Double Super & Standard 8 Stock in US

[Davideo]

I recent got the latest B&H Photo/Video catalog and was surprised to see these film stocks added to their product offerings:

Fomapan R100 B&W Double Super 8 Reversal Film (33') $13.99 and Fomapan R100 Double Standard 8mm B&W Reversal Film (10m) $12.99

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/

[Wade]

B&H has had DS8 Fomapan for some years. I wasn't aware they also had Regular 8. I don't know who will process it in the USA. Yale will process it in Kodak or eqiuvalent chemicals and push it one stop, but it looks a little dirty. The last roll of DS8 Fomapan I shot actually had perfs that were different size from the ones on the other side of the film. The smaller perfs caused a jitter I had to stabilize in post. So, I'm a little leary of using the stuff. Freestyle in Los Angeles, has Foma in 35mm 16mm and regular 8mm, as well as Adox Pan-X reversal Super8 stock at $30 for 50' cartridge.

[Will2]

That's always been the problem with Fomapan; processing. I sent some to a lab about 6 or 7 years ago who assured me they could handle it and it turned out completely bizarre. Brown with chunks falling off.

If someone has a lab in the U.S. that can handle it well please let us know; I'd be happy to use it.

[Wade]

Here is Fomapan 100 DS8 shot a year and a half ago, and processed at Yale lab using basically Kodak chemistry. You can decide for your selves how it looks. It's raw unmodified footage. BTW, the man really is at a train track watching a train go by- shot at a Union Pacific rail yard.

https://vimeo.com/78707936

[Will2]

You can decide for your selves how it looks.

Pretty horrendous in a beautiful way. If I want to remake a Charlie Chaplin film it would be perfect.

I wonder what it would look like processed in the actual chemicals Foma recommends...

[Wade]

Pretty horrendous in a beautiful way. If I want to remake a Charlie Chaplin film it would be perfect.

Agreed. Film is resilient enough to maintain it's look even when abused and dirty, primitive looking; it still has an allure. The film stock is relatively inexpensive, it would be interesting to see it processed with other chemicals....and to see how it looks with the proper Foma type chemiclas, for sure.

[MIKI-814]

The problem with Fomapan processing seems to be that it must be processed at 24º C instead of 20º, to avoid that bubbles... I do not process films myself but this seems to be everybody's experience

[aj]

Fomapan 100 Reversal is good perfect images.

I process it at home using the Foma reversal kits. Always just on 20 Celsius. The chemistry is best used one-shot. The bleach definitely doesn't allow a second run as the backing dissolves in this bath and the bath looses its power rather abruptly.

Labs have difficulty with film as the backing comes off and fouls the baths. So either they have a special run for it or put it in last.

[Mmechanic]

I had a lab from 1999 to 2008 and have processed Fomapan R 100 on a commercial base for years, by hand. Of course I had all the possible problems with it but apart from exactly two customers everybody was content with the result. 35mm., 16mm., 9.5mm, Double-8, DS 8

There is no backing to this film. Fomapan R(eversal) has a silver antihalation undercoat between base and photographic layer. Agfa Scala as another true reversal film has a manganese dioxide subbing which must also be bleached and dissolved out.

Processing works well at 20 degrees. The one point which is crucial is agitation.


There is a project of a new spiral reel film processing equipment for serious work. I stress the word serious because the gear will not be plastic and takes some work space. Its name is Cargo. We are planning to offer three reel sizes, one for 33 feet, one for 100 feet, and one for up to 500 feet. The reels will be adjustable to any film width between 105 mm and 16 mm. It will be possible to wind up 9.5-mm. film and 8-mm. film, too. In case of interest, please send me an message with a little information about yourselves. We’d put you on our list and keep you informed. We have about a dozen demands until now but do need more.

[mr8mm]

Doug at Spectra Film and Video has informed me that they are now processing FOMA R8 and DS8 reversal at no additional cost. They also modified reversal processing to accept FOMA. For more details contact Sperctra at 1 818 762 4545.

John S.

[JeremyC]

Fine talking about B&W DS8 stock but what about colour DS8 (reversal or neg)? It looks like only Wittner and Kahl carry colour reversal DS8 now and its very expensive around 75% of the cost for the equivalent running time of 16mm neg.

[kontrabass888]

Fine talking about B&W DS8 stock but what about colour DS8 (reversal or neg)? It looks like only Wittner and Kahl carry colour reversal DS8 now and its very expensive around 75% of the cost for the equivalent running time of 16mm neg.

Wittner is very expensive, and they even add 19% VAT for the postage!
Kahl offers free developing service within one year. It is a very good deal, I just ordered two 100' UT 21 double 8mm from them.

[verydarkroom]

Doug at Spectra Film and Video has informed me that they are now processing FOMA R8 and DS8 reversal at no additional cost. They also modified reversal processing to accept FOMA. For more details contact Sperctra at 1 818 762 4545.

John S.

Thank you for the info, that's very welcome news indeed. FOMA is beautiful, very old skool.

[verydarkroom]

There is a project of a new spiral reel film processing equipment for serious work. I stress the word serious because the gear will not be plastic and takes some work space. Its name is Cargo. We are planning to offer three reel sizes, one for 33 feet, one for 100 feet, and one for up to 500 feet. The reels will be adjustable to any film width between 105 mm and 16 mm. It will be possible to wind up 9.5-mm. film and 8-mm. film, too. In case of interest, please send me an message with a little information about yourselves. We’d put you on our list and keep you informed. We have about a dozen demands until now but do need more.

Would be interested. Could you give us a rough indication of cost?

[JeremyC]

Kahl offers free developing service within one year. It is a very good deal, I just ordered two 100' UT 21 double 8mm from them.

I would be interested in your experience with their film, it has been said to me that the perforation of their DS8 stock was not very good but to be fair that may not be the same with Standard 8 and I would hope the DS8 issues is in the past. I would also like to try Kahl's DS8 stock.