Adox CMS 20 developed in Ars-Imago Fd - Printing test

DcAnalogue · Jun 21, 2015

Hi to all,

a while ago, I tested the CMS 20 with a new italian/swiss developer. That's because I read many people complaints about the dedicated developer. So, they were investigating about using this film with other commercial developers.

The first test was encouraging but I hadn't the possibility to print in a Darkroom until yesterday. I got some interesting results.

You can see/read more about the first test Here and the print test Here

pentaxuser · Jun 21, 2015

I applaud your efforts but have to say that unless you want to constantly produce very big enlargements or need to enlarge only a small section of the negative because you haven't got a telephoto lens then from all the reports I have seen in the Online Darkroom website this film seems to be more trouble than it is worth in terms of producing a decent negative especially at its box speed of 20.

Most of the time 20 in the U.K. necessitates a tripod and hand-held shots unless using say a 28mm wide angle lens at f5.6 would necessitate a shutter speed that negates the benefits of a high resolution film as the shutter speed would be far too low.

Even its own dedicated developer which is stated to give full box speed is expensive and seems to have its own problems.

It might be fine with a box speed of 20 in high summer in the Arizona desert or the Mediterranean countries except that from what I have heard high contrast scenes give this film problems as well.

On balance the cons of using this film seem to outweigh its pros and there is a danger that it may go the way of Gigabit film ( whoever hears of that so-called "miracle" film nowadays?).

I appreciate that this sounds negative and if it suits your needs then fine but I'd need a lot more evidence of its good qualities to convince me

Sorry

pentaxuser

Pioneer · Jun 21, 2015

I use it occasionally and have had some decent luck with it. I normally expose at EI12 and develop normally using the dedicated developer.

I picked up some in 120 roll film that I want to shoot in my Bessa II but I haven't gotten to it yet.

I do like the film and to me it resembles PanF a little bit.

CMS 20 requires some careful handling. Keeping contrast under control is important. I always use a tripod, I prefer to expose in overcast conditions to help reduce contrast, and I am very careful with my temperatures and times when developing. I have also observed that this film prefers lenses like my older, uncoated, Elmar 50 rather than the more clinical ZM Planar 50. When it works the resolution is awesome and the film has an awesome range of gray tones. I'll have to dig around and find some of my photos to scan.

I agree that it can be a bit of a bugger to work with, but when you do it right...WOW!

DcAnalogue · Jun 21, 2015

pentaxuser said:
I applaud your efforts but have to say that unless you want to constantly produce very big enlargements or need to enlarge only a small section of the negative because you haven't got a telephoto lens then from all the reports I have seen in the Online Darkroom website this film seems to be more trouble than it is worth in terms of producing a decent negative especially at its box speed of 20.

Most of the time 20 in the U.K. necessitates a tripod and hand-held shots unless using say a 28mm wide angle lens at f5.6 would necessitate a shutter speed that negates the benefits of a high resolution film as the shutter speed would be far too low.

Even its own dedicated developer which is stated to give full box speed is expensive and seems to have its own problems.

It might be fine with a box speed of 20 in high summer in the Arizona desert or the Mediterranean countries except that from what I have heard high contrast scenes give this film problems as well.

On balance the cons of using this film seem to outweigh its pros and there is a danger that it may go the way of Gigabit film ( whoever hears of that so-called "miracle" film nowadays?).

I appreciate that this sounds negative and if it suits your needs then fine but I'd need a lot more evidence of its good qualities to convince me

Sorry

pentaxuser

Hi Pentaxuser,
I didn't made these tests to convince people to use (or like) CMS 20.... I've just seen that many people wasn't satisfied with the dedicated developer and tested other commercial developers so, I tested a new one (with other films too), because it was recently on the market and almost unknown, to see e.g. if it can handle the contrast in Mediterranean country (where I live) .... and shared my humble experience with people who may be interested.... That's all....

Btw. I used a tripod (I stated it in first part of my cms 20 test) and I agree with you... with such a slow speed I don't think I'll ever use it handheld...

pentaxuser · Jun 21, 2015

DcAnalogue, you might like to have a look at the Online Darkroom site where the best result seems to have been achieved with HC110 and in what passes for a high contrast scene in what I think is a scene in the U.K.

At least HC110 is a developer that can be used for a lot of films with success

pentaxuser

DcAnalogue · Jun 22, 2015

pentaxuser said:
DcAnalogue, you might like to have a look at the Online Darkroom site where the best result seems to have been achieved with HC110 and in what passes for a high contrast scene in what I think is a scene in the U.K.

At least HC110 is a developer that can be used for a lot of films with success

pentaxuser

In fact, I started my test "after" I read about in OD.....

I apologize If I repeat myself but..... I'm not pretending to say anything but sharing my own experience with a new developer (which works with a lot of films as well).... Nothing less, nothing more...

Regards.

Adox CMS 20 developed in Ars-Imago Fd - Printing test

DcAnalogue

pentaxuser

Pioneer

DcAnalogue

pentaxuser

DcAnalogue

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency