Adox HR-50 First Time User

[Andrew O'Neill]

Finally got some rolls of this interesting film, to see how it responds to various colour filters...mainly wanted to check out its infrared sensitivity.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I really do hope that Adox rolls this film out in 4x5...if not, I'll settle for 120! Just take a jumbo roll intended for 35, and slit it to 4x5. I don't mind the thin base. I got used to it with Rollei's IR!

 

[Sanug]

It is a great film. With red filtre, the extension factor is much lower compared to normal panchromatic film.

Canon 7s, Jupiter-12, red filtre.
HR-50, Adox XT-3, 1+3, 16 Min.

 

[Chuck_P]

Thanks for the video. I think the IR images win hands down. Among the other filtered frames my second I guess would be the ones with the orange filter from what I could tell......except the orange filtered image of the trees with the vehicles passing in the background. That series just looked underexposed mostly, others may see differently.

 

[Henning Serger]

Hello Andy,

in general I can confirm your results concerning the different filters. I am using Heliopan RG 715 filters (in different sizes for different lenses), which block light below 715 nanometer wave length, and I get wonderful IR shots with it.

Concerning the green filter: Sometimes I use it for portraits for a bit darker skin tone. Because HR-50 as a super-panchromatic film renders skin lighter compared to panchromatic films. And for people with a very light skin tone + the lighter rendering of the film, the end result is sometimes a bit too much, too light / bright.
In such cases the green filter is very helpful.

Concerning the Speed Boost technology: It works as intended: Improved CC, and better shadow detail. The results in my direct comparison tests of this film without and with Speed Boost have been very clear, and have proved it.
But I would rate the film at ISO 50/18° for me personally only in reversal processing with the ADOX SCALA kit.
As a negative film - and for classic optical printing with my Kaiser System V enlarger - I prefer E.I.'s in the range of 25/15° to 40/17°, depending on the used developer.
You have used E.I. 50/18° for FX-39 II, right? I am using E.I. of 25/15° with FX-39 II for optical printing.

Best regards,
Henning

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Hello Andy,

in general I can confirm your results concerning the different filters. I am using Heliopan RG 715 filters (in different sizes for different lenses), which block light below 715 nanometer wave length, and I get wonderful IR shots with it.

Concerning the green filter: Sometimes I use it for portraits for a bit darker skin tone. Because HR-50 as a super-panchromatic film renders skin lighter compared to panchromatic films. And for people with a very light skin tone + the lighter rendering of the film, the end result is sometimes a bit too much, too light / bright.
In such cases the green filter is very helpful.

Concerning the Speed Boost technology: It works as intended: Improved CC, and better shadow detail. The results in my direct comparison tests of this film without and with Speed Boost have been very clear, and have proved it.
But I would rate the film at ISO 50/18° for me personally only in reversal processing with the ADOX SCALA kit.
As a negative film - and for classic optical printing with my Kaiser System V enlarger - I prefer E.I.'s in the range of 25/15° to 40/17°, depending on the used developer.
You have used E.I. 50/18° for FX-39 II, right? I am using E.I. of 25/15° with FX-39 II for optical printing.

Best regards,
Henning

Yes, I exposed the roll at box speed, to take advantage of the speed boost (pre-exposure ) . As far as an improvement to shadows that the speed boost made, I cannot really tell because I never shot the pre-speed boost version. But... it did handle shadows quite well, which one can see in the photo of the building. The roll was developed in FX-39 II.

 

[loccdor]

I tried this film for the first time a month ago, taking some of it in infrared, in 35mm. Liked it a lot. Somewhat contrasty and limited dynamic range, but beautiful. What I shot was labeled Scala-50, but I believe it's the exact same stuff. For infrared I rated it at 6 ISO with a 720 filter. I developed in Rodinal 1+25 10 minutes at 22C and a gentle inversion every 3 minutes and didn't find it grainy.

 

[Sanug]

...and didn't find it grainy.

Yes, HR-50 has very fine grain. And it is very sharp with an effective anti-halation layer.

 

[loccdor]

Rodinal is known for making even some fine grain films grainy... but not this one.

 

[Chuck1]

Ooh!

 

[BAC1967]

I mostly just shoot it with a yellow filter. I rate it at 50 and develop it in beer. I hope they produce this in other formats.

Red-footed Boobies by Bryan Chernick, on Flickr

Aggie Grey's by Bryan Chernick, on Flickr

 

[Chuck1]

Would your share your recipe?
Is it a little less smelly than caffenol?
Does it work with cheap beer?

 

[BAC1967]

Would your share your recipe?
Is it a little less smelly than caffenol?
Does it work with cheap beer?

I only use cheap beer. It does smell like stale beer but not overpowering. My recipe is here in my Flickr Beerenol group. Beerenol

 

[Alan Johnson]

Nice work Andy, I will study your results as only shot HR-50 without a filter so far.

 

[pentaxuser]

Would your share your recipe?
Is it a little less smelly than caffenol?
Does it work with cheap beer?

You might want to watch Greg Davis' video on developing with beer in terms of another view on smell and efficacy

pentaxuser

 

[xkaes]

Too bad it doesn't come in bulk rolls.

 

[BAC1967]

Too bad it doesn't come in bulk rolls.

It does, or it did. Currently out of stock. I have 2 bulk rolls.

fotoimpex

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

It does, or it did. Currently out of stock. I have 2 bulk rolls.

fotoimpex

Too bad it's sold out...

 

[250swb]

It's a very versatile film giving lots of options with the use of filters. I use FX-39 for developing and just 'swish' it around the tank once every minute. I landed on FX-39 after reading Alex Luyckx's article on developers for HR-50 here - http://www.alexluyckx.com/blog/2021/08/09/film-review-blog-no-74-adox-hr-50/

 

[xkaes]

Too bad it's sold out...

If anyone notices it back in stock -- IN BULK ROLLS -- give us all a shout out!!!

 

[lamerko]

Too bad it's sold out...

Watch for stock at Fotoimpex - this is Adox's store. In the last 5-6 months there have been restocks at least twice - I already have two 100ft rolls. But I'm definitely waiting for the promised 120 format!

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Keeping my eyes peeled!
@ADOX Fotoimpex

 

[relistan]

I also like this film! I have not used it with a filter, but got some photos I like a lot with it:


and

 

[blee1996]

Other than the IR capabilities, what do you all think about HR-50 vs good old Ilford Pan F+? I'm about to get a bulk roll, and am debating which to get.

I have been using Pan F+ for a while, and get consistently good results with Adox FX-39 II (1+9) or Clayton F76.

I only tried HR-50 once, with same FX-39 II, but find the contrast a bit harsher than Pan F+.

 

[Sanug]

Yes, HR-50 has high contrast. This may be an issue if you scan. I do wet printing only and I am fine with the high contrast. However, the exposure must be correct, there is no big tolerance.

I have no comparision with Pan F, but with Orwo NP15. HR-50 has the same finest grain and very good sharpness, but a more modern look than NP15. Both have good anti halation layers.

Don't forget, HR-50 is superpanchromatic with higher sensitivity for red and near infrared, while Pan F and NP15 are classical panchromatic films with normal contrast.