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B&W Neil
29th February 2020, 11:19 AM
Just for a matter of interested has anyone tried Shanghai B&W negative ISO100 film? It comes in most sizes for LF, MF and I believe 35mm.

I am not expecting it to compare with the the likes of Kodak / Ilford etc., but sometimes these 'alternative' films can have a character of their own, if you are willing to accept the odd issue.

So I would very much like to hear from anyone who has tried it and has made some prints from a Shanghai negative.

I have a feeling I may pick a 120 of it up sometime and give it a try - I know I shouldn't but the itch is there!

Neil.

Quendil
29th February 2020, 11:25 AM
Not heard of that one before. I have a couple of alternative films in my fridge to try this summer. I would be interested to know what it turns out like in 120.

David

B&W Neil
29th February 2020, 12:09 PM
Not heard of that one before. I have a couple of alternative films in my fridge to try this summer. I would be interested to know what it turns out like in 120.

David



There is pleanty on the net about this film and there does seem to be some quality control issues - but others like it.

I am only intersted is how it prints - not for 'fine prints' but for something with a different look. If it provides that I can put up with a few niggles.

Hence why I want to know what the negs print like.

Neil.

B&W Neil
29th February 2020, 12:34 PM
Apparantly this film is now sold as Shanghai GP3 and is made in a new factory. It is claimed the issues of the previous film have been fixed.

Here's an intersting 'user' review.

https://www.davidjtoman.com/blog/2018/5/gp3


Neil.

Mike O'Pray
29th February 2020, 05:07 PM
Mr Toman unfortunately doesn't really say on what grounds this GP3 is the substitute for Acros as opposed to any other 100 speed film. In fact my impression is that he talks a lot but says very little.

Clearly this stuff has a chequered history of manufacture and it is not clear if the risk is outweighed by its relative cheapness which seems to be a thing of the past.

Just based on the pics it looks to be quite contrasty stuff but that might just be the style of Mr Toman's photography

I appreciate that none of what I have said answers your question but the 2 key questions from me would be: Is it available from any U.K. stockists and if so what is the price. If not then what's the effective price if it has to be an e-bay order

Thanks

Mike

big paul
29th February 2020, 05:45 PM
scratch you itch Neil ,I am doing that with xray film at the moment :)

B&W Neil
29th February 2020, 06:05 PM
Mr Toman unfortunately doesn't really say on what grounds this GP3 is the substitute for Acros as opposed to any other 100 speed film. In fact my impression is that he talks a lot but says very little.

Clearly this stuff has a chequered history of manufacture and it is not clear if the risk is outweighed by its relative cheapness which seems to be a thing of the past.

Just based on the pics it looks to be quite contrasty stuff but that might just be the style of Mr Toman's photography

I appreciate that none of what I have said answers your question but the 2 key questions from me would be: Is it available from any U.K. stockists and if so what is the price. If not then what's the effective price if it has to be an e-bay order

Thanks

Mike




Mike,

Thanks for your response.

As mentioned in my OP I am hoping for comments / observations from printers who have made prints from Shanghai GP3 negs. I added the link to David Toman's site because he has used the old and new film.

I thought David covered it quite well with plenty of pics to illustrate what he was saying. But there are many other links / examples on the net that can be referenced if the David one doesn't appeal.

As for the rest of it – I'm really not interested because I shall make my own mind up. I am only interested in the visual art side of what this film may or may not be able to achieve. It's new (to me) and maybe from a visual point of view – it could make prints with a different look.

I am still hopeful we can find a printer, who has made prints from Shanghai negs, who is happy to share the results with us on FADU.



Neil.

B&W Neil
29th February 2020, 06:44 PM
scratch you itch Neil ,I am doing that with xray film at the moment :)


Many thanks Paul,

I will give it a go soon - probably in 120. I am tempted to buy some Shanghai GP3 in 5x4 but I could be stuck with a few sheets if it doesn't appeal!

I have never used XRAY film and well done giving it a go. I hope you post your results here some pics as examples.

I am always looking for something new to challenge what I can achieve as a print maker. That's where the real interest is with me.

Love it :-)

Neil.

CornishChris
29th February 2020, 11:06 PM
I have used it before in 120 format check out my results here, still got a few rolls left I found it okay, developed in ID11.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/89793448@N06/albums/72157671309321196

B&W Neil
1st March 2020, 08:19 AM
I have used it before in 120 format check out my results here, still got a few rolls left I found it okay, developed in ID11.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/89793448@N06/albums/72157671309321196


Many thanks Chris - great stuff!

Love the effect you've achieved with the old Halina + Shanghai combo. There is certainly a retro look that works very well.

I have in mind of trying Shanghai in one of my pinhole cameras. Once I've done this I'll make a few prints and post the results here for those who are interested.

Neil.

Terry S
1st March 2020, 01:18 PM
I have used it before in 120 format check out my results here, still got a few rolls left I found it okay, developed in ID11.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/89793448@N06/albums/72157671309321196
Your pics look great Chris! Definitely looks like a film to try out.

And I love the use of the TLR. It's the softness around the central sharp part that does it for me. Lovely! :)

Terry S

CambsIan
1st March 2020, 05:27 PM
Been intrigued by this thread, have always avoided this film, (the original version) due to it "dodgy" reputation

But have found this on Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqvrkh48Omo

Thought I would share it (the images start at about 2mins)

Ian

B&W Neil
1st March 2020, 06:00 PM
Been intrigued by this thread, have always avoided this film, (the original version) due to it "dodgy" reputation

But have found this on Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqvrkh48Omo

Thought I would share it (the images start at about 2mins)

Ian



I am begining to get impressed by this film and it reminds me of something I've used in the past. Maybe HP3 or early HP4. Very nice tonality and the film appears to be able to handle contrast well.

Many thanks for the Yotube links- most interesting.

Neil.

DaveInElland
1st March 2020, 06:19 PM
I have used it before in 120 format check out my results here, still got a few rolls left I found it okay, developed in ID11.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/89793448@N06/albums/72157671309321196

Look good Chris (I’ve just “subbed” on Flickr too!) - it seems to be a film that suits urban scenes or gritty subjects perhaps?

Mike O'Pray
1st March 2020, 07:14 PM
Thanks for the link,CambsIan, which led me onto a second link. In the first link I liked the comparison between the scene in colour and then b&w. I was surprised at how dark a reddish/maroon was. I had expected it to be lighter but maybe anything that is more towards maroon does come out darker than"pure" red since in the second link a red truck did come our fairly light

Contrast looked fine in both whereas in Neil's link that photographer's shots were a lot more contrasty. The lesson here may be that it depends on the photographer.

It may be that it is slightly more ortho-panchromatic than most films and if so it's a look I quite like

Mike

B&W Neil
2nd March 2020, 08:59 AM
I have now ordered a few rolls of 120 Shanghai GP3 for my 120 pinhole work so hopefully I shall be testing this film soon.

Prints will also be made before I make up my mind if it's going to be a keeper. I am hoping it is because the hit rate with pinhole can be quite low and with a 5x4 pinhole camera - expensive as well!

Neil.

Keith Haithwa
2nd March 2020, 09:24 AM
I have used it before in 120 format check out my results here, still got a few rolls left I found it okay, developed in ID11.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/89793448@N06/albums/72157671309321196

Cracking set of images Chris and they tempt me to give the film a try. Unfortunately I've now got a severe dose of nostalgia for my many years of holidays staying on Gyllyngvase Road.

Collas
30th October 2021, 12:01 PM
220 film is now back in stock.

https://ntphotoworks.com/product/shanghai-gp3-120-roll-film/

Mike O'Pray
30th October 2021, 02:13 PM
220 film is now back in stock.

https://ntphotoworks.com/product/shanghai-gp3-120-roll-film/

Thanks, Nick. I hadn't expected to see it in the U.K. this quickly. There is a long thread on the 220 on Photrio where opinions on its quality are very "black and white" to use a bad pun but the interesting aspect is that for the first time a representative of Shanghai has appeared there and seems to want to engage with users about quality


My impression from that person's posts is that there is a sign of real intent to get things right even if Shanghai is not there yet so we may be seeing a new era in its attempt to establish itself

Mike