Agfa A-3 Filter

hey all,

got 5 of these in a darkroom equipment deal, but after some searching, I can't seem to find out anything on these. Was this the comparable product to the Kodak #3 filter, for developing by inspection?

here's a picture of the packaging, along with the filter.

it's a tissue sandwiched between two pieces of 1/8" glass. they're approx 5"x7" in size





any ideas?

-Dan

Looks like it, but I wouldn't trust it. Never had any luck with development by inspection. The light has to be so dim that you can't see anything anyway. If it's not, it will fog the film. Heck, it might fog the film even if it is so dim that you can't see a damned thing. Someone, somewhere might find these things useful. I've never met anyone who has, nor have I ever seen any proof that it works. I've only heard stories that it can be done. I have seen proof that it's not as safe as you might think.

Frank,

I've been doing D.B.I. since earlier this year, even with roll films(in a meatloaf-style pyrex dish). All I can say is that I like the process, and even though the light is "dim", its actually quite bright after being in the dark for 10min or so .

takes some work, and I'm still perfecting my technique, but its hard to argue with E. Weston's work, he perfected D.B.I., Michael A. Smith and his wife, Paula, use this technique, as do many other people with great success.

I could see though, in a studio environment, where ALL the lighting variables can be controlled(to some degree), d.b.i. could be kinda pointless once you've got a system down, but if you photograph in natural light, even with un-natural light(studio), this technique, once mastered, can yield great results. And being able to soup negatives that might need a +, and some that need a - development, in the SAME tray, at the SAME time, it can be a time-saver.

just my $.02

-Dan

I've used a dark green filter in the darkroom lamp in the past, but TBH found it very dim...just enough to avoid falling over things when ones eyes had adapted, but not really bright enough for development by inspection.
I think that the description "indirectly" on the printed instructions means that it should not shine directly onto unprocessed film?

I have the light that I use, with a 15w bulb in it, shining at the corner of the ceiling, approx 3-3.5 feet away. Having a white ceiling helps bounce the light, helping to keep the light's "on" time short, because of a greater light value.

anyone know if this is the agfa variant of a #3 safelight filter from Kodak?

-Dan