I have been thinking about a B&W project for a couple of months now, and I would like to try the Scala B&W transparency film from Agfa.

What formats have you used it in? Have you shot the 4x5 version?

What are it's reciprocity failure characteristics for long exposures at night under mixed lighting, mostly urban landscapes?

Which lab were happy or unhappy with?

What do you not like about it?

What do you like about it?

Thanks.

-- Ellis Vener (evphoto@insync.net), July 27, 1999

Answers

There's a thread in the Nature Q&A Forum about Scala at http://photo.net//bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000Ilz

Agfa have an on-line datasheet (including reciprocity corrections) at http://www.agfaphoto.com/library/datasheet/pdf/film/scala_p12f-e .pdf (note it's a .pdf file so you need the Acrobat reader plug-in to view it).

I'd be interested in your reasons for considering B&W transparency film, mainly because I can't think of a reason to shoot it myself! To me, B&W is a print medium, and given the huge number of B&W emulsions, developers and processes I can't believe Scala will yield prints substantially different from those obtained via easier (and cheaper) means! If you really want B&W slides, that's another matter of course, but I doubt you'd be shooting 4x5 for projection and I would think most publishers are happy with B&W negatives for B&W work aren't they?

-- Bob Atkins (bobatkins@hotmail.com), July 27, 1999.

I have shot Scala in 4x5 and 35mm both. I can take or leave 35mm for most use other than slide shows. In 4x5, I shoot it for specific reasons, mainly to make Ilfochrome prints from the original chrome. I find it works great with hi-tech or metallic object photography. The B&W tonal range translated to the "metallic" look one can get from a good Ilfochrome print is excellent and translates well with some subjects. For general work I don't use it, but when I want that specific look that works for me(from experimentation and experience) Scala & Ilfochrome works very well in Large Format.

-- Dan Smith (shooter@brigham.net), July 28, 1999.

Sorry, no advice w/r/t Scala. The few samples I've seen looked terrific... rich and detailed. You might also consider shooting T-MAX 100 at EI 50 and using Kodak's special developer kit to get B&W transparencies out of it. I'd give the developer kit # if I could remember it...

-- Russ Arcuri (arcuri@borg.com), July 29, 1999.

35mm Scala using pre-paid envelopes (Joe's Basement in London) supplied by Agfa.

Beautiful sides of hands using fill-in flash. Exposure does need to be accurate or slightly under to get best details.

Outdoor pictues in Australia deeply disappointing - don't know why. Colour trannies came out really well so it wasn't the camera.

Rod

-- Rod buron (recb@globalnet.co.uk), August 28, 2000.