FILM Ferrania P30 Review (and the State of the Film Market)

In this episode, we take a closer look at the FILM Ferrania P30 and its qualities as well as the company's history. We also use the opportunity to discuss the current state of the global film market and what it takes to actually be a film manufacturer these days such as Ferrania or ADOX.
More about FILM Ferrania P30:
www.filmferran...
Equipment used:
Olympus XA
Leica M6 with 28mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M
Mamiya 6 MF with 50mm f/4
Film used:
FILM Ferrania P30
Developed in:
ADOX FX 39 or
ADOX Atomal 49
If you'd like to get in touch or see some early behind the scenes footage, find me on Instagram: / analog_insights

[@tomjanowski8584]

You’ve inspired me to start shooting film again after 15 years of just shooting digital. Thanks for the great content.

[@TheoDahlemPickups]

Same here after 24 years

[@koenraaddm2582]

Never left it. Always getting back to film. Can't miss it. And yes, this channel helps me not to forget film. :-)

[@GONZOFAM7]

You're a great advocate for film photography. Thanks.

[@Thorpal]

In Germany gentlemen photographers are so classy they even develop B&W films with a white shirt. They don't fear those damn chemical stains !

[@matteovrizzi]

as you said Max, there's a big difference between real film manufacturers and those who just purchase expired stock and repackage& rebrand with fancy marketing! a great video once again with really top photos. PS stay well & healthy!!

[@mikhailshafeev9384]

Wondering if ADOC makes their own films? The ADOX CHS 100 II is quite unique , however they have not been offering this film or a while....

[@ZipperDetailing]

@@mikhailshafeev9384 Yes they do. They have their own plant in Switzerland.

[@flugga182]

wow I just wanted to buy a roll of p30 because I found it for cheap, and wanted to read reviews. I listened to the whole story of Ferrania and really loved your pictures and now I have a new appreciation for this film.

[@AnalogInsights]

Thank you for your kind comment. I really appreciate it.

[@dave1070]

Those panoramics on the Mamiya - WOW! :-)

[@Luudite]

It was nice of you to share the story of what Ferrania has gone through in order to come out the other side as a full fledged manufacturer today. I'm glad they did. I also love P30, it's a lovely stock

[@danielchiu2085]

Just recently discovered this channel and it is quickly becoming a favourite. I love that you take great care in giving an in-depth story to the objects you review, as it makes you appreciate them much more when you know their histories.

[@richardsimms251]

Very well made and helpful videos Thanks Max et al. RS

[@alanjones8579]

Yes this Ferrania P30 film looks really punchy, i particularly like the way it renders clouds so beautifully. Great Video as always

[@geoffreyanthony4276]

I am old enough to recall the excellent results from Ferrania slide film in the 1960s and 70s. It occurs to me that the relatively slow speed makes it useful in older classic cameras such as Retinas and Vitos since the top shutter speed in these cameras may be only 300th sec and the exposure can be stopped down accordingly. Another excellent video from our friends; I am ordering P30 and look forward to trying it.

[@KentTeffeteller]

Thanks for the tip. I'll try a roll of P30 in my Retina 1b. Much appreciated. I have used Ferrania Chrome in my once Canon FTb a few times, and my Canon Snappy S. Definitely will shoot a roll in my Canon L1 Rangefinder.

[@davidweston9115]

gorgeous voice for broadcasting, dressed like an adult, speaking proper english, I am in love and subscribed within 56 seconds of your first video ! If you continue to avoid overused cliches such as "Deep Dive," "weighs in at," and the word "gifted," I will keep watching forever.

[@colinosullivan]

Added a few rolls to todays film order. I have been looking forward to trying it for some time now. thanks for the wonderful video as usual lads. Big inspiration to my channel. Cheers from Ireland.

[@danaendelmanis4612]

Since I know Ferrania will see this: hurry up and make P30 available in Australia!

[@ginovairo6487]

I second that comment!

[@paulterl4563]

not online available ?...

[@aperture8usa66]

And while they're at it, hurry up and make a 120 format version available everywhere!.

[@joefaracevideos]

Thanks so much for all this information. Back when Ferrania did their Kickstarter, I tried to help by encouraging readers of my blog to support it. And many thanks for the introduction to P30. Loved your panoramic images. Thanks again, Max.

[@danaendelmanis4612]

New favourite video from Analog Insights. Thanks for taking us on such a deep-dive. David Hancock is the only other KZbinr I can think of who gives the history and design of different film emulsions the love and attention they really deserve. Love how this channel has evolved.

[@AnalogInsights]

Thanks a lot for your comment. We really appreciate your kind words. :)

[@danmolenhouse]

I hadn't heard of Film Ferrania before this video, so the history was super interesting. I'm definitely going to go pick up some of their film after seeing those panoramic shots! Absolutely gorgeous.

[@vasyaandrushka7349]

I remember using this Ferrania P30 when I was still in college, it was only the cheapest film I could grab at the time along with the Tura P400. Both of them are very forgiving in the darkroom, which gave plenty of room for experiments - unlike the Tmax and XP2. Also, this film looks best when used with European vintage glass lens/cameras. I used Zenit SLR w/Helios, Fed 5 rangefinder and even the Lomo LC-A (1980's make) yields dreamy results comparable to your Leica shots, though I really don't like the ones you shot with the Olympus XA here. The same happened to me when I used my Fujica Flash and Pentax Espio with it. I didn't even know Fellini used this Ferrania film, I'm actually quite proud to be able to experience it!

[@yorkieinnz4648]

Thanks as always, nice way to finish a Sunday evening.

[@JamieMPhoto]

The look is not the easiest to tame, but I love it so much. And thank you for sharing the red filter results! Wow.

[@mfreider]

Awesome!!!! Olympus XA! So classy. So charming. OMG!!!

[@adventureStaley]

Really great video. Definitely gonna be picking some of this film up.

[@Pacugt]

I've found you people thanks to the Zenza Bronica video, and I have to say that you have created an excellent channel. It's notorious all the work you perform to make every video (including memorizing lines to look at the audience instead reading all the time). Greetings from Argentina!

[@AnalogInsights]

Thanks for your kind comment and appreciating the effort going into these little videos.

[@clayfisher3194]

Beautiful shots from the both of you. The intentional subject matter (e.g. clouds, architectural elements) really helped in representing the film of its full potential. Thanks for sharing as this episode has been quite helpful. I look forward to using the film.

[@steveember8972]

Thank you, Max, for another always informative and intelligent presentation. It has certainly inspired me to add some Ferrania P30 to my shooting - including with red filter! Wonderful choice of music cues, by the way, which really complimented those exquisite photos. Always a delight to view your reports. Stay safe!

[@elguapo5620]

Amazing photos and content. Keep up the great work !

[@francescomusso9465]

the shotn at 18:40 is one of the best shot i've ever seen in a while. just wow.

[@daveshannon3934]

Thanks Max. Great video. As soon as this madness is over I will be trying this film out.

[@BehindThePhoto]

Great video as always! I bought 3 rolls to shoot that just came in. Can't wait to try this film out. Be well & thanks for sharing! Benjamin

[@migalito1955]

Lovely film. I had lost interest in photography when the digital camera overwhelmed the world, because I had thought it had removed some of the art from photography when it introduced alongside it the digital darkroom that could make underexposed images look acceptable. I turned to painting, but with the interest in film being revived I have dug out my film cameras and picked up where I had left off. I really like the range of greys this film produces and your panoramic images utilizing the red filter for added contrast were stunning. Oh my, what a nice film, for sure. Thanks for sharing and a big thanks to Ferrania for having run with the idea.

[@pilsplease7561]

I cant get into digital, FIlm is so satisfying and real. No matter what it has a feel, and look that digital cant replicate, and even if it did I wouldnt touch it. I want to have film for the next 100+ years.

[@36andburned]

Those panoramic mamiya shots are beautiful! ❤️👍🏽

[@worfbe]

Hello guys, thx for another wonderful and relaxing review. A special thanks for those extremely beautiful pano's !!! Be safe !

[@nolansnook1268]

Wonderful! Thank you again for another fabulous story.

[@bananasrfr14]

Can you please do a tutorial on how you develop and scan your own film?

[@marcomasetti2260]

What a great video! Please keep posting!

[@Buzz2646]

I've seen several of your videos and I am very happy to have viewed this video. Why? Because it's good news that there is still life in film photography and I hope it's a long life. There is something about film, in particular black and white film, that gives a quality to the photo, a mood, that can't be beat. Wonderful stuff and I've just subscribed.

[@thomashilmersen711]

That is a great story about this company. Amazing how much history we have here in Europe.

[@greggreaves1727]

Max... I really enjoy your thoughtful reviews and channel content. Thanks!

[@lukashuening]

Sehr beeindruckend, was der P30 zu Papier und Scan bringt, ich kann es kaum erwarten, ihn auszuprobieren. Danke für dieses Review.

[@jamesbrickert1301]

Another GREAT video! Thanks so much!

[@trevorsowers]

Good job!! I enjoyed this. I was one of the original backers of Film Ferrania and I really wanted to see that slide film. Now that Ektachrome is back on the marked that seems less important and I am happy that Film Ferrania has P30 rolling out the door.

[@tedsmith_photography]

Great work Max. I have been thinking about Ferrania P30 on and off for a while, though stocks of it in the UK seem t come in and sell out very quickly. Your video has inspired me to at least try it out because I do like that kind of "look". The two things that have put me off are a) my main 35mm camera is a Nikon F5 which is famous for being quite "angry" and b) there is not 120, yet. But then I guess as you said, if we all buy some of the 35mm they are more likely to try and make 120, and, like you, I do like and favour these companies that risked everything to make something work. Inspiring stuff.

[@JefferyAHoward]

Beautiful video! I really enjoyed your photos and the peaceful music. Big thumbs up!

[@erichstocker8358]

I have supported them. I purchased their film as soon as it came out. I don't care for it too much as it is too contrasty and grainy for me. However, I still buy it every now and again. In extreme low contrast scenes it is usable for me and gives me the opportunity to still support them.

[@alanwilliams9842]

I enjoy all your videos, they are beautifully produced.

[@SuperWestie01]

Another first-class review Max, thank you for taking the time to research this so meticulously and for presenting in such a clear and uncomplicated fashion. As an original Kickstarter investor, I am delighted to see the company name live on and hopefully one day we will see P30 as a 120 film.

[@kalidoscopiu]

Fantástic video as always and nice pictures .Congratulations sir .Yo ahead

[@1stfootprint_art]

Thank you... that was an insightful and well researched... I will try and pick some up to shoot on my contax g1... also love the panoramic shots... now I am fantasizing about a mamiya 6 kit again... take care and stay safe...

[@EdwardIglesias]

Loved this episode. I've always strived to make photos with that beautiful lack of grain and extreme contrast but really hadn't thought about why I like this particular aesthetic. Now I know.

[@melvynjames9028]

After watching. This I have to try Ferrania P30! Terrific presentation guys.

[@FilmCameraObsession]

Excellent review, images, and presentation. Thank you. I will be buying some Ferrania.

[@matthiassteck4009]

Great review as always. I really love what you're doing. I hope Ferrania will survive the Corona crises - in Italy almost everything is closed, surely also the Ferrania plant.

[@arildedvardbasmo490]

Thanks for posting this! I'll make sure to buy some when it comes in stock with my dealer.

[@miguelmueller9558]

Thanks a lot for the very informative video. I like this film very much and it's fun to use. I just hope there will maybe also be other bigger formats available one day.

[@marcellodevos3601]

Great video! Just developed my first roll of p30 so cant wait to see the results. Very interesting to hear some more about the history of the company.

[@richardsimms251]

Very interesting well done video. Thank you. RS. Canada

[@AnalogInsights]

Thank you. 🙏🏻

[@williar1961]

Great insights of this film stock👍

[@bradvisser7671]

Another great video, thanks guys! I really enjoy shooting P30, in particular for the presentation of the shadows and lower mid tones. To me they feel richer and perhaps 'more alive' than other film stocks I've used. I really hope that it will one day be produced in 120 format! One critique from my side, I would have enjoyed a more thorough presentation of the images that you shot and the final print in particular. They are very good and deserve more screen time in my opinion. Perhaps you could discuss such things as tonal gradations, highlight/shadow reproduction and even just whether you were able to recreate what you had imagined when making the photos. Keep up the great work und bleib Gesund!

[@Mulva234]

Just bought 10 rolls! Love the look!!!

[@TheBigNegative-PhotoChannel]

great, now I have again the urge to photograph b/w and develop everything myself. Fatastic video with so much great background information.

[@AnalogInsights]

Great to hear that! Enjoy. :)

[@dmarker21]

I just sent off two rolls of P30 to get developed and scanned and I'm really looking forward to see how they turn out. It was my first time shooting it. I hope Ferrania continues to grow. Your photos looked great.

[@c.augustin]

I'm a backer of Film Ferrania's Kickstarter campaign and bought five rolls (instead of having them as my perks) when they first gave us the opportunity (P30 "Alpha"). Yes, this film is very, very special, but getting hold of it is tricky (and I still wait for the offer to their backers they announced a month or so ago …).

[@juancarlosguzman2827]

Awesome video! Thanks for the history of this film, I’ve seen it a lot of people talking but never pay attention, looks very good, definitely I will try it 👍

[@FK-jn6mw]

Excellent review, great insight.

[@federicomuciaccia9191]

thank you for this informative and well made video

[@PhilKnall]

Eure videos sind echt einzigartig, sehr sehr schön. Den Film werde ich mir auch Mal zulegen müssen!

[@jeff8289]

Hi Max. What a superb video. One of the best you have done. I also found that the film is available at my favorite store - Blue Moon Camera in Portland, OR. I buy most of my film from them, as well as using their repair service. Unfortunately there is only 35mm available. I hope the factory will produce 120mm in the not too distant future. I love the dynamic range of the film, but especially the mid-tones. I've played around with Berger 400, which appears much flatter, although that was without a red filter. Thanks again for a wonderful way to spend Sunday morning cooped up in Naples, FL.

[@ronhipwell5543]

Wow! Love the look of this film! Your images were perfect for demonstrating its tonality. Really liked the studies of the BMW Welt. I’m from the US, but we visited it last June (along with the museum) during our short stay in Munich and it was memorable. Excellent content Max & company!

[@AnalogInsights]

Thanks for your kind comment and positive feedback. Glad to hear you liked it.

[@markfarnell183]

Loved the look of the final product and the backstory. I'll have to order some now

[@charlesk323]

This is excellent. I am definitely going to try this....I have the Mamiya 7 and the pano kit. Gotta try that as well.

[@Paramocinema]

As always Max and Jules , I loved the video and your photography. I definitely going to try this film. Thanks

[@KentTeffeteller]

I will have some soon. My Canon L1, Canon 50mm/f2.8 wants some Fellini styled action! Will soon know what my first 36 exposures will bring! Love your channel, always learn something and enjoy it. Always relaxes me!

[@jamesjacocks6221]

Not familiar with Ferrania film but I do remember Adox. What we sorely need today is more film (for me it's B/W film but transparency and color negative are fading away). I enjoyed the description of the physical plant. The specs of the P30 film are enticing and your photos are interesting, contrasty and smooth!

[@MikeLikesChannel]

This story about Ferrania is featured in the book, The Revenge of Analog by David Sax.

[@nemanjabudimcic1381]

Simply best channel regarding film photography. I would like to publish more but in another case, I would not like to see short and low-quality videos from you. Keep the good work and thanks.

[@filmismorefun]

The first encounter I had with Ferrania was through an expired roll of re-branded film I picked up at a thrift shop. It was decades old, but held up surprisingly well.

[@antothemanto77]

I hope their color reversal film comes back! Wonderful review and an interesting look at the film market. I hope this revival lasts!

[@shawnhollbach395]

Another lovely review. Many thanks

[@dominiquepierre-nina4581]

Just received my orde of Ferrania and super happy to go out and shoot, but alas we can't...

[@mikhailshafeev9384]

Great review, thank you! I really hope that the COVID pandemy will not destroy such a fragile business! I wish them to survive and to start producing 120 version ASAP - to allow me to load my Pentax-645 again...

[@miguelgarrido7189]

Maravilloso.

[@VedutaV]

Great video Max! It's nice that we have one more film manufacturer these days. I'll try p30 is 35mm, but hope one day it will come in 4x5 sheets as well.

[@AnalogInsights]

Thanks for your comment. Same hope here. P30 as 4x5 and 120 film would be great.

[@TedVieira]

Great review, man, of both the film and the history. Didn't know it was available yet, just ordered 4 rolls. Thanks again, man.

[@vangstr]

This film has a unique and ethereal look!!! It is an exciting film and becoming my preference alongside Ilford Pan 50.

[@IkontaRacconta]

An Italian film that was much denigrated in Italy. it's a "difficult" film, without a doubt. But it has character. It has nothing to do with cinematographic films (which had decidedly different contrasts). But if you expose it to 50 iso and develop it with suitable chemicals it can be interesting.

[@pedromeza2398]

Dude your voice is well suited for these educational videos, I have never used this film but given that I have over 10 plus 35 mm cameras, plus four 1950s 120 cameras that I shoot 35mm through using adapters, I am try to buy this Ferrania film to test. I do prefer manual winding over motorized winders.

[@pilsplease7561]

The film market is extremely healthy and growing.

[@AnalogInsights]

Yes, it is - by now again. :)

[@pilsplease7561]

@@AnalogInsights Im just glad that ilford is sticking with us with sheet film, because I shoot 35mm, 120 and 4x5 sheet film and knowing that I can keep doing so is great. I have too much invested in film for it to go under.

[@Boydo1609]

Looks really good, love your vids. Keep up the great work.

[@rbmedia771]

Thank you for this great review. I have ordered a dozen rolls of P30 and a dozen of Adox Scala (plus the reversal developing kit)-I still love Ilford, but really think we need Ferrania and Adox to be strong competitors as well.

[@pianosongbook]

love that channel!

[@franzscaramelli2651]

Beautiful!

[@HV71851]

Thank you for this re review. I think I would like to try this film in my Xpan. Many years ago I used 3M slide color film, which was actually made by Ferrania.

[@gibcoprobe66]

Great informative video. Even your inversion technique is cool ;) I guess movies are another thing completely but weird coincidence, I just watched yesterday for the first time, Antonioni, L'avventura, which I now know used Ferraria, and what strucked me was the gradation in the midtones but it wasn't particularly contrasty.

[@RocketinExile]

amazing video

[@ianhand5006]

Thank you for such an interesting and well presented review. I will most definitely be ordering a few rolls as soon as Analogue Wonderland have some in stock.

[@ChrisRoutledge]

Thanks for this. I struggled with the Alpha version--it was quite inconsistent--but based on this I'm going to give it another go.

[@jackkoto2316]

My dream is that they go completely the other way on the next idea and make a true 1600iso Color negative film. #RIPFuji1600

[@StymyParsley]

I got to shoot one roll of Natura 1600 and it had a really special look. It was like twice as expensive as the next expensive film I’ve ever bought. Wish I could try a film that fast without pushing again.

[@patricstahl]

Amazing as usual Max. Thank you! What about a channel for mechanical watches? I know you want to... :)

[@joelbenguigui2016]

Very nice review! I wish the film came in 120 too

[@danpedroza007]

Going to order some.. 👍

[@brianorakpohit]

Very informative, thanks. My first rolls are on their way as I write. Going to use Kodak HC110. Im so intrigued by this film. I don't shoot 35mm much now, mainly 120, but I had to make an exception for this film.