Acros 100 (120) Reciprocity Question

akfotog · Feb 6, 2013

I have been an avid shooter of Acros 100 for several years, and plan on doing some long exposure photography soon. My experience with films like Kodak TMax is that you have to adjust the exposure times for 2 seconds or more; however, in reading the data specs on Acros 120, it appears that no adjustments are necessary for exposures longer than 120 seconds. This seems to be an extremely long time, can this be true, and does anyone have any experience with long exposures with this film that can give any further insight? Thanks in advance.

Jeff L · Feb 6, 2013

Though I do not know the exact limit of Acros, I have read many places about it's amazing reciprocity characteristics.

Mainecoonmaniac · Feb 6, 2013

I'm a fairly new to Fuji Acros 120 and got some for a trip because I anticipated shooting in dim light and it's pretty amazing with long exposures. Here's a chart I found.

http://home.earthlink.net/~kitathome/LunarLight/moonlight_gallery/technique/reciprocity.htm

Robert Hall · Feb 6, 2013

akfotog said:
I have been an avid shooter of Acros 100 for several years, and plan on doing some long exposure photography soon. My experience with films like Kodak TMax is that you have to adjust the exposure times for 2 seconds or more; however, in reading the data specs on Acros 120, it appears that no adjustments are necessary for exposures longer than 120 seconds. This seems to be an extremely long time, can this be true, and does anyone have any experience with long exposures with this film that can give any further insight? Thanks in advance.

That is correct. It's an amazing film.

Do remember however that all black and white films can more easily be corrected for in the darkroom with over as opposed to under exposure.

akfotog · Feb 6, 2013

Thanks for the responses all. I love this film and can't wait to try long exposures with it.

Nightfly · Feb 6, 2013

I can attest to its amazing reciprocity. Feel free to review some recent work with Acros under moonlight and astrophotography. No other B&W film can match the characteristics of Acros in pure recording power under low light conditions.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12598495@N08/sets/72157632706581150/detail/

Mainecoonmaniac · Feb 6, 2013

Great work!

Nightfly said:
I can attest to its amazing reciprocity. Feel free to review some recent work with Acros under moonlight and astrophotography. No other B&W film can match the characteristics of Acros in pure recording power under low light conditions.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12598495@N08/sets/72157632706581150/detail/

I can see. Great job. I've always hated reciprocity failure with film. I get empty shadows and highlights blown out on my negs. Fuji Acros seems to have less of a problem. I've tried to tackle this problem with other films with stand development.

Rich Ullsmith · Feb 6, 2013

Amazing stuff there, Mister Fly. You got that dialed in pretty tight.

Klainmeister · Feb 6, 2013

I did a series of shots with moonlight where I didn't adjust for reciprocity. Looking at the negs laid out, anything past 6 minutes needs to be extended by 25%, but beyond that, I didn't shoot on the roll.

akfotog · Feb 6, 2013

Awesome work Nightfly, can't wait to try this.

Klainmeister · Feb 6, 2013

Nightfly said:
I can attest to its amazing reciprocity. Feel free to review some recent work with Acros under moonlight and astrophotography. No other B&W film can match the characteristics of Acros in pure recording power under low light conditions.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12598495@N08/sets/72157632706581150/detail/

Wow, just looked at these. Well done sir! Those are amazing!

Nightfly · Feb 6, 2013

Mainecoonmaniac said:
I can see. Great job. I've always hated reciprocity failure with film. I get empty shadows and highlights blown out on my negs. Fuji Acros seems to have less of a problem. I've tried to tackle this problem with other films with stand development.

Acros does keep good contrast over lengthy exposures without the shadows blocking up. Tonality can be somewhat flat in even lighting, but this can be addressed in post processing after scanning. I've used Xtol 1:1 standard development for all these images and it offers good accutance and fine grain. I'm pretty happy with the combination.

The only other films that can approach Acros in reciprocity are TMAX 100 and Delta 100. Acros has been the gold standard for night shooting for some time. It is a joy to shoot.

Jim

Nightfly · Feb 6, 2013

Thank you for the kind remarks guys. I also recommend Night Photography by Lance Keimig. Film and development choices are covered as well as exposure. A brief history of night photography highlights the books opening. Many examples of photography with Acros are covered.

chriscrawfordphoto · Feb 6, 2013

Here are a couple of multi-minute exposures done on Acros. These were both about 5 minute exposures.

akfotog · Feb 6, 2013

These are great as well Chris. I've got to get out and try this, thanks for sharing.

cjbecker · Feb 6, 2013

Not noting on long exposure, But Acros is one amazing film. I/m not a fan of t grain films but there is something about Acros. One of my 3 images that I've ever made, that I would call my best work was shot on Acros. I has such a beautiful curve and smoothness to it.

Richard S. (rich815) · Feb 6, 2013

Acros is unsurpassed for night shooting. I've used it extensively and have attended workshops with the above-mentioned Lance Kemig. Great guy, great knowledge. Most of my shots are done for about 5-10 minutes at f/5,6 depending on how much ambient light there is.

Here's a few examples of my work with Acros at night:

Mare Island Nocturne AlumNight Hasselblad500CM 80Planar 150Sonnar Acros D-76 by rich8155 (Richard Sintchak), on Flickr

Lee Vining CA Hasselblad500CM Acros D-76 by rich8155 (Richard Sintchak), on Flickr

Pt Bonita Hasselblad500CM 80Planar 150Sonnar Acros D-76 by rich8155 (Richard Sintchak), on Flickr

Portero Hill, China Basin ContaxRX 35PCDistagon Acros @100 Diafine by rich8155 (Richard Sintchak), on Flickr

my whole Acros/night Flickr set here:

http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Acros+night&w=38698047@N00&s=int

akfotog · Feb 6, 2013

Very nice work Rich. Will be starting to capture some images soon, thanks for sharing.

Richard S. (rich815) · Feb 6, 2013

akfotog said:
Very nice work Rich. Will be starting to capture some images soon, thanks for sharing.

Thanks, here's some great info from Lance Keimig:

http://www.thenightskye.com/wp-content/images/film-exposures-at-night.pdf

atomicthumbs · Feb 9, 2013

Acros is my favorite fine-grained film for landscapes and night work.

Midnight, Open Space Preserve by atomicthumbs, on Flickr

Coyote Land, Fog Sea by atomicthumbs, on Flickr

East Bay, North Bay by atomicthumbs, on Flickr

Chaparral Plains by atomicthumbs, on Flickr

Each of these is a sixteen-minute exposure on Acros at f/16, one night away from the full moon; the first two are 645, the second two are 6x7. I noticed very little effect from reciprocity failure in any of them.

Acros 100 (120) Reciprocity Question

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