Ferrania Solaris 35mm film

Keith Slater , Oct 28, 2004; 12:26 p.m.

Hi, I was wondering what you all thought of ferrania solaris film. They sell it at our dollar store for (ready for this?) one dollar. It is 200 speed 24 exposures. It is not outdated. Have any of you tried this film? I have tried other cheap film like polaroid 35mm (agfa?) that they sell at walmart for $1 200 speed and $1.50 for 400 speed without good results.

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R.T. Dowling , Oct 28, 2004; 12:40 p.m.

I've shot a few rolls of Solaris 200, and it wasn't too bad. Grain and sharpness were better than Kodak Gold 200. Contrast and saturation were similar, although the color palette itself was different.

Definitely not a professional film by any means, but the price is right.

Rowland Mowrey , Oct 28, 2004; 03:24 p.m.

I heard that Ferrania went the way of Ilford recently, but much more quietly.

Ron Mowrey

Jeff Adler , Oct 28, 2004; 04:17 p.m.

That's not good news. As of not too long ago they were making this film in 126 size. I still have some left.

Donnie Strickland , Oct 28, 2004; 04:23 p.m.

Ron -- Where did you hear this? I don't see anything on the Ferrania website. For the sake of 126 film, I hope it ain't so.

Rowland Mowrey , Oct 28, 2004; 04:36 p.m.

I got this from an EK associate about 2 weeks ago. I have not mentioned it as Ferrania does not come up often here, and I had no reason to bring it up or even look it up.

I was told this in a discussion about Ilford's woes, and it was told me pretty much as I posted it. "It happened, but much more quietly than Ilford".

Thats all I know. I have no personal verification. If my information was wrong, I would be surprised, but you have my apologies if it is actually not true.

Ron Mowrey

Donnie Strickland , Oct 28, 2004; 05:14 p.m.

Ron -- thanks for the tip!

In response to Keith's original question, I have bought this film at the Dollar Tree and it's pretty decent film. As explained above it's the same film as the 126 cartridge Ferrania sells, which I have also used a good bit. And you can't beat the price.

Dan Sapper , Oct 28, 2004; 06:37 p.m.

Ferrania is on life-support from the Italian government under a special plan. I don't believe they have shut down...yet.

John Shriver , Oct 28, 2004; 10:11 p.m.

Yup, it's mentioned in their Photokina press release on their website.

Matthew Currie , Oct 29, 2004; 10:53 p.m.

I tried a roll in an Olympus XA2. It seemed very contrasty, but sharp. I can't judge the color too accurately, because the local minilab guy made it clear he had to improvise a channel for the printing, so I don't know whether or not the rather eerie twilit saturation was normal. I haven't tried scanning it myself, but it's definitely a little different. Flash pictures had a lot of pop. I think it has potential for situations where one might want just a little undefinable weirdness in the color.

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