Mystic Color Lab and Ferrannia film...worth a shot?

[lance_warren]

My last transaction with Mystic Color Lab, which did not occur soon

enough, I might add, involved the purchase of three rolls of Agfa

Prestige 400-24exp film. Or so I thought. Instead, I received

three boxes in Mystic packaging with the notation "Made in Italy" on

the back. Being pretty sure that Agfa is made in Germany, I called

the "Questions?" number on the back and, sure enough, got a

recording for Ferrannia film.

 

I'm certainly not using Mystic ever again - for this and other

regrettable reasons - and I'm concerned that the Ferrannia film is

also too much of a gamble to use. I've read several posts on other

threads lamenting the horrid quality of Ferrannia in disposable

cameras, but I figured I'd make sure the traditionally-rolled

product was crap, as well, before ditching it.

 

I have a few rolls of Fuji Superia on the way from Adorama, so do I

give this a shot (no terrible pun intended) or just wait for the

good stuff to arrive?

[art_haykin]

Ferriana is the "Kodak" of Italy, but their products never did make it very big in the U.S. For interest, check out this site: www.ephotozine.com/news/fullnews.cfm?NewsID=1192

[gaetano catelli]

i have used Ferrania recently, and was disappointed with both the unpredictable color shifts (towards a burnished mediterranean look) and the noticeability of the grain at 8 x 10 enlargement (on the web).

 

for now, i'm going back to Portra 400 UC.<div></div>

[lex_jenkins]

Hmm...never thought of Ferrania as the Kodak of Italy. I always thought of it as the Pabst Blue Ribbon of Mozambique.

 

If it's fresh it may be okay. Several years ago I tried a couplafew rolls of the stuff in its guise as some house brand film (Albertson's, etc.). Too orangey-warmish for my taste.

[lance_warren]

gaetano -- Thanks for the photo. I agree, the graininess is too much of a problem. And as for the color shifts, well, even though I obviously haven't seen that scene with my own eyes, the colors in the image don't look completely true. Again - thanks - it's headed to the bin.

[john_shaeffer]

Mystic is now owned by Clark/District Photo, and has been for about a year. That would explain why their processing sucks and why you are getting off brand film instead of the house Agfa film that they used to sell when they were owned by the Swiss company that sold them down the river to Clark. If you look at the Neighbor to Neighbor comments on Mystic in film processing you'll get the full story.

[david_m]

Ferrania film is great. There is nothing wrong with it. It may not be as technically superior as the latest gee-wiz film from Fuji or Kodak, but its probably superior to anything made over 5 years ago.

Lots of the pharmacy-brand film is actually Ferrania or Agfa. Just look for 'Made in Italy' or 'Made in Germnany'.

[david_m]

Reading these posts, Big Yellow and Green has you all fooled into thinking only its products are any good and everything else is 'grey-market', 'off-brand' and dubious. This is of course to justify their high-prices. I usually pay $1 for my rolls of 200-24 film, not the $4.50 Kodak wants. You really believe all the advertising hype? If you want fine grain use 100 asa. If you get a color cast its the processing not the film. Ferannia, Agfa, Sakura - its all good. I buy it, I use it, I like it.