Fomapan 200 - I didn't like the first roll I shot!

Fomapan 200 initially was not a favorite film stock of mine. I use Fomapan 100 on a regular basis, thought I would give 200 a try. My initial shots were boring, lifeless, lacking contrast. Since I still had a roll left I thought I would play with it. 

Although rated at 200, I decided to shoot at iso 400. There were no specific developing times for 400,  so I interpolated. Loaded the roll into my Hasselblad 203 FE and headed down to Los Angeles Harbor & Cabrillo Beach. 

Here are the resulting 5 images. Specifics are listed below.

Although the results are interesting, seemingly sort of hit and miss, I'm not sure how often I might shoot this film stock.

Hasselblad 203 fe. Zeiss T* 2.8/150 lens. Fomapan 200 shot @ iso 400. Developed in Kodak Xtol ... interpolated the devoting time + 25%. Sepia Toning. Cabrillo Beach and LA Harbor.

As always... all images are Copyrighted '©Peter Politanoff', and may not be reproduced without specific consent. You are more then welcome however to share the link.

First Day Of Summer  - El Porto Beach

Well, It was the first 'official' day of summer. Stopped at El Porto Beach on my way back from Marina del Rey. Leica R9 w/ Leica 35-70 f/4 zoom lens, and only 2 rolls of film in my bag,  CatLabs 320, and Rollei Retro 400S. In reality both film stocks are actually rebranded Agfa Aviphot 200 . 

Trying to shoot out the CatLabs 320, when I noticed a family of 6 making their way to waters edge. I watched as they struggled unfolding the beach chairs, finding the ideal spot on the beach, and finally settling in. There were only 5 frames left on the Catlabs 320. Managed to shoot 2 useable images. Then switched to the Rollei Retro 400S to capture the final shot.

I shot the Catlabs 320 at ISO 200.. this is actually my preferred setting for the Aviphot 200 film stock. While I shot the Rollei Retro 400S at the designated 400 ISO. In processing I developed the CatLabs roll w/ Xytol at a 1:1 dilution, and the Rollei with Rodinal (which has always been my goto developer) at a 1:25. I have to admit the reason for 2 different film stocks was simply my last rolls of both CatLabs 320 and Rollei Retro 400.

Here are the resulting 3 images... #1 & #2 Catlabs, #3 Rollei.

As they arrived, they struggled, group effort, to unfold and attempt to assemble the beach chairs,

The mother points to the preferred spot on the beach.

All set up and enjoying the view, while the eldest daughter reads in the shade.

As you can see the the image quality, although different developers & developing time, is very similar. Midtones I feel are better when the film is shot at ISO 200. Both are very usable approaches to using what is the same film stock... Agfa Aviphot 200.

Hopefully my next post will be a comparison with Fomapan 200.

As always .... all photos are copyright Peter Politanoff.. ©PeterPolitanoff, and cannot be reproduced w/o explicit written permission.

 CatLabs 320 B&W film stock ..... My assessment!

First, I should preface my assessment, by stating that I always minimally adjust my scans as well as my digital files in Lightroom. I shoot both digital and analog, currently shooting with a Leica R9. That is my disclaimer … now onto to the topic.

 

CatLabs 320 is a budget price film. Which has its place, great for beginners or for those of us who cannot put the camera down. It is available in both 35mm and 120mm rolls. Although I purchased both, I have just been testing the 35mm. CatLabs as stated on the packaging is made in the EU. So that piqued my interest. A little online searching yielded interesting results. Yes, it is a rebranded film stock. Seems quite a number of popular 35mm films are not made by the company selling. CatLabs 320 (along with Rollei Superpan 200) is rebranded Aviphot Pan 200.

 

What is Aviphot Pan 200. An aerial photography film manufactured by Agfa. This is not necessarily a bad thing. All B&W films have a fair amount of latitude. So, designating a different ISO whether higher or lower, specifying different developers and different developing times will yield a variety of results. Rebranded films are rather common since there are only a few actual film manufacturers, Kodak, Ilford, Agfa, Fomapan, and ORWO. Catlabs X Film 80 is actually ORWO UN54 repackaged.

 

Now returning to CatLabs320, I had purchased a ten pack 35mm film. After shooting 4 or 5 rolls I realized it was actually a little too contrasty for my everyday use. Yes, I had nice deep blacks, but whites were sometimes blown out, seems to be that look that is popular on IG. However, I was lacking detail. Even with a fair amount of LR work, what I was getting from Ilford Delta 100, and Fomapan 100, wasn’t there. Again, not necessarily a bad thing if this is what you are going for. See below.

 Here are 2 examples of CatLabs320, shot at ISO320

 

After some thought, I wasn’t quite to give up yet… Thought I would try shooting at ISO 200, of course this would require different dilutions and a longer developing time. I found the results much more pleasing, greater detail. Perhaps only a medium contrast, but that can be addressed in LR.

Here are some examples of Ilford Delta 100, Fomapan 100, and CatLabs320 @ 200.

Ilford Delta 100

Fomapan 100

The following were shot on CatLabs320 at an ISO setting of 200

As you can see there is greater latitude with the lower film speed.

As always all images are  copyrighted and are sole property of Peter Politanoff. They cannot be reproduced without explicit permission.

 Setting The Traps

Traveled down to Oceanside yesterday. Looking for blue skies and warm weather. Unfortunately, it was a brisk and foggy morning. Stopping by the harbor, I saw a fisherman working on several stacks of traps, some old and beaten up, and some new traps. I thought they were lobster, turns out they are for prawns.
Francis was the man adjusting the new traps. 
Asked him if the new traps were replacements for the old. 
He said  "No …. The old ones were great since they have been baited so many times, the prawns can smell them.”
Where in the ocean you set them?  “We have two areas, each a mile in length stretch between two buoy markers. We set about 500 traps at a time. Work one area one day, the other area the next …. We catch and re-bait the traps at the same time.” 

Old and battered, but still very useful.

Making minor modifications to about 80-100 traps.

Working with a smile.

The boat in the harbor, waiting for Coast Guard clearance.

Francis, thank you for taking the time and giving me permission to take the photos.

All images are copyrighted @Politanoff/RedStarImage, and cannot be reproduced without expressed permission.