developed in rodinal is drying right now. I always scan 35mm on a Nikon Coolscan IV.

Artingei · Sep 18, 2018

In Rodinal 1:50, 10:30min @ 22 C
Leica II, Jupiter-12

Perks · Sep 21, 2018

I've shot a few rolls with mixed results. I got a small bulk load (17ft) and haven't developed all of it.
My impressions are that it is low contrast film and I have achieved my best result so far with Xtol. However it does not lie flat and cups badly (curves along the long axis), it can be pressed and lie flatish for scanning but will bend again soon after. It does not seem to have the latitude of Hp5 or Tri-x. I like these results and am impressed with the unique tonal qualities, but due the cupping won't be in a hurry to buy again with the price in AUD as compared to Ilford films

I recently developed some shot at 800, developed in Rodinal so will share them once scanned.

Both shots below, from different rolls.
Looking at the negs I feel these are reasonably 'true' scans.

LeciaM6, VC35, XTOL 12min, Scanned with a plustek 7200.

2018-05-13_05 by illformation, on Flickr

2018-06-21_32 by illformation, on Flickr

dourbalistar · Apr 17, 2019

I finally got around to shooting, processing, and digitizing some ORWO N74+. Like Perks, I'm undecided about this film. To me, there seems to be more grain than say HP5+ or 400TX, but it does have an interesting and unique look to it. Reminds me a bit of charcoal or old newspaper photos.

Leica M5, Canon 50mm f/1.4 LTM, ORWO N74+, developed in LegacyPro L110 at 1:31 for 6.5 minutes.

2019.01.03 Roll #190-03154-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr

webOSUser · Apr 17, 2019

Film Photography Project is stocking this film.
https://filmphotographystore.com/collections/all/orwo-film

Steve W

Pentode · Apr 17, 2019

webOSUser said:
Film Photography Project is stocking this film.
https://filmphotographystore.com/collections/all/orwo-film

Steve W

I just saw that a few weeks ago.

I’ve been pleased enough with both the N74+ and the UN54+ that I placed an order for a 400’ roll of each from Colorlab in MD. I don’t know how long I’ll have to wait for the film to get here from Germany.

I’ve been shooting both films quite a lot for the past 6 months. I’ve only used the N74+ at 400 and only in D-76 1:1 so I haven’t really explored all the possibilities yet but I like what I’ve been getting with this combination.

It took me a while to find a time/agitation combination that gave me enough contrast with the UN54+ but since I got there I’ve been pleased with that stock, too.

dourbalistar · Apr 17, 2019

webOSUser said:
Film Photography Project is stocking this film.
https://filmphotographystore.com/collections/all/orwo-film

Steve W

I got bulk rolls directly from George at ORWO NA, but great to see another retailer carrying it!

Pentode said:
I just saw that a few weeks ago.

I’ve been pleased enough with both the N74+ and the UN54+ that I placed an order for a 400’ roll of each from Colorlab in MD. I don’t know how long I’ll have to wait for the film to get here from Germany.

I’ve been shooting both films quite a lot for the past 6 months. I’ve only used the N74+ at 400 and only in D-76 1:1 so I haven’t really explored all the possibilities yet but I like what I’ve been getting with this combination.

It took me a while to find a time/agitation combination that gave me enough contrast with the UN54+ but since I got there I’ve been pleased with that stock, too.

Pentode, how do you find the grain? I'd be curious to see your results, as I'm wondering if the grain I'm getting is a function of my developer (and workflow) or whether it's some sort of "base grain" in the film as Artingei calls it.

Pentode · Apr 17, 2019

I do find it to be a little grainy but not unduly so. It reminds me a lot of the old, pre-2007 Tri-X. I use D-76 1:1 for 10:00 at 68deg and I use the Kodak agitation suggested for Tri-X in SS tanks. The grain is noticeable.

dourbalistar · Apr 18, 2019

Big Peace IV, Tony Labat
http://collections.museumca.org/?q=collection-item/201031

Leica M5, Canon 50mm f/1.4 LTM, ORWO N74+, developed in LegacyPro L110 at 1:31 for 6.5 minutes.

2019.01.25 Roll #195-03340-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr

dourbalistar · Apr 19, 2019