American cinematographer (Jan-Dec 1935)

October 1935 • American Cinematographer Reversible Film for Miniature c amera by Nina Morgan ORIGINALLY introduced for studio work, the new Agfa Reversible 35mm film is finding great favor among miniature camera users. In the studios this film has been successfully used for background projection work due to the grainless positive it produces. A reversible film will give a positive of less grain and with finer definition than the negative-positive printing, because the reversible film is not printed through as is the negative. The method is the same as with all reversible films. The negative is shot in the camera in the same way as the Agfa Superpan negative which the Reversible approximates in speed. In processing the negative is developed, bleached, exposed to light and redeveloped, finishing up as a positive. It then can be projected for inspection of the shots. If a positive film for projection purposes only is required, the Agfa Reversible film fills this need without the necessity of bothering with the printing of a positive film from one's negative. However, the above is only one of the many uses for this film. This type of film should prove of distinct advantage in the selection of locations for the studios. Photos of locations to be considered may be taken on reversible film with miniature cameras and viewed at the studio by director and cameraman as projected by a still projector such as the Leitz Udimo. In this way a still photograph is seen on the screen just as a motion picture audience would see the moving picture. Planning of camera angles, and filter effects could be done also in this way and viewed upon a screen. The same procedure could be carried out by amateur motion picture cameramen who desire more perfect final effects. Victor Haveman and Paul Ivano have made test production stills with the Agfa Reversible used in their Leica cameras. Beautiful grainless enlargements have been made from these stills. The method is as follows: after Production Still by Victor Haveman of Columbia Studios, Leica, Agfa SuperDan Reversible Film, 8x10 Negative made by Morgan Camera Shop. the reversible film has been processed, a large 5x7 or 8x10 negative is made by direct enlargement of the positive on Agfa Commercial film with an enlarger which takes 35mm size negatives, such as a Leica enlarger. The negative should be developed in a soft-working, fine-grain developer. Contact production prints or enlargements can now be made. The above method has tremendous possibilities for amateur workers. Many Leica users have wished for a practical and easily manipulated way of retouching the small negatives. Often only one or two shots from the whole roll of film satisfy the requirements of the more advanced pictorial or portrait workers. Through the use of Agfa Reversible film in their Leicas, these photographers can now make larger negatives from the chosen positives. They may now retouch or block out upon a large negative after enjoying the advantage of shooting many, many arrangements of their subject matter at a low negative cost. In portrait work Agfa Reversible film should find a wide popularity. Many portrait photographers prefer to use miniature cameras. Others use them for special purposes, such as: for photos of children, when they need to take many poses and when film cost is an important factor. Through the use of a positive film, the portrait photographer may project the pictures for his clients, thus giving Continued on Page 456