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Thread: ERA Sheet Film

  1. #1

    ERA Sheet Film

    Is the stuff as bad as some suggest?
    This is actually marked "Panchromatic Portrait Film" on the box.
    I thought I would buy a pack and find out for myself and save the Foma 100 for something decent.
    Has anyone with actual experience of shooting & processing ERA 100?
    I wondered about dev times for Rodinal or will the time for FP4 sheet work fine?
    Now I heard that one of the Chinese sheet films was quite curly, but I don't know if it was the ERA or the Shanghai.

    The only Chinese made film I have shot so far has been Lucky 35mm. That was strange stuff I wish I could get in 4x5 because it wasn't back coated and you got halation around highlights.

  2. #2

    Re: ERA Sheet Film

    Hi Neil !
    I use Era film in 4x5. I process it in HC110 (dil H) so I can't comment about Rodinal.
    No, it is not curly. Not it is not a bad film at all. It's main drawback is the poor packaging and it's low contrast. I think it's the reason why it is given for portrait.
    If you plan to exercise and practice your camera skills, it may be a good bargain for you.
    I won't commit important work on it even if I think it's decent. Paranoid, who said paranoid....

  3. #3

    Join Date
    Jul 2006
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    2,639

    Re: ERA Sheet Film

    My experience is it needs to be developed for slightly longer than the Ilford equivalent. Here are some images using the Razzle 4x5 with Era 100 in Suprol.








  4. #4

    Re: ERA Sheet Film

    How low do you rate the contrast compared to your actual first rate film (whatever that may be)?
    If the contrast is somewhat low then perhaps re-rating and a corresponding change in development time may be called.
    Does the development time of the HC110 and the dilution correspond to the time of a Kodak or Ilford film.

  5. #5

    Join Date
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    2,639

    Re: ERA Sheet Film

    Era's low contrast shouldn't be an issue. It gives you a huge tonal range, then when you scan or traditionally print your negative you can decide just how high the contrast should be. Better to have the tone and lose it, than need it and not have it.

  6. #6

    Re: ERA Sheet Film

    Does the carton come with any development reccomendations?
    The ebay listing of the film suggests perhaps the same time as for FP4 sheet.
    Have you found this to be true?

  7. #7

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    Re: ERA Sheet Film

    Neil. Read my first reply. I stated that I found it needs slightly longer than the Ilford equivalent.

  8. #8

    Join Date
    Aug 2006
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    101

    Re: ERA Sheet Film

    I've been playing with the 4x5 and ran a box of 8x10 through Pyrocat HD and got (for me) good results. 2:2:100 in a Jobo and 8minutes rated at ISO 80. This might be a little bit off as I don't have a UV channel on the densitometer but after some experimenting to find zones I and VIII on contact prints seem like reasonable results.

    I have some Rodinal (F09) times but they aren't handy to me right now. I believe the film is listed in the massive development chart.

    Packaging is a bit wonky, single box, then a kunky foil pouch (very hard to get folded just right to fit back in the box followed by an inner thin black plastic bag. I do like the interleaved sheets though. And if I remember correctly there is NOT the "U" shaped cardboard wrap around the film like Ilford and Kodak so be careful about flexing and squishing the bags.

  9. #9
    Just waiting to be developed..
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
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    New Rochelle, NY 10804
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    501

    Re: ERA Sheet Film

    I have had great luck with ERA processing it in my PhotoTherm SSK using Tmax dev 1:5.
    I am using the FP4 times and the contrast is great for landscapes.
    I bought 5 packs from the guys of ebay. The first box i used had at least 10 bad sheets. They are very scratched and dusty. It got better when i went to the second box. They seem to be all keepers.
    I put a clip on the bottom of the sheet when it drying so i dont get any curl.

    I really love this emulsion. Its one of my favorites next to HP5.
    The packing is a bit weird. The bag is too tight around the film. I transfer them to another dark bag after i open it.
    -Ian Mazursky
    www.ianmazursky.com Travel, Landscape, Portraits and my 12x20 diary
    PrePress Express

  10. #10

    Re: ERA Sheet Film

    Sorry Ash.

    The Massive Developement Chart suggests a time slightly less than as for FP4, so if I try the FP4 time I ought to be OK.

    Ian: How did you find the 10 defective sheets in the first box? Was it when you loaded the holders or when you took the negatives out of the last wash?

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