Mike Gammill 
, Feb 04, 2012; 10:16 a.m.
Yeah, we already know that slow films need fast primes (classic ones of course) rather than slow zooms, but it's been a while since anyone's posted anything here shot with a film slower than ISO 100. I recently finished a roll of Rollei Ortho 25 (and gave my Carl Zeiss 45mm f2.8 Tessar) a workout. This classic lens was used in combination with my FX-3 Super 2000, which although it's manual match diode exposure and battery independent, because of its age it could also have a valid place in the modern film cameras forum as well. Shooting an ISO 25 film, such as Ortho 25, really requires you to plan your photos and use a tripod when possible as light becomes less favorable.
Today, since orthochromatic films for 35mm and 120 are not made in large quantities, they are more expensive than the panchromatic variety. Kodak, in a early 1950's ad, once touted their ortho Verichrome (not Verichrome Pan) as a thrifty medium for most outdoor work (meaning snapshots). The panchromatic films of the time (Super XX, Plus-X, and Panatomic-X) were more expensive. So a little retro style film shooting, if you will.
Now that I've tested this film, my next project is to actually shoot some of it in a camera closer to that time period. Most likely my Rolleicord III will be the camera of choice since Rollei Ortho 25 is also available in 120.
Classic 45mm f2.8 CZ Tessar on FX-3
Mike Gammill , Feb 04, 2012; 10:19 a.m.
I think a while back I read some posts that indicated an interest in the performance of this lens so the Ortho 25 is a good way to get the most from it.
RR tracks, 45mm Tessar at about f8
Mike Gammill , Feb 04, 2012; 10:23 a.m.
BTW, all negatives were developed in stock D76 for 6' and scanned at 2400 dpi on an Epson V600. Resized with MS Office Picture Manager. This is a contrasty film and D76 seems to do a fairly good job of managing it.
sunny day at MSU
Mike Gammill , Feb 04, 2012; 10:26 a.m.
Here's a couple of more shots to show the high contrast. I'll bet this film would be great to try in one of the older folders with an uncoated lens.
old benches outside the campus Burger King
Mike Gammill , Feb 04, 2012; 10:27 a.m.
Shadows are pretty black, but I like the effect for the subjects that I chose.
Spectators at band competition, around f8
Mike Gammill , Feb 04, 2012; 10:30 a.m.
Another campus shot. Trees, BTW, look about the same to this film as they would to other slow films.
Another shot on campus, f11
Mike Gammill , Feb 04, 2012; 10:33 a.m.
Kodak recommended a yellow filter with their Verichrome, but I found that the skies didn't go completely white as I expected. FWIW, a yellow filter would work, but not a red one.
About 5.6 for this one
Mike Gammill , Feb 04, 2012; 10:37 a.m.
Correction, this was also at about f8.
While I had some of this film I felt like I should at least have some red subject matter to render darkly so I chose the hollies in my back yard. Since the 45mm Tessar doens't focus particularly close I switched to my Tamron 90mm f2.5 macro and used a tripod.
Macro shot of holly berries, fairly wide aperture
Bill Mitchell , Feb 04, 2012; 11:00 a.m.
"Modern" films are a lot less forgiving than oldies (such as Verichrome) regarding correct exposure. I presume that's because it's assumed they will be taken with an adjustible camera having built-in exposure meter.
The "DR" of slow, fine-grain films is usually less than faster films. Some developers are better than others at salvaging maximum information (Pyro, Rodinal, 2-step developers such as Diafine).
Bill Mitchell , Feb 04, 2012; 11:00 a.m.
"Modern" films are a lot less forgiving than oldies (such as Verichrome) regarding correct exposure. I presume that's because it's assumed they will be taken with an adjustible camera having built-in exposure meter.
The "DR" of slow, fine-grain films is usually less than faster films. Some developers are better than others at salvaging maximum information (Pyro, Rodinal, 2-step developers such as Diafine).
