This is ORWO Mikro-Aufnahmefilm (MA) 8. In the past century people used it to archive records, blueprints, letters, technical papers, etc. In other words, documents. This film has the ability to capture and store limited amount of gray shades but will never forget your labyrinth signature on a wedding certificate.
In the leaflet I found in the canister they say it may store on its emulsion A0-size of a document on a single frame. Old time flash drive, dependent only on light and an eye to browse it. Other details include sensitivity between DIN 6 and 9 (ISO 3 – 6). Panchromatic, sensibilized. More here:
ORWO MA-8 leaflet in German
Elsewise.
Opened the canister to test what kind of genie I let out of this tin. First test showed The Bad, The Ugly and no sign of The Good.
First encounter with MA-8 // ORWO A-03, 8 min. at 20°C
Felt like I ate a banana with its skin. Remembered what I’ve read from other people testing old bulk films — first, pill out few meters and then judge the core. Films get rotten outside in. Even in a tin. Even in.
Few winds later:
ORWO MA-8 shot with Mamiya RB67 and cut sheet cassette 6.5x9cm // ORWO A-03
ORWO MA-8 @ ISO 25, Kodak D-76
Let’s see how it looks like at ISO 50:
ORWO MA-8 at ISO 50
My edition of this film looks absolutely dramatic @ ISO 50. The format came out of Pentacon Six and an adapter for the 135 cassette (this roll is unperforated).
Back to ISO 25.
ORWO MA-8 @ ISO 25 // D-76
9 Comments
Hello
Really nice pictures!!! I have a big roll of this film, and I would like to try it. Could you please give a detailed description of developing process? I will use D-76. Could you please send some developing time for it. Sorry I’m beginner in developing, what dose it mean @ ISO 50, Did you shoot the pictures whit considering this value?
Thank you so much your help!
Kind Regards David Fekete
Hi David–
Thank you for your comment! I used D-76, 20°C, 6 min., agitation every minute. However, I would recommend you to do a bracketing test first — no one knows what your emulsion has gone through.
I shot the film as ISO 25 and ISO 50 — metering the light and setting up shutter speed and aperture as if the film has such sensitivity. Then the combination of ISO (shutter and f), time and temperature of development gave me these results.
Hope that helps! If you have other questions — please let me know.
Best regards,
Vesselin
I have a weird question- if the film isn’t perforated, can it still be used in a 35mm SLR ?
It depends on the camera. I know Smena camera would wind the film without perforation, but not sure for other models…
Where did you find a roll of non-perforated film?
On the internet.
V motorizovaných strojích pro dokumentaci tiskopisů na bílém papíru a 5% připadlo na černou psacích strojů té doby. Fixní expozice a posun válečky ve snímací hlavě, negativy byly větší právě o chybějící perforaci. Častější varianta se vyráběla pro individuální užití v klasické zrcadlovce navinuto do 35mm kazet a proto měla klasickou perforaci, vyvolávala se v běžné vývojnici na 170 cm dlouhý film, strojově byly vyvolávací automaty s převíjením tam a zpátky v kusech po cca 5ti metrech materiálu. Emulze panchromatická se zvýšenou citlivostí k červeni, vysoká strmost. Po vytónování na modro klesl kontrast na gamma kolem 1 a to stačilo i na fotografie půltónové. Pokud se nefotily tiskopisy ale jenom fotky tak se vývojka žředila a zkrátila doba vyvolávání.
I just bought around 85m of Orwo ma8, bulk loaded one 5m, was the film itself green color for you as well? 😀 It says it expired in 92. I fear that its totally ruined. I’ll develop the first roll now, I’ll let you know the result.
Hi Kristof–
Yes, the film looks green. Just do bracketing test to find the remaining sensitivity according to your development preferences.
And please share some results! 🙂
BR,
Vesselin