ORWO Wolfen NC500 - Shooting a New Film Stock

[@BensWorkshop]

Very reminiscent of 1970s film pictures. It is an interesting effect. You could film something like Omen on that.

[@GrumpyTim]

I'd love to have the equipment (and funds) to shoot a short movie using this film Ben, I reckon you could get a really gritty and moody effect. One day I'll shoot a very short movie using double 8 cini film in a camera that I was given last year - it'll probably be terrible, but it has to be tried. The cost of the film and processing/scanning are a bit scary, so I'm saving that one for a (non) rainy day, plus I need to service the cine camera first.

[@BensWorkshop]

@@GrumpyTim I've not come across one with sound. That would be interesting.

[@GrumpyTim]

I was thinking of either a silent movie set to some music or maybe something with some sound recorded on an external audio recorder, but definitely no dialogue - I don't fancy trying to sync up speech to images shot on a clockwork cine camera!!!

[@BensWorkshop]

@@GrumpyTim It isn't as hard as you think. I synchronise two cameras by clapping, which is what clapper boards are for on film sets.

[@GrumpyTim]

I use the clapperboard method in lots of my videos, but I was assuming that the clockwork cine camera wouldn't have a perfectly governed frame rate when shooting the film, so even though, once scanned, the playback frame rate would be just as accurate as the digital audio file, I'd be pretty sure they'd drift out of sync at some point due to an inconsistent filming speed. I could be proved wrong, but I'll plan to stick with my original idea of adding sound fx and music but no talking.

[@shaynecosby5625]

I like the grain,dark and grungy dull look. I use it for horror shoots

[@GrumpyTim]

I can imagine it being totally brilliant for horror and similar dark and moody stuff Shayne. I don't think I necessarily picked the best subjects on my first roll, but I'm sure I can do better on the second roll now I know a bit more about the film.

[@douro20]

ORWO is the sole supplier of B&W archival film to the US Government.

[@GrumpyTim]

I haven't tried any of the ORWO B&W films but I've heard good things about them.

[@ohjajohh]

That map and former border of Germany is very well done ;) Also nice photo's! I like the scenery of that 'castle'

[@GrumpyTim]

Cheers ohjajohh, the map was the lowest of low tech - hold a sheet of paper against the monitor to trace the outline along with a feint trace of the dividing line, then roll the camera whilst darkening the dividing line - you'll find all the latest graphics skills on GrumpyTim videos!!!!!

[@conrad4094]

Hello Tim. I’ve shot a few rolls of this and I’ve decided that to suit my own preferences I’ll only shoot it in sunlight , overexposed 1 to 1.5 stops as that’s the only time I’ve had pleasing results . However, it looked much like expired film I tend to just stick to actual expired film if I want that look

[@GrumpyTim]

Cheers Conrad, I think that's more or less what I'll do with the second roll - I'd quite like to master using this film, but I don't want to waste too many rolls in the process. I've seen a few really good results from other photographers including some great portraits, but there's no telling how many bad shots they took to get those good ones.

[@conrad4094]

@@GrumpyTim it CAN do some ok stuff with cars / motorbikes etc like the expired film one you got but it’s not a very clear or sharp film and I find the grain is often excessive. Although grain in film photography, while it is a part of all film photos , has become somewhat fetishised and some people seem to think the more grainy the better . I think it’s an ok film for a bit of fun something different but it’s not very versatile and I definitely wouldn’t use it every day

[@GrumpyTim]

That's very true, the grain is so big there's no fine detail at all - as I said in the video, the Kodak Ultramax had more detail when shot on the Olympus Pen-D half frame camera - I wouldn't dare put NC500 in a half frame, it would just be grain and more grain. I've got Kodak Aerocolour in about 3 cameras at the moment which should be a very detailed film - I really need to finish one of those rolls to see how good it is. There will of course be a video whenever I get one of those rolls done.

[@LEgoiste]

Ahh, your Miranda lens cap, is it 46mm?

[@GrumpyTim]

Yep, it's 46mm, although it's an external push fit cap rather than the more common internal type that clip onto the filter threads. It's a tiny little lens on the Miranda, compared to modern stuff anyway.

[@LEgoiste]

@@GrumpyTim Cheers, appreciated.

[@linjicakonikon7666]

Finally! A masculine looking film that has some grit and grime instead of the effeminate pastel crap meant for brides and coffee shop beta males. Richard Thompson once said "Art is in the Edges" THIS film is perfect for photographic artists that want a color film that has some edge to it. The world is mad and brutal and Portra 400 is for frilly men and fragile women.

[@GrumpyTim]

Hi Linjica, based on that, I'm glad that I've never tried Portra!!! Weirdly, although I didn't immediately fall in love with NC500, since then I've printed my favourite shots from the roll and popped them in a photo album (as I do with each film), and flicking through the album, the shots taken on NC500 are my favourite of the lot, so when you (I) get it right, it's a really good film. Just finished the second roll, so I'll see what results I get with that. I've also got a couple more rolls in stock for more gritty fun.

[@derpoltergeist8265]

​@@GrumpyTimWeird that you are entertaining this Sigma Male bullcrap. Makes you seem unprofessional.

[@1marcelfilms]

I probably shouldn't have bought this. I guess it was the cheapest for a reason ☠

[@GrumpyTim]

I wouldn't despair 1marcelfilms, although I didn't immediately fall in love with the look of NC500, when I reviewed my photo album a few months later (in which I print out a few of the best shots from each film), my favourite shots from the whole of last year were on NC500, so although not every shot on the film was good, when it was good, it was really good. I've shot a second roll, which I rated at 200 ISO in the hopes that I get less of the really depressing looking shots, but that film hasn't gone to the lab yet. I've also bought two more rolls, so I'll keep on experimenting.

[@user-ug8lq4qe4s]

Try it on ISO 200

[@GrumpyTim]

Hi user-ug8lq..... yes, that was my plan for the next roll, and not shooting it in the dull winter weather should help too. I'm hoping I'll like the second roll more, and if so, I'll buy some more.

[@LEgoiste]

Excellent, just got a couple of rolls of this. Enjoying your content.👍

[@GrumpyTim]

Hi LEgoiste, hope you enjoy using NC500, are you going to try shooting at 200 ISO like user-ug8lq suggested? Funnily enough, I was printing some of my film photos from the last year, just to go in a photo album, and my favourite shots from the year were taken on NC500, and also some of my least favourite ones too (I didn't print those ones), so when you get it right, or take the right subject, it does give a really cool look.

[@LEgoiste]

@@GrumpyTim Exactly that, the ASA 200 advice I can see that. However from some of your photos I can see a use for it. I've a work trip in Shetland coming up and think it will be ideal for the greys and dare I say bleakness up there.

[@GrumpyTim]

That sounds awesome, hope you get some great shots.