testing Shanghai ISO 100 5x7 film

<p>Since I couldn't find effective film speed and developing times, I have performed some film testing following Amdams' instructions. It's not perfect, but I think it will suffice.<br>

<strong>summary</strong><br>

Effective ISO=80. Developing: 6:30 min with HCH-110.</p>

<p><strong>material</strong><br>

I bought the films by EBay; two boxes of 25 sheets come for about US$30. The label on the box is largely in chinese, what I can read says:<br>

ISO 100B/S<br>

<strong></strong> 4in x 5in x25<br>

5511<br>

2010-08<br>

<img src="https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=3edc10c4e3&view=att&th=126f26d5bc7e21e8&attid=0.1&disp=attd&zw" alt="" /><br>

The developer used is Kodak HCH-110 (19°C); fixer Ilford Rapid Fixer. Developing was continuous in a power driven Paterson Orbital, 150 ml of fluid used for 8 sheets and then renewed. Density was measured with a TechKon RT111/LP112. The test subject were a combination of one gray card and two black-white-gray-colour scales.<br>

Camera: Cambo SC with 150mm Xenar 4.5 in a Prontor-Press shutter; bellows extension c. 150 mm. The subject was lit with two energy saver daylight lamps.</p>

<p><strong>film speed</strong><br>

Light meter readings for the subsequent ISO-speeds were too close to distinguish more than 100 and 64 (only afterwards I realized I could have set the intermediate apertures...). I developed 4 minutes (see below), with is too short. I don't think this much influences my conclusion, but as you can see from the table of development times, the zone I density is not very precise.</p>

 

<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5">

<tbody>

<tr>

</tr>

<tr>

<td> </td>

<td>meter</td>

<td>-4 stops</td>

<td>density</td>

</tr>

<tr>

<td>ISO 100</td>

<td>15:5.6</td>

<td>30:16</td>

<td>0.09</td>

</tr>

<tr>

<td>ISO 64</td>

<td>15:4.0</td>

<td>30:11</td>

<td>0.17</td>

</tr>

</tbody>

</table>

<p>So, it's close to 100; I will use 80 as my best guess.</p>

<p><strong>developing time</strong><br>

I started underestimating the development time thinking it'd be near 4 minutes like TriX, so my range is not well chosen in retrospect. I did 3, 4, 5 and finally 8 minutes and then ran out of time and material...<br>

Thanks to the different shades in my subject, I could determine more zones than just V and VIII.<br>

Five minutes is not enough, 8 minutes somewhat overdone, so I'd say seven minutes is what I will use from now.</p>

 

<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5">

<tbody>

<tr>

<td> </td>

<td><strong>3 min</strong></td>

<td> </td>

<td><strong>4 min</strong></td>

<td> </td>

<td><strong>5 min</strong></td>

<td> </td>

<td><strong>8 min</strong></td>

<td> </td>

</tr>

<tr>

<td><strong>zone</strong></td>

<td>V</td>

<td>VIII</td>

<td>V</td>

<td>VIII</td>

<td>V</td>

<td>VIII</td>

<td>V</td>

<td>VIII</td>

</tr>

<tr>

<td>I</td>

<td>0.04</td>

<td> </td>

<td>0.13</td>

<td> </td>

<td>0.08</td>

<td> </td>

<td>0.10</td>

<td> </td>

</tr>

<tr>

<td>ii</td>

<td>0.08</td>

<td> </td>

<td>0.22</td>

<td> </td>

<td>0.18</td>

<td> </td>

<td>0.19</td>

<td> </td>

</tr>

<tr>

<td>iii</td>

<td> </td>

<td> </td>

<td> </td>

<td> </td>

<td> </td>

<td> </td>

<td> </td>

<td> </td>

</tr>

<tr>

<td>iv</td>

<td>0.27</td>

<td>0.14</td>

<td>0.58</td>

<td>0.27</td>

<td>0.51</td>

<td>0.26</td>

<td>0.65</td>

<td>0.50</td>

</tr>

<tr>

<td>v</td>

<td>0.36</td>

<td>0.27</td>

<td>0.67</td>

<td>0.56</td>

<td>0.56</td>

<td>0.54</td>

<td>0.82</td>

<td>0.79</td>

</tr>

<tr>

<td>vi</td>

<td>0.56</td>

<td> </td>

<td>0.96</td>

<td> </td>

<td>0.85</td>

<td> </td>

<td>1.12</td>

<td> </td>

</tr>

<tr>

<td>vii</td>

<td> </td>

<td>0.6</td>

<td> </td>

<td>1.00</td>

<td> </td>

<td>0.88</td>

<td> </td>

<td>1.01</td>

</tr>

<tr>

<td>viii</td>

<td> </td>

<td>0.63</td>

<td> </td>

<td>1.05</td>

<td> </td>

<td>0.94</td>

<td> </td>

<td>1.51</td>

</tr>

<tr>

<td>ix</td>

<td> </td>

<td>0.83</td>

<td> </td>

<td>1.27</td>

<td> </td>

<td>1.18</td>

<td> </td>

<td>1.85</td>

</tr>

</tbody>

</table>

<p>Linearizing the data for zones V and VIII and interpolation for the desired densities 0.67 and 1.25 respectively leads me to estimate 6:30 minutes as a proper general purpose developing time.<br>

<img src="https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=3edc10c4e3&view=att&th=126f26d5bc7e21e8&attid=0.2&disp=attd&zw" alt="" /></p>

<p><strong>finally a question...</strong><br>

The densities that I tried to attain are intermediate values for condenser and diffusion enlargers. Wouldn't it be better to strive for less contrast, in order to capture as much information as possible, if I intend to scan the negatives for digital processing??<strong></strong></p>

<p><strong>Wim<br /> </strong></p>

<p>I made a mistake with the image url-s (you can only see them when you're logged in as me...).<br>

Here I will try again with the film box lable.</p><div></div>

<p>... and since that worked better, the density graph:</p>

<div></div>

<p>Now I couldn't find back my own post, for I wrote the title wrong. The format of the sheets is 4x5 (ca. 9x12 cm) and not 5x7. Maybe the list master could correct this?</p>

<p>I just opened a new pack of film, now containing the following information (in English):<br>

<strong>SHANGHAI ISO100 B/W SHEET FILM</strong><br>

<strong>INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE</strong></p>

<p><strong>properties</strong><br>

Shanghai ISO100 B/W sheet film, single coated on a 0.175mm clear PET base, with anti-halation layer on the opposite side. It can be used in professional photography.<br>

Fine grain, long scale, high resolving power, wide exposure and processing latitude, suitable for high ratio enlarging Outstanding results will be made.<br>

<strong>suggestiveness</strong><br>

There is a V-type dented cut at the short edge of each film. The coated emulsion layer faces up, when the V-type dented cut is at the right-up side or at the left-down side of the film.<br>

<strong>Caution</strong><br>

The film should be kept in a cool, dry place away from radiation sources or harmful gases, and it's casing should be ripped open only before use.<br>

Load or unload your camera with the sheet film in total darkness only.<br>

<strong>Developing & fixing:</strong></p>

<table>

<tbody>

<tr>

<td colspan="2">DEVELOPING SOLUTION</td>

<td colspan="2">FIXING SOLUTION</td>

</tr>

<tr>

<td>Water(50 °C)</td>

<td width="100">750ml</td>

<td>Water(50 °C)</td>

<td>600ml</td>

</tr>

<tr>

<td>Metol</td>

<td>2 gm</td>

<td>Hypo</td>

<td>240 gm</td>

</tr>

<tr>

<td>Sodium Sulphite<br />(desiccated)</td>

<td>100 gm</td>

<td>Sodium Sulphite<br />(desiccated)</td>

<td>15 gm</td>

</tr>

<tr>

<td>Hydroquinone</td>

<td>5 gm</td>

<td>Acetic Acid(28%)</td>

<td>48 ml</td>

</tr>

<tr>

<td>Borax(crystals)</td>

<td>2 gm</td>

<td>Boric Acid(crystals)</td>

<td>7.5 gm</td>

</tr>

<tr>

<td>Water to make</td>

<td>1000 ml</td>

<td>Potassium Alum</td>

<td>15 gm</td>

</tr>

<tr>

<td> </td>

<td> </td>

<td>Water to make</td>

<td>1000 ml</td>

</tr>

</tbody>

</table>

<ol>

<li>Time for developmont: 8-12minutes at 20 °C(68 °F)</li>

<li>Time for fixing: about 10 minutes</li>

<li>After washing for about 30 minutes in running water, hang the film in a clean, air-ventilated place to dry.</li>

</ol>

<p><strong> SMP IC PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIAL FACTORY</strong></p>