Acros Thoughts?

jp80874 · Aug 11, 2009

colrehogan said:
John,
have you checked with Badger Graphic or Midwest Photo Exchange? As far as I know, they both have sold Fuji Acros sheet film in the past. I got my last 8x10 Acros from Mpex. I have also purchased from Megaperls (which now goes by the name of Japan Exposures) Dead Link Removed

Diane,

Thank you. Looking today I did not see 8x10 on Badger's website. Midwest does have it with the warning that one should email or call to check inventory. Jim is just down the road from me, well 125 miles. I will check.

Has anyone tried Acros sheet film developed with rollo pyro in a jobo? What results?
I use it on both T Max 400 and Ilford 4&5.

Thanks,

John Powers

Andrew Moxom · Aug 11, 2009

ACROS in my opinion is a stunning film. It's my 100 speed film of choice. I've gotten great results with it in Rodinal 1:50, and in Diafine. I could not get along with it in Pyrocat though and it made the images look kind of too slick and plastic like. I like some grain, and the Pyrocat really minimized it to a point where focusing under the enlarger was a problem. Diafine and Rodinal both produce some grain that is easily seen for focusing. Reciprocity is also amazing, and is great for long exposures up to 2 minutes without adding in reciprocity compensation. I find that rating it at box speed for Diafine works amazingly well and is what I use most of the time. 4 minutes in each bath at 69 to 70 F, and beautiful negs result. For Rodinal at 1:50, I rate the film at about 64 to 80 for long subject brightness ranges and develop for 11 minutes agitating once for 10 seconds every minute. For normal contrast ranges, I rate at box speed and develop in Rodinal 1:50 for 13 minutes.

Calumet currently has the best prices in the US @ $2.79 per roll.

Vonder · Aug 11, 2009

Andrew Moxom said:
Calumet currently has the best prices in the US @ $2.79 per roll.

While I agree with all you said, Adorama is currently selling 120 rolls for $2.69 and 35mm for $3.95 - and they have the 35mm in stock.

Leighgion · Aug 11, 2009

I've only shot two rolls of Acros and one of those in an Agfa Clack, but I find a lot to like. Very fine-grain and smooth tones.

The only negative I really can bring up is the flipside of its virtues. I generally prefer more contrast, so Acros isn't going to become my film of choice because it's look is just too mellow.

Robert Budding · Aug 11, 2009

Acros in XTOL is amazing!

ajuk · Aug 11, 2009

How can it be a buck a roll cheaper than Fuji?

Andrew Moxom · Aug 11, 2009

you mean ilford or kodak?... the prices of fuji film from Calumet or as I learned Adorama, are over a buck cheaper than either of the other two big names.

sanking · Aug 11, 2009

I just had a 44X60" print made from a 6X7 cm Acros negative. The print is stunningly sharp, and is virtually grain free.

For development I used two-bath Pyrocat-HD, 5+5 minutes at 72F, 1:10 dilution.

The attached file may give you some idea of how this combination works. I think the result is pretty much impossible to beat with any other ASA 100 film/developer combination.

In the attachment you are looking at an image file generated from a scan at 5080 spi with a dedicated film scanner. The tree trunk is at approximately 125 feet away from the camera. On the original file you can clearly see all of the veins in some of the leaves near the top of the crop.

Sandy King

onnect17 · Aug 11, 2009

sanking said:
I just had a 44X60" print made from a 6X7 cm Acros negative. The print is stunningly sharp, and is virtually grain free.
...
Sandy King

Hello Sandy,
Which camera/lens/scanner did you used for the shot?
Thanks!
Armando.

sanking · Aug 11, 2009

onnect17 said:
Hello Sandy,
Which camera/lens/scanner did you used for the shot?
Thanks!
Armando.

Hi Armando,

Mamiya 7II on tripod -- 65mm lens at f/11, 1/15 second exposure -- Leafscan 45, (with two passes and stitch).

Sandy

brofkand · Aug 11, 2009

Andrew Moxom said:
you mean ilford or kodak?... the prices of fuji film from Calumet or as I learned Adorama, are over a buck cheaper than either of the other two big names.

Yes I do mean Ilford or Kodak. A buck a roll cheaper for a brand name film are some real savings.

So the general consensus is Acros is good stuff? I'll throw a few rolls into my rolling cart with Freestyle. Seems like every time I have an order fulfilled, before it's even arrived I have another order at the ready for the next payday

Currently I'm buying up stuff for school, hence the question. I realize that Calumet is a little cheaper than Freestyle, but I like Freestyle's way of doing business. I can call them and get a technical question answered, and they don't squander their resources selling mostly digital stuff and some film.

Looks like Acros will be replacing Foma (or Arista EDU) for my next class. Thank goodness. I hate Foma stuff but I can't really afford to pay $4 a roll for the amount of film I'll need.

onnect17 · Aug 11, 2009

sanking said:
Hi Armando,

Mamiya 7II on tripod -- 65mm lens at f/11, 1/15 second exposure -- Leafscan 45, (with two passes and stitch).

Sandy

Thanks for the quick response! Quite sharp. I can almost touch the leaves.
Any details on the print itself? Any exhibit on the way? ;-)

sanking · Aug 11, 2009

onnect17 said:
Thanks for the quick response! Quite sharp. I can almost touch the leaves.
Any details on the print itself? Any exhibit on the way? ;-)

Details of what kind?

Sandy

onnect17 · Aug 11, 2009

sanking said:
Details of what kind?

Sandy

Sorry. Darkroom or inkjet?
Armando

sanking · Aug 11, 2009

onnect17 said:
Sorry. Darkroom or inkjet?
Armando

Hi Armando,

APUG does not allow this discourse. Wish it did.

Sandy

clayne · Aug 11, 2009

sanking said:
Hi Armando,

APUG does not allow this discourse. Wish it did.

Sandy

I'm pretty sure APUG does not care about discussing a single print whether it was inkjet or traditional. It only cares when topics start dominating in a single direction.

onnect17 · Aug 11, 2009

sanking said:
Hi Armando,

APUG does not allow this discourse. Wish it did.

Sandy

Sorry Sandy,
I guess the word "inkjet" is marked as obscene. Lucky you if the devil does not go after you for using "scanner". In any case, thanks for the implied answer.
Armando.

sanking · Aug 11, 2009

clayne said:
I'm pretty sure APUG does not care about discussing a single print whether it was inkjet or traditional. It only cares when topics start dominating in a single direction.

You could be right. But I am not sure at all.

Sandy

brofkand · Aug 11, 2009

sanking,

I'm just up the road a piece from you, about an hours' north of Charlotte.

The detail your camera picked up on that tree is astounding.

Does anyone have anything bad to say about Acros?

2F/2F · Aug 11, 2009

brofkand said:
sanking,

I'm just up the road a piece from you, about an hours' north of Charlotte.

The detail your camera picked up on that tree is astounding.

Does anyone have anything bad to say about Acros?

Only that it is not the tool for every situation in which I want a medium-speed film, due to its contrast and grain characteristics. Therefore, I would only say that it would be a "bad film" for certain pictures that I want to print, but not in general.

sanking · Aug 11, 2009

brofkand said:
sanking,

I'm just up the road a piece from you, about an hours' north of Charlotte.

The detail your camera picked up on that tree is astounding.

Does anyone have anything bad to say about Acros?

Hi there, North Carolina, from your South Carolina neighbor.

Thanks for your kind comments.

To answer your questions, I am sure there must be someone who will complain about Acros.

But Acros with Pyrocat-HD sure seemed to work nicely in this case.

However, if what one wants from this format is pronounced grain and poor sharpness Acros is probably not your film.

Sandy

clayne · Aug 12, 2009

brofkand said:
sanking,

I'm just up the road a piece from you, about an hours' north of Charlotte.

The detail your camera picked up on that tree is astounding.

Does anyone have anything bad to say about Acros?

I tend to consider it tonally boring, personally. It's sharp and attentive - but it lacks a bit of character in my opinion.

P C Headland · Aug 12, 2009

Chris Nielsen said:
Sorry, a little OT here, but where in NZ do you get your Rodinal from? I have never seen anyone carry it around here

I got mine from a store on Haarlemerdijkstraat....

I bought back 3 bottles from Holland, and I've still got 2.5 left!

You could ask WPS in Wellington if they can get it. Alternatively, you could make some "Parodinal" - the ingredients are easy enough to get, and it shouldn't be too hard to make. There are a few people on APUG who use it.

Chris Nielsen · Aug 12, 2009

P C Headland said:
I got mine from a store on Haarlemerdijkstraat....

I bought back 3 bottles from Holland, and I've still got 2.5 left!

You could ask WPS in Wellington if they can get it. Alternatively, you could make some "Parodinal" - the ingredients are easy enough to get, and it shouldn't be too hard to make. There are a few people on APUG who use it.

Oh.

Okay, WPS is the easier of the two choices, I'll see if they can help

Cheers!

Robert Budding · Aug 12, 2009

clayne said:
I tend to consider it tonally boring, personally. It's sharp and attentive - but it lacks a bit of character in my opinion.

Lacks character? You are kidding, right?

Acros Thoughts?

Attachments

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency