35mm film in the Frugal Photographer catalog

For 35mm Bluefire Police high-resolution 35mm film, click here.

NEW! a true 35mm SLR (single-lens reflex) camera for ~~59.95~~ ! Click here.

ProMax brand 35mm black and white film
24 exposures per roll

ISO 100 or ISO 400

Important! This black and white film should not be processed as a color film. Color processing uses a bleach step which will remove the image. Be sure your local lab develops it in black and white chemistry and does not subject it to a bleach process.

Sealed in moisture-proof plastic container for easy, safe storage in your refrigerator or freezer.

This is an excellent black and white 35mm film made in Europe and distributed in the USA for many years exclusively to schools. Teachers have known about this film for years. With most photography teachers abandoning film in favor of digital, substantial quantities have now become available for normal retail distribution.

The actual manufacturer of the light-sensitive film inside the cassette is unknown. It seems to expose and process exactly like Agfa. It is definitely not one of the former east-bloc films, nor is it from China.*

As you probably know, Agfa-Gevaert ended production of consumer goods in 2004, and the Agfa brand for consumer photography is now licensed to several German retail distributors. As a result, Agfa brand films are not widely available in North America. This is an excellent chance to stock up on a very fine modern Agfa film without paying for the brand name.

Because we order in wholesale quantities, we are able to bring this very good but little-known film to you at a price that is attractive to students. Though inexpensive, it will nonetheless richly reward the serious photographer.

Tests indicate these films are fresh, but the expiry date is unknown, and you should store them in your refrigerator or freezer.

I have tested several rolls, outdoors as well as indoors under controlled lighting. My personal belief is that these are re-packaged Agfa films, however I cannot prove that, and it may not be true. Either way, I have no hesitation in recommending this fine film, despite its low price.

Recommended minimum development times
(room temperature, approximately 68-70°F)
For more contrast, increase development time.

Developer	Time in Minutes
	ISO 100	ISO 400
D-76 Developer	9	10
D76 1:1	14	12
D23	11	n/a
Rodinal 1:50	13	12
Kodak HC110 1 + 31 (B)	7	6

*(Note: a customer told us that he has in his possession ProMax 35mm films that are made in China. However, the films we are offering are from Europe.)

35-100LAU
ISO 100, per roll:
(3-roll minimum)

Expose at ISO 100, and process in D76 1:1 for nine to eleven minutes

35-400LAU
ISO 400, per roll:
(3-roll minimum)

Expose at ISO 400, and process in D76 1:1 for ten to twelve minutes

For the truly frugal: Develop this film at home using instant coffee, vitamin C, and a few other common kitchen, laundry, and swimming-pool chemicals. Then scan the negatives and print on your inkjet or laser printer.
With this home-brew developer, you will experience some speed loss — shoot the ISO 400 film at ISO 100, or shoot the 100 film at 25. Either way, the results can be excellent. Click here for details.

Please note: the Frugal Photographer AMAZON STORE offers excellent name-brand 35mm films from Amazon's e-commerce partners. We scour Amazon regularly to bring you the best possible prices.

Process your own 35mm film at home. This is the only specialized equipment you need.

Compact Processing tank with two easy-load spiral reels.

Chemical-resistant plastic. Process color or black and white film, 35mm or 126 (one or two rolls at a time), plus 127, 120, 620, and 220 (one roll at a time).

Includes tank, light-proof lid with "wave motion" manual agitation rod, liquid-tight lid for agitation by shaking or rolling, two rapid-load spiral reels that adjust for 35mm, 126, 127, or 120/620/220, box, and instructions. The spiral reels feature wide, flat film guides that make film loading much easier and faster than conventional reels.

This is a very high quality injection-molded product made in Barcelona by A.P. Plastics. It is 100% compatible with the expensive Patterson tanks and reels available elsewhere. There is good reason to believe AP manufactures tanks and reels for Patterson.

Product APTAN ea.

No darkroom? All you need is this
film loading bag

This is a well-made double-layer fabric bag for handling light-sensitive materials, such as film, in daylight. It features a large double-zippered opening on one end, and elastic-lined wrist holes on the other. Totally light-proof.

Place your film and tank inside, close the double zippers, put your wrists in the sleeves, and handle your light-sensitive materials in complete safety.

Small bag, 17 inches square. More than adequate for the 35mm photographer. Product BAG1717

Medium and large format film bag, 27 x 30 inches. Truly a portable darkroom. Product DL-0188

Please note: the Frugal Photographer AMAZON STORE offers 100' rolls of excellent Ilford and Kodak bulk-load films.

If your local photo store no longer stocks film, you can load your own 35mm cartridges at home, in a dark room or using a dark-bag. One 100' (30.5m) bulk roll gives you 18 36-exposure rolls, plus some left over.

Buy empty, reloadable 35mm cassettes. Be sure they are the reloadable kind — the end caps must be removable without destroying the cartridge.

Load your dark bag with a can of bulk film, some cassettes, a 12" ruler, some masking tape, and scissors.

Inside the bag, remove the end cap from a cassette, and take out the spool.

Still inside the bag, measure and cut the film by feel to 5-1/2 feet, using the ruler (you'll soon get the hang of it). Tape one end to the spool ( be sure the long end of the spool faces the correct way) and roll it up, emulsion side in (the film curls naturally with its emulsion side in), leaving a short tongue. Insert it in the cassette, with the tongue sticking out of the cassette slot, and replace the end cap.

When you've reloaded all your cassettes, take them out of the bag and trim the ends of the tongues with scissors so you can load them into your camera.

Empty, re-loadable cassettes for making your own 35mm film loads from bulk rolls of film. You can load just over 18 36-exposure rolls from one 100-ft bulk roll of film. Good value!

Note: when you put the cap back on, be sure the long end of the film spindle protrudes from the cap, as per the photo above. If it protrudes from the other end of the cassette body, the cassette won't fit your camera.

Plastic: These are new, unused heavy plastic cassettes with end caps and spools. Will last for many years of heavy use. Per bag of 24

Product CASS35-24
24 for

Metal: These are new, unused metal cassettes with end caps and plastic spools. Thinner and lighter than our plastic version, identical to the cassettes used by manufacturers. With careful use, metal cassettes typically give twenty to thirty reloads. Per bag of 24.

Product MET-CASS35-24
24 for

You can load just over 18 36-exposure rolls from one 100-ft bulk roll of film. Good value!

You can also find unused metal cassettes in smaller quantities on our Amazon store.

Click here to order developer and fixer for processing your black and white films at home or on the road, using your new dark bag and processing tank.