FPP Frankenstein 200 Film!

For the past several years, the Film Photography Project Store has been introducing a monster-themed black and white film.  One of the reasons is that people love films with great packaging, and it certainly helps if the film itself can give good results.  Their line of "Monster Films" are hand-picked by Mike Raso to give consumers a taste of different films they might otherwise not consider.  The Dracula 64 is one of my favorite films with good contrast and fine grain.  Last year, the FPP introduced Wolfman 100 in both 35mm and 120, and this year, 2021, they came out with Frankenstein 200 in 35mm,  120, 620,AND 4x5. A big surprise was the release of Dracula 64 in 120, which I am quite excited about.

I'm not going to go and tell you what these films actually are -- that sort of spoils the fun - but if you are familiar with their line of film stocks, you can probably figure it out.  Besides, isn't it great when someone asks what you are shooting with and you can say "Frankenstein 200?"

Due to the wonderfully rendered monsters on each film label, I think that these films sell quite well, and the results from them are scary good. You don't have to save them for Halloween - any time of the year is good.  So, let's take a look at the latest Frankenstein 200.   

Frankenstein 200 is a medium speed panchromatic film that conveniently fills the gap between ISO 100 and 400.  In the color world, ISO 200 is a common ISO, but not so much in the monochrome world.  In older cameras that may not have 1/500 sec shutter speeds (and in the Hexar AF, a not so vintage camera, 1/250 sec is the max), Frankenstein 200 gives you a nice option.  It's a medium-grain film that has a traditional look to it, and it does well with the common D-76 developer.  Since it's also available in 120 and 4x5, that gives the larger format users something that's reasonably priced at ISO 200. 

Developer-wise you have a few options:

• Kodak D76 - Stock Solution / 20°C/ 5-6 min
• Kodak D76 - 1+1 / 20°C/ 8-9 min
• FPP D96 - Stock solution / 20°C/ 7 min
• Kodak HC-110 - Dilution B / 20°C/ 4 minutes or Dilution H (1+63) for 9 min
• Kodak X-Tol - Stock solution /20°C/ 6 min

I shot two rolls - one with my Leica M2, and one in my Nikon FE2.  Each roll was shot on separate trips, and I thought my results were very good.  Both were developed in D-76 1:1 for 8.5 min.

grain elevator, Tucumcari, NM
Leica M2 with 35 f/1.4 Summilux

Cuervo, NM ghost town
Leica M2 with 35 f/1.4 Summilux

Cuervo, NM ghost town
Leica M2 with 35 f/1.4 Summilux

Virginia Rest area, Nikon FE2

Glen Jean Bank, WV, Nikon FE2

Kent Square, Pittsburgh, PA, Nikon FE2

I really like this film, and you should give it a try.

I don't know what's in the works for next year, but I hope that Mummy 400 is under wraps until then.