Adox/Efke 25 - just developed first attempt with this film.

[digiconvert]

I remember now why I love this hobby

Having bought a roll of Adox 25 from retrophotographic over 12 months ago I recently plucked up the courage to try it out (you know how you get into a comfort zone when you start out !) and have just developed it. WOW !

The simple pleasure of looking at a set of developed negatives which you have exposed (manual metering) and developed is a really awesome experience, sending prints to a lab or printing a digital produced print does not compare in any way (I use both as well as darkroom work).

The film has produced what appear to be really good negs, in the hands of a really gifted individual they could be outstanding and I now have to wait until I have time to print them - just looking at the negs does for now !

OK I may be wierd to get so excited about this but I felt the need to share it with other similarly affilcted individuals.

 

[noseoil]

digi, glad you had good luck with the 25. It really is great film and can produce some outstanding images. Watch out for over exposure or over development with this stuff, as it builds contrast like nothing I've tried before, but it is a lot of fun to work with. Which developer did you use for your first attempt? Looking forward to seeing a print. tim

 

[Neal]

A lovely film, even just looking at the negatives. But you can't go by me. I've liked every film I've tried so far. :>)

Neal Wydra

 

[jim appleyard]

More peoples opinions on this film:http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00KicM

 

[digiconvert]

Tim ; I used R09 at the dilution recommended on Digital Truth (1 + 40 for 6 mins) > However I may use the info on the link Jim gave for future work.
Contrast is , as you said, incredible and the negs are a joy - it's film like this that makes LF seen soooo tempting.

Thanks for the comments - I've decided on the neg for the first print, just need the time to get it done and then I'll post it .

 

[noseoil]

Digi, great stuff for skin tones if there are no blemishes and a good complexion, also very nice for shiny, specular highlights. Try a couple of chrome motorcycles in full sun with a blue sky, hot stuff! Works very well with PMK pyro and pyrocat-hd developer. Holds highlights very well with a pyro developer. tim

 

[Mark Antony]

I like it in Rodinal 1:100 for 18 mins, highlights are superb and very easy to scan.
I write a kind of mini-test in my blog

http://photo-utopia.blogspot.com/

Great film!

 

[digiconvert]

The first print is at (there was a url link here which no longer exists) if you are interested.

 

[noseoil]

Digi, I left a comment for you on the image. Basically, a yellow filter really helps with skies. The pure blue sky will always be washed out with this film. A red filter is too much, so orange is as far as you will want to go for sky contrast with clouds.

For skin tones, I would not use a filter, but try a "normal" exposure if your development time is just right. I think you will be pleased if you try a portrait or two with it. Someone with good skin will be very pleased with the results. Someone with a few blemishes or red cheeks will be about as pleased as they would be if you were using Velvia 50 for their color portrait.

A low dilution for your developer, with extended times, is also a good choice. Since this film reacts almost violently to "normal strength" developers, a slower development gives you the ability to tailor times a bit more easily and still control high values. It also can deal well with edge values, as a slow development with longer times won't be a problem with large grain and clumping. Even with stand development, it is hard to see grain for regular enlarging.

Good job for your first attempt with the 25. tim

 

[Gary Holliday]

I like it in Rodinal 1:100 for 18 mins, highlights are superb and very easy to scan.
I write a kind of mini-test in my blog

http://photo-utopia.blogspot.com/

Great film!

Nice blog, I think we're on the same line of thinking when it comes to film choice. Have you thought of doing a comparison test, using the same scene and developer (Rodinal whatever) and comparing the tonal range side by side?

 

[Mark Antony]

Nice blog, I think we're on the same line of thinking when it comes to film choice. Have you thought of doing a comparison test, using the same scene and developer (Rodinal whatever) and comparing the tonal range side by side?

Thanks for the Kudos Gary.

Yes I thought about it, and it is possible I may try to do that. The main problem would be standardising on a Rodinal dilution, and dev time.
For instance the dev time for APX 400 is 30min at 1:50 which is crazy, if I was to test alongside Fomapan 400 at 1:50 for 11 mins I would say based on those manufacturer times Foma has a way better tonal range.
Yet experience has told me APX 400 is better at 20 mins and is capable of great results, same story with Plus-X and FP4.

What I've tried to do on my blog is shoot 3 films one at the box setting or digital truth start point, and then refine from there, by the third film you should have a time that you feel comfortable to recommend to others.

What I may do is a mini test of slow, then medium and fast with dev times.
But a lot of this is just opinion and personal preference depending on if you print or scan.
At the end of my film 'testing' I will do an opinion piece on what I feel are the best emulsions for me and the type of photography I do and hopefully by posting some results (although the web is terrible for judging quality)
That will give people a ballpark idea of the characteristic of each film.

Thank you again for reading my blog.
Regards
Mark

 

[Gary Holliday]

This may get expensive, but maybe just using the manufacturer's own recommended dev would be a fairer and less subjective test. On another thread we were talking about the Practical Photography tests from the early 90's which did great comparisons. They certainly helped me find a suitable film.

 

[Mark Antony]

Possibly but then you have emulsions like APX 400 that are really bad in Rodinal at recommended times, how would you rate sharpness of say FP4 in ID11 vs Fomapan in Foma Rodinal what would you dev Adox/EFKE in>
Too many variables to much could be called into question, better to just do an opinion based blog entry with examples.

BTW I remember one of the photo mags that did lens tests by pointing the camera out of their window at HMS Belfast on the Thames, obviously the variable light didn't worry them
Mark

http://www.photo-utopia.blogspot.com/