Film specifications#
- Manufacturer
- Svema
- Film
- МЗ-3 (MZ-3)
- Speed
- 3
- Process
- B&W
- Formats
- 135
- Base
- Polyester (PET)
- Made in
- Ukraine
- Status
- In production
Character & history#
Very slow blue sensitive B&W film
Description adapted from Wikipedia’s “List of photographic films” (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Exposure guide at ISO 3#
Sunny 16 for this film: f/16 at 0.3 s in bright sun. Negative film tolerates 2–3 stops of overexposure; slide film needs accuracy within about ⅓–½ stop.
| Light | f/2 | f/4 | f/8 | f/16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EV 16 · Snow / beach, bright sun | 1/500 s | 1/125 s | 1/30 s | 1/8 s |
| EV 15 · Bright sun | 1/250 s | 1/60 s | 1/15 s | 1/4 s |
| EV 14 · Hazy sun | 1/125 s | 1/30 s | 1/8 s | 0.5 s |
| EV 13 · Cloudy-bright | 1/60 s | 1/15 s | 1/4 s | 1 s |
| EV 12 · Overcast / open shade | 1/30 s | 1/8 s | 0.5 s | 2 s |
| EV 10 · Sunset | 1/8 s | 0.5 s | 2 s | 8 s |
| EV 8 · Bright interior | 0.5 s | 2 s | 8 s | 30 s |
| EV 5 · Home interior at night | 4 s | 15 s | > 1 min | > 1 min |
| EV 3 · City street at night | 15 s | > 1 min | > 1 min | > 1 min |
Push & pull options#
Tell your lab how many stops you pushed or pulled so development is adjusted for the whole roll.
| Adjustment | Rate the film at | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Pull 1 stop | EI 2 | Lower contrast, finer grain |
| Push 1 stop | EI 6 | More contrast and grain |
| Push 2 stops | EI 12 | Strong contrast, coarse grain, blocked shadows |
| Push 3 stops | EI 24 | Strong 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.
Similar films#
Other black-and-white negative film around ISO 3.
More Svema films#
Frequently asked questions#
What ISO is Svema МЗ-3 (MZ-3)?
3 — set your meter to ISO 3 for box speed.
Is Svema МЗ-3 (MZ-3) still made?
Yes, it is currently in production (available).
How do I develop Svema МЗ-3 (MZ-3)?
B&W process. Traditional black-and-white development (e.g. D-76/ID-11, HC-110, Rodinal, XTOL) — easy to do at home.
Is Svema МЗ-3 (MZ-3) available in 35mm?
Yes — formats: 135.
Sources & licences#
- Wikipedia: List of photographic films — CC BY-SA 4.0
Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources