Adox interview with Mirko Böddecker

nicolasllasera · Apr 3, 2019

During the Film Foto Fair in Helsinki I had the pleasure of having some time to talk to Mirko Böddecker CEO of Adox.

Hope you enjoy it, there are updates on 120, the chemical manufacturing and more.

Thank you!

David Allen · Apr 3, 2019

Very interesting interview.

Mirko and his team are doing sterling work and should be congratulated by all of us in the B&W analogue world.

I used to love using Polywarmtone not for it's warmtone but for the lovely tonality that it gave when processed in Dokumol and lightly selenium toned.

Bests,

David.
www.dsallen.de

Tom Kershaw · Apr 3, 2019

Some more great content from ADOX. I'm looking forward to trying the Polywarmtone when released. I only have a single box of 9 1/2" x 12" from the Forte production.

chris77 · Apr 3, 2019

David Allen said:
Very interesting interview.

Mirko and his team are doing sterling work and should be congratulated by all of us in the B&W analogue world.

I used to love using Polywarmtone not for it's warmtone but for the lovely tonality that it gave when processed in Dokumol and lightly selenium toned.

Bests,

David.
www.dsallen.de

YES!
Thank you Mirko for the good work.
Just received another box of marchandise.
As always, quick, well packed and fair priced!
Weiter so!
Chris

ps. looking forward to polywarmtone.
and more.

Trask · Apr 3, 2019

I’m grateful that all concerned got together to make this video, because it’s (A) an interesting topic addressed by (B) intelligent and informed individuals concerning a an issue of importance to most of us here on Photrio. I do wish Mirko had said more about Silvermax — I note that Freestyle is showing a new-to-me Silvermax cartridge on its webpages, albeit out of stock. And it certainly would have been interesting to get Mirko’s thoughts on Ferrania. Given what he said about the difficulties of manufacturing film I imagine he would view their efforts with sympathy, so hearing what he thought on that topic would have been of interest. All in all, sounds like Mirko and colleagues are getting closer and closer to having a solid production capability that may see us into the future of film. More power to them.

pentaxuser · Apr 3, 2019

Interesting video and Mirko reinforces my impression of his being in the analogue market for the long haul. When he mentioned his warmtone paper v say Ilford warmtone he used the word stability, admitting, I think, that his paper was not in the same league as Ilford in those terms but I was not sure if his use of the word stability had any reference to longevity i.e. was he saying that his new warmtone is more versatile but has maybe a shorter shelf life but I am not sure if this is the right conclusion

I think this reference to stability referred only to the new warmtone and not to the RC MCP paper such that users need have no concern that a pack of MCP paper has a shorter life than say Ilford or Kentmere RC paper.

Have I got that right? Thanks

pentaxuser

Tom Kershaw · Apr 3, 2019

pentaxuser said:
Interesting video and Mirko reinforces my impression of his being in the analogue market for the long haul. When he mentioned his warmtone paper v say Ilford warmtone he used the word stability, admitting, I think, that his paper was not in the same league as Ilford in those terms but I was not sure if his use of the word stability had any reference to longevity i.e. was he saying that his new warmtone is more versatile but has maybe a shorter shelf life but I am not sure if this is the right conclusion

I think this reference to stability referred only to the new warmtone and not to the RC MCP paper such that users need have no concern that a pack of MCP paper has a shorter life than say Ilford or Kentmere RC paper.

Have I got that right? Thanks

pentaxuser

I don't think Mirko is referring to 'stability' in terms of longevity, more that ILFORD product is stable in response to different developers and toners etc. whereas ADOX is prepared to produce a product that may be more responsive to developer and toning / process variation, especially directed to those with more printing experience who want that flexibility.

Tom

1kgcoffee · Apr 3, 2019

Big fan of your channel, Nico. I was not aware how dire the situation was in terms of profit margins. I shoot mainly colour but when it comes time to order foma and adox it will be through fotoimpex.

Sean · Apr 4, 2019

Great interview Nico, thanks for sharing! Mirko and his team, what an epic journey they have travelled to bring us these products, as always wishing them all the best.

MattKing · Apr 4, 2019

For those who weren't already aware, even with all their challenges, Adox still sees the wisdom of being a supporting Photrio Partner funding this community.

darkosaric · Apr 4, 2019

Honest, humble, realistic, enthusiastic, competent ... that is Adox!

Henning Serger · Apr 4, 2019

Hello Nicolas,

thank you very much for your very good work. Not only with this excellent interview, but with your commitment to film photography and your youtube channel in general.

I have seen lots of (film) photography companies and factories from the inside over the years: Camera manufacturers, lab equipment manufacturers, big and small labs, big distribution companies, photo chemistry manufacturing and film and paper manufacturing (including Ilford, Polaroid, Film Ferrania and Adox). And I have to say the commitment and enthusiasm of the Adox team is really impressive. Especially considering the extremely difficult market situation with the extremely low margins. These guys are working extremely hard. And they have built up all nearly "from scratch". A little "miracle" .

Best regards,
Henning

Team ADOX · Apr 4, 2019

nicolasllasera said:
During the Film Foto Fair in Helsinki I had the pleasure of having some time to talk to Mirko Böddecker CEO of Adox.

Hope you enjoy it, there are updates on 120, the chemical manufacturing and more.

Thank you!

Dear Nicolas,
thank you very much for doing all the work with this video and your youtube channel. We know how much work is needed to run such a channel with regular videos. And all that in addition to your normal daily job which makes your living! We really appreciate your work. All the best to you.

Team ADOX
www.adox.de
www.facebook.com/ADOXPHOTO
www.instagram.com/ADOXPHOTO

Team ADOX · Apr 4, 2019

Dear photrio members,
thank you all very much for your kind words and your support!

Tom Kershaw said:
I don't think Mirko is referring to 'stability' in terms of longevity, more that ILFORD product is stable in response to different developers and toners etc. whereas ADOX is prepared to produce a product that may be more responsive to developer and toning / process variation, especially directed to those with more printing experience who want that flexibility.

Tom

Yes Tom, exactly. You have hit the nail and explained it very precisely. Thank you.

Team ADOX
www.adox.de
www.facebook.com/ADOXPHOTO
www.instagram.com/ADOXPHOTO

Team ADOX · Apr 4, 2019

Sean said:
Great interview Nico, thanks for sharing! Mirko and his team, what an epic journey they have travelled to bring us these products, as always wishing them all the best.

Thank you very much, Sean!
We really appreciate your outstanding work offering such a nice forum to the film photography community. It is an honour for us being here.
And we will continue to support your work, photrio and the whole film photographer community.

Team ADOX
www.adox.de
www.facebook.com/ADOXPHOTO
www.instagram.com/ADOXPHOTO

pentaxuser · Apr 4, 2019

Thanks Tom for your answer. It made sense to me and Mirko has confirmed this is the correct interpretation

pentaxuser

Tom Kershaw · Apr 4, 2019

Team ADOX said:
Dear photrio members,
thank you all very much for your kind words and your support!

Yes Tom, exactly. You have hit the nail and explained it very precisely. Thank you.

Team ADOX
www.adox.de
www.facebook.com/ADOXPHOTO
www.instagram.com/ADOXPHOTO

From Mirko's comments ADOX seems very much connected to what photographers and darkroom workers want in a product, and aware of the scope of the market.

iandvaag · Apr 5, 2019

Yup, ADOX is on the obviously right path and they've got a great leader in Mirko. I think visionary is absolutely the appropriate word with regard to his philosophy of ADOX's position in the analog market going forward. He's got his finger on the pulse of the industry. Keep up the great work!

Thanks also to Nico for the interview, excellent content. This type of content is especially important to give exposure to companies of high integrity like ADOX who don't over hype things, and thus don't get as much exposure in the wider film community (beyond the walls of Photrio).

Prest_400 · Apr 6, 2019

Not much to add over what other members have said already. I do wonder about how the positioning about a 400 film may be changing (min 17:40), recalling that Adox did have an APX substitute with a test manufacture years ago; Halted due to having strong positioned films already and formulating CHSII after Fotokemika Efke demise. Good signs from the new entrants into the 400 B&W market...

Thanks Nico, Mirko and Adox for everything. Mirko has been an excellent communicator here and I always kept an eye on what they have been doing as they are bearing the future for film.

franksilva · Apr 11, 2019

Who knows or can share more info about Mirko Böddecker will be very thankful! Interesting and uncommon person, I'm inspired

Team ADOX · Apr 11, 2019

franksilva said:
Who knows or can share more info about Mirko Böddecker will be very thankful! Interesting and uncommon person, I'm inspired

Hi Frank,
our CEO Mirko Böddecker has been a very passionate photographer and film enthusiast since his youth. And now he is a very passionate entrepreneur, too. He founded Fotoimpex as a young student during his time at the University (in Berlin). And some years later he revived the ADOX brand and founded the "ADOX Fotowerke GmbH" as a manufacturing company for film, photo paper, photo chemistry and photo accessoires.
You may have a look at the history and timeline of Fotoimpex and ADOX:
https://www.fotoimpex.de/website/the-fotoimpex-story/
http://www.adox.de/Photo/category/new-factory-building-2017/
http://www.adox.de/Photo/category/news-en/

Team ADOX
www.adox.de
www.facebook.com/ADOXPHOTO
www.instagram.com/ADOXPHOTO

Tom Kershaw · Apr 11, 2019

Great to see some of the older photos from the early days of Fotoimpex. Wonderful to see a full display of enlargers in a physical shop.

Tom

traveler_101 · Apr 12, 2019

I wonder how many people here buy ADOX film? Has anyone evaluated their different films? It would seem like a good idea to support smaller companies that will be in it for the long term. Besides Ferrania, are there other small artisan firms around?

Dali · Apr 12, 2019

traveler_101 said:
I wonder how many people here buy ADOX film? Has anyone evaluated their different films? It would seem like a good idea to support smaller companies that will be in it for the long term. Besides Ferrania, are there other small artisan firms around?

I don't buy ADOX films as I mainly use 400 ISO, but I support their Polywarmtone paper project as I committed to buy some 8x10 boxes..

ADOX Fotoimpex · Apr 12, 2019

There is an update in the new factory building blog about the last 6 week´s achievements: http://www.adox.de/Photo/progress-in-march-and-april/

Mirko

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