When you're in a pinch or, what if there's no Scala around?

[SolaresLarrave]

Somewhere in photo.net I read about this lab called dr5 in which they process regular, run of the mill, silver based black & white film and turn it into slides, Scala style. The owner created a process which allows him to treat any silver-based film this way.

I've read that Kodak used to market a special kit for reversal processing of T-Max 100 (but you had to expose the film at ISO 50). It was a kit for home developers, mind you.

Apparently nobody develops B&W film into slides commercially, except dr5 because they own the process. I sent them an experimental roll (bad photos, through and through) two weeks ago and the slides came in today. Here's a sample (I wonder whose shadow that is? See? I told you: bad shots!):

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Again, it's for a case in which you're in a pinch. I try to keep Scala around but there are times when I simply don't have none.

They cater to professional photographers in the LA area, so we tyros aren't the bulk of their business. However, I called them twice regarding their order form and they were extremely nice and helpful.

Do I recommend it? Sure, but in the important a$pect, Scala is still more cost-effective. In any case, for those interested, there you go!

 

[Rich Silfver]

Kinda hard to tell from a scan on the net - the big impact would ofcourse be if this was projected. How does the positive look on the lightbox?

Interesting concept.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Francisco,
Obviously you were thinking of the self-portrait theme when you made this well-composed street shot.

I seem to recall that any of the traditional B&W (Pan-x, Plus-x, Tri-x) films could be made into positives. I will check my Kodak Darkroom Guide when I get home.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Richard... I guess in photographic parlance you could say the negative is a bit thick when it looks like underexposed. That is the case with these slides. I haven't projected them yet, but I'm interested in seeing how much punch they deliver. Not with these photos, though. I'll send them a roll of Chicago street shots on T-Max later and see what they do with it.

Brian, I'd be happy to learn about those processes!

 

[rover]

Thanks Francisco for being our test pilot on this. I can see how you needed to call a couple times regarding the pricing, just a little confusing. It seems though that it still is a little less expensive than standard B&W print processing, unless you are doing it yourself of course.

 

[HelenB]

Here are some shots from a test roll of HP5+ rated at 3200 and developed by dr5. Please remember that this was a test roll and that it is pushed three stops. These are straight scans with a Nikon 5000, no further processing other than re-sizing.

The slides look good on a light table. I was surprised by the control of the highlights. The streaking from the highlights is a scanner problem - the first time that I have encoutered it.

Best,
Helen

 

[HelenB]

Second

Note: I've switched scans - the first version was not very good (my sloppiness) as Doug gently pointed out in a post below this one.

 

[HelenB]

Third

 

[Sonnar Brian]

AAAHHHH!!! The darkroom guide is in the BASEMENT OF TERROR! I will look this up; if I remember (Late '70s) you develop, do not fix, expose to light, develop and fix. Ring a bell with anyone? I will look this up at work. I did find my Z80 assembly language manual. I may just fire up the CP/M machine...

 

[taffer]

I did find my Z80 assembly language manual. I may just fire up the CP/M machine...

Brian, I have one of those books too, and a Sinclair Spectrum Z80 in the closet somewhere...

Hey I have a software engineering exam next monday, any tips ? 😀

The Kodak reversal process looks interesting, most if we have in mind that the lab charges me around $15 for Scala processing...

Oscar

 

[HelenB]

Speedibrews sell Celer Reverser which is a monochrome reversal kit that delivers a speed increase with certain films. It is worth a try if you are interested in that sort of thing.

Regards,
Helen

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Taffer,
Yes. Computers should be on desks and not inside cameras. After 10 years of management, and time off for good behavior (HA!), I am now a "Senior Staff" Engineer. I have spent most of the last month programming in C and assembly for an optical feedback loop on a communications system. I think they realized I was the only person old enough to remember how to program assembler.

I found the Kodak Guide, it did not cover the process. I know I have it somewhere for Panatomic-X and Plus-X. The Morgan and Lester Leica Manual contains the "recipe" for mixing your own developers for direct-positive B&W film.

 

[Doug]

Helen, your #2 image seems different from the other two... low-contrast, grainier, maybe a small portion cropped from the negative? Maybe a self-portrait? 🙂

 

[Harvey Platter]

Back in the 'seventies, Johnsons of Hendon sold a reversing kit in the UK which I tried out. As I recall, the cycle went develop; bleach/fix; expose to light; develop and finally fix.

I tried it with HP4, FP4 and Pan F. The results all had a slight gray fog which I think may have come from the anti-halation backing not disolving fully. I've often been tempted by Scala but it's fearsomely pricy stuff by my standards.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Easier than looking in the basement: enough keywords and google at the fingertips...

Found this on the Web. Looks more up-to-date than Morgan and Lester's 1942 information.
http://users.frii.com/jkbl/reversal/