Color negative film · Discontinued

ORWO NC 19

ORWO NC 19 is a color negative film rated at ISO 64, developed in ORWO 5166 / 5168. Below: specs, an exposure guide and similar stocks.

ISO 64ORWO 5166 / 5168Discontinued135SL127
ISO 64
Box speed
Color negative
Type
ORWO 5166 / 5168
Process
Discontinued
Status
1972–1990
Years made

Film specifications#

Manufacturer
ORWO
Film
NC 19
Speed
64
Process
ORWO 5166 / 5168
Formats
135, SL, 127, 120, sheet film
Base
T/P
Made in
GDR
Status
Discontinued — replaced by ORWOCOLOR NC 21

Character & history#

Improved version of NC 19 Mask. "Mask" was dropped from the name c1979. Roll and sheet films had PET base. 35mm formats discontinued in 1987, other formats continued production until 1990. Last 120 films expired 1993.

Description adapted from Wikipedia’s “List of discontinued photographic films” (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Exposure guide at ISO 64#

Sunny 16 for this film: f/16 at 1/60 s in bright sun. Negative film tolerates 2–3 stops of overexposure; slide film needs accuracy within about ⅓–½ stop.

Lightf/2f/4f/8f/16
EV 16 · Snow / beach, bright sun—1/2500 s1/640 s1/160 s
EV 15 · Bright sun—1/1250 s1/320 s1/80 s
EV 14 · Hazy sun1/2500 s1/640 s1/160 s1/40 s
EV 13 · Cloudy-bright1/1250 s1/320 s1/80 s1/20 s
EV 12 · Overcast / open shade1/640 s1/160 s1/40 s1/10 s
EV 10 · Sunset1/160 s1/40 s1/10 s0.4 s
EV 8 · Bright interior1/40 s1/10 s0.4 s1.6 s
EV 5 · Home interior at night1/5 s0.8 s3.2 s13 s
EV 3 · City street at night0.8 s3.2 s13 s1 min

Push & pull options#

Tell your lab how many stops you pushed or pulled so development is adjusted for the whole roll.

AdjustmentRate the film atEffect
Pull 1 stopEI 32Lower contrast, finer grain
Push 1 stopEI 128More contrast and grain
Push 2 stopsEI 256Strong contrast, coarse grain, blocked shadows
Push 3 stopsEI 512Strong contrast, coarse grain, blocked shadows

Long exposures#

Most films suffer reciprocity failure beyond about 1 second: they need more exposure than the meter says. As a rule of thumb add ⅓–1 stop for 1–10 s and 1–2 stops beyond 10 s for older emulsions; modern T-grain films (and Fuji Acros) need much less. Check the manufacturer's datasheet.

More ORWO films#

Frequently asked questions#

What ISO is ORWO NC 19?

64 — set your meter to ISO 64 for box speed.

Is ORWO NC 19 still made?

No, it has been discontinued (1972–1990).

How do I develop ORWO NC 19?

ORWO 5166 / 5168 process.

Is ORWO NC 19 available in 35mm?

Yes — formats: 135, SL, 127, 120, sheet film.

Sources & licences#

Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources