120 Adox CHS

[darkprints]

A few years ago I tried 120 Adox CHS 50 Art, but gave up on it due to the extreme curl when dried, and also was not enthralled w/ the soft emulsion and having to use hardening fix.

Have these problems been fixed, or are they still the same?

 

[Rick A]

I dont mind the curl, its not too awfully bad. I leave a weighted clip on the end when drying, which helps tame the curl. As to a soft emulsion, I develope in Pyrocat-HD, which is more of a tanning developer than a staining one, which hardens the emulsion. The alternative is to use hardner in a presoak then develope.

 

[Роберт]

All Efke films are made on a Polyester base (also the 35mm since a few years) and they curl more.
About the soft emulsion, indeed a tanning developer or pre-harden the emulsion in a pre-soak.
In Rodinal (high pH, due to SodiumHydroxide) you can add a few drops of Formaline to harden. But for films in a regular reel development it's questionable doing it or not.

 

[darkprints]

Can anyone who has purchased 120 Adox CHS Art in the last few months verify whether it has a strong curl after processing?

 

[Rick A]

I am finishing up a 6month old batch of 25 art, and have 20 more rolls that just arrived last week to start on. I shoot it all the time, along with Arista EDU ultra 100, 120 and 4x5.

 

[rorye]

Yes, the 25 has a fairly strong curl on the latest batch but nothing uncontrollable.

 

[ntenny]

I haven't noticed any big changes in the degree of curl over the years. It's a pain, but I like the film enough to put up with its requirements for careful handling.

(Personally, I've never used a hardening fix with it and haven't had any problems that I could attribute to the notoriously soft emulsion. Your mileage may vary, though.)

-NT

 

[mhcfires]

I have learned to live with the curl. After cutting and sleeving the dried film strip, I reverse roll it in a paper towel tube. a few days in the tube and it is somewhat civilized and easier to work with.

 

[marcmarc]

I've been using the 50 and 100 for the last six months or so. The curl seems less then it did six years ago (under the Efke name but the same film). However, once I use up my batch, I won't be replacing it with Adox/Efke because on numerous rolls the first (or is it the last) frame is exposed so close to the edge of the roll that not only is it near impossible to attach a clamp to hang the roll to dry without ruining the frame. Besides, on a number of these frames the light leaks are too severe anyway. Now that this brand of film costs more then its Ilford counterparts, I find this unacceptable. It's a shame because I've always like the look of these films best.

 

[Stan160]

Now that this brand of film costs more then its Ilford counterparts, I find this unacceptable. It's a shame because I've always like the look of these films best.

Really? Where are you buying it from? From my usual supplier in the UK a 120 roll of Ilford FP4+ is 40% more expensive than Adox CHS 50.

 

[marcmarc]

I live in LA so I buy from Freestyle which is the only place around that carries Adox. Right now a roll of 120 Pan F+ is $4.49 and a 120 roll of Adox/Efke 50 (or 100) is $4.99. It's only a $.50 margin, but with as much as I shoot it adds up to a fair amount of pocket change that I can put toward paper or other materials.

 

[marcmarc]

Oops again. Ilford Pan F+ 120 is actually $4.79 a roll, fp4+ 120 is $4.49 Adox is holding on to $4.99 for all speeds and formats.