Agfa Scala 200 ASA B&W Reviews

Rating
Reviewed by:

jrong
( Intermediate)

Review Date
January 25, 2005

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.67 of 5,
3 votes

Review 1 of 12

Price Paid: $0.00 from 7DayShop

Summary:

Stunning B+W slide film. Luminous, excellent even for high contrast scenes, has tonality similar to that of APX 100. 35mm can be very grainy if printed and enlarged beyond 8x12", but it is definitely a film for everyone to try at least ONCE. The tonality is rich and very remarkable. The only drawback of this film for some people is the cost - and the dearth of Scala labs. I am fortunate enough to work 15 mins away from the UK's only Scala lab but the majority of people will have to resort to mail order.

Strengths:

Beautiful tonality High contrast Can be pushed to 1600 easily

Weaknesses:

Very grainy in enlargements (35mm) High cost Can only be processed in special Scala labs (only 1 in the UK)

Similar Products Used:

No other B+W slide film available

Customer Service:

Wrote to Agfa Customer Service once to complain about Joe's Basement Scala processing, they were extremely responsive and helpful, so no complaints here!

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Rating
Reviewed by: Gregg
(Professional)

Review Date
June 28, 2003

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
2.33 of 5,
6 votes

Review 2 of 12

Price Paid: $7.00 from Secret Location

Summary:

Well, this is my favorite film of all time. I love B&W and love slide film. Print film is for wimps. So, if you put B&W and slides together you get this film. It took me about 5 rolls to dial it in and know how to shoot it, as do all films with me. I shoot it in the studio as well, where you need to be spot on with your metering. I am lucky to have a lab within 10 miles of me, one of only three in the US. I love this film, and god help me if they stop making it.

Strengths:

Everything if you love B&W slide film.

Weaknesses:

Nothing if you love B&W slide film

Similar Products Used:

none

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Rating
Reviewed by: Shnit
(Intermediate)

Review Date
March 27, 2003

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.50 of 5,
2 votes

Review 3 of 12

Price Paid: $7.00 from Toronto Image Works

Summary:

This is a great B&W film.....and it's a slide film!!! Over the course of 7 months and at least 30 rolls, I have to say that this film excels at architecture shots...especially in high contrast conditions. Excellent with people shots too! Very versatile film. If you want to increase constrast, can be easily pushed a couple of stops. Want less contrast? Just pull it a stop. Either way, you get wonderful results. The only downside is that it may be inconvenient to process, as this film uses a proprietary method. Luckily for me, the only Scala lab in Canada is a two minute walk away from my condo. (There IS a God!)

Strengths:

Slide Film Great contrast. Good Price. Versatile.

Weaknesses:

None really.

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Rating
Reviewed by: Levon5
(Expert)

Review Date
August 14, 2002

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
4 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
1 votes

Review 4 of 12

Price Paid: $600.00 from B&H

Summary:

It worked really well with my fisheye lens if I metered on the blue sky or any other midtone object. I liked the exposure values the film reproduced. It's a little different than its wonderful discontinued (alas!) Agfapan 25 brother. I bought 10 rolls of the ASA 25 and I'm going to use them both when I go to California in Sept!

Strengths:

B&W slide film! It has a good "silver" sheen on some of the highlights.

Weaknesses:

Shadows blocked up once in a while

Similar Products Used:

Only factory film like this

Customer Service:

None needed

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Rating
Reviewed by: Vijay A. Nebhrajani
(Expert)

Review Date
July 13, 2001

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
4 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
2 votes

Review 5 of 12

Summary:

This film is a niche product. As a previous reviewer said, do try it. I shoot portraits, and I find that by pushing it +2 (rating it at 800 ASA), I get a deep, dark, edgy quality. At 800 ASA, there is significant grain but this only adds to the look. A&I can do a similar process with any B&W film (.dr5 process), and you might try that too. I feel that in these days of inconsistent black and white processing, its good to have a film that yields consistent results.

Strengths:

Unique product. Saves you from do-it-yourself B&W darkroom perils, and from the inconsistencies of labs. "Edgy" results, as a previous reviewer pointed out. Slide film. Pushable +3 stops and pullable -1 stop. Consistent speeds, and easy to get consistent results.

Weaknesses:

Lack of multiple processing locations. Tonal range somewhat short. Expensive.

Similar Products Used:

None.

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