Focal brand Film

[dirb9]

I found a roll of Focal S8 film in a camera I just recently got, and I want to get it processed. However, it seems that the cart came pre-paid processing (I doubt they'll accept it for processing anymore; it doesn't even say where to ship it) , and there is no indicator of what kind of film it is, other than being 40ASA Type A film. To make matters worse, the film has been wound all the way into the cartridge, so I can't look at how the film looks. :roll: I'm thinking maybe it is a GAF filmstock, as I vaguely remember Focal using GAF, but I really have no idea. Any ideas on what it is, or how to process it? If we can't figure out what it is, do you think I can still process it somehow, even if in b&w only? Thanks.

[beaunizo]

What is on the film? Considering the hassle you would be better off reshooting using fresh E64t

If it is colur you want to process do-it-yourself then you would have to use the E6.
You could also ask http://www.super8.nl if this filmbrand is on his list.
Processing would then be around Euro 20-25

[jpolzfuss]

Hi,

as you're in the USA, you might also try "ROCKY MOUNTAIN FILM LAB" as they list "Focal Process EM25":
http://www.rockymountainfilm.com/ektamovie.htm

BTW: This page states that the "Focal Color Reversal Film 40" was made by 3M (and hence should be polyester-based filmstock):
http://lavender.fortunecity.com/lavende ... tspec.html

This PDF also states that the "Focal"-film was polyester-based:
http://www.tobincinemasystems.com/TCS_P ... DF/8TS.pdf
Hence the statement "Focal=3M" should be correct.

However this thread mentions that the "Focal"-film was probably made by Agfa:
http://8mmforum.film-tech.com/cgi-bin/u ... 1;t=003667

... and this page lists "Focal" as "Dye Incorporated Color Film" (which doesn't match the 3M-films AFAIK):
http://www.filmrescue.com/old-movie-film-services.html

It might happen that the "Focal"-films have in fact been made by various manufacturers, so the "truth" might be a list similar to this one: "1970-71 AGFA, 1972 3M, 1973-74 Kodak, 1975 Fuji, ...". Hence it might be best to contact Rocky Mountain, filmrescue and Super8.nl by an eMail that includes a photo of the cartridge...

Jörg

[dirb9]

Thanks for the responses.
I have no idea what is on it, I found it in a camera, and thought it would be fun to see what's on it.
I don't really want to spend $45 just to see what's on it, but I've heard that E-6 can destroy (melt the emulsion) when processed with old films. Based on the filmrescue site that recommends processing it as b&w, I can do that myself. I've heard of people just coiling up the film in an 8 reel stainless tank. Do you think that HC-110 would work fine, and what times should I consider? I'm used to using around 6 mins in HC-110B for old 35mm color film (like process C22), but I don't know how reversal movie film might be different.
Oh, and here's a pic of the cart, if anyone recognizes the film type.

[aj]

pull out (in the dark) some 30 cm and process these as a test. no need to do the whole film in one time. Amateur images can be very boring. But sometimes there be something really special on it

[mr.skull]

If I remember correctly, Focal was the brand of Kmart. I'm sure some other company actually manufactured this film, but Kmart sold it under their banner. I shot a roll or two of it in the seventies, and it was pretty bad quality. The daylight ASA 40 film was grainy and had a greenish cast. It sucked compared to Kodak.

The film you found in this camera is certainly quite old, and would not yield an acceptable image, if any, if you processed it now after all this time. Don't waste your time or money.

Best Regards,
Joel

[CineGuerrilha]

I disagree with the last message that it will not yeld any image. It's very likely that it will. Being reversal, the film can either be kodachrome type or some variation of ektachrome/agfachrome etc. If the dye is incorporated it means that it's not kodachrome (that could also be processed as a bw). this film might be similar to the agfa that uses a bw bath followed by a reversal bath (re-exposition) then color dev and bleach/fix. I am at the moment developing some old color soviet stock using e6 but at 22C instead of 37oC. I heard that it works as a charm but before I formulated all my chemicals using c1 as color developer. if you wanna go through this development business it's not that complicated and u can use the stuff after for other s8 films.

Ah, i don't have a digital copy but i developed old color reversal with c41 and it yielded an image. the color rendering wasn't great though but it works.

the only real problem u can get if u try to develop and the film needs a prehardening bath like the old ekta commercial than the emulsion can peel off during the dev. I can send u the formulas if u want and the stuff can be bought in www.artcraftchemicals.com

if u don't want to build your own tank u can get a lomo spiral from ebay (search for lomo tank) there is heap of them for sale right now. cheers

[super8man]

I think the question to ask here is how much of your time and money do you want to spend and what do you plan to do with the resulting images? Take it from me, I have transferred lots of home movies and at the end of the day, they typically only have meaning/importance to those who's families they represent. Very few yield anything of interest to non-family members. It is doubtful that footage contains something shot from a plane, a ship or of an auto race (or something similarly interesting to you).

Use the car as a test cart for checking on the function of super 8 cameras that come into your possession. Buying a roll of E64 is a far better cost/benefit method.

Cheers,
Mike

[jopsuper8]

Focal was Kmart's house brand name for cameras and accessories from about the mid '60s until the mid '80s. I know the cameras and equipment were rebadged GAF. My parents bought tons of Focal equipment back in the day. The stuff is very common in flea markets and thrift stores here in the US.

[dirb9]

Thanks for all the help. I think I'm just going to cut off maybe a few feet and develop it just loose in a 1 reel tank with HC-110B, then, if I get any image, try sending a short section to cheap e-6 lab. I've heard and seen bad things about GAF 35mm slide film aging poorly, but I might be able to dredge something off it for fun. I have no emotional attachment to it, but I've been developing old 35mm/120 film for years, and thought I'd try to give it a shot. Half the time I get nothing, but once in a while I'll get something interesting, a quarter are fairly boring. I have some Kodachrome 16mm from the 40s, and some Kodachrome 25 8mm, both in metal carts that are up after this. It might take a while, but if I get anything, I'll post still scans here.