Agfa APX 100 currently being sold by Ultrafine (Photo Warehouse)

[bluesun267]

It's been gnawing at me for a couple weeks since I ordered Ultrafine's "store brand" Agfa APX 100 film in 24 exposure rolls. When I received the film it clearly wasn't APX 100--The canisters were marked "Mitsubishi Gekko" MW 100, "Made in Europe" and the film had a sort of greenish/gray emulsion with gray base. I had one last roll of original APX 100 (2010 expiration) for comparison and it has a grey emulsion with opaque black base.

I gave them a call, thinking it was a mistake--the guy checked and said no, it was not a mistake, but he kindly offered to take it back and refund the money if I wasn't satisfied. What bothered me more was they were super-insistent this was indeed the last of the APX 100, making up some nonsense about how Agfa changed the emulsion at the last minute before they stopped making it altogether. So I agreed to test a roll. Upon developing, edge markings revealed "UP 100+" with dim, off center frame numbers. And the developing times for Rodinal 1:50 were more like 12 minutes, not the usual 18 with genuine APX 100. Of course the developed image was not even close to APX 100. Now I've been shooting B&W for many years and remembered MACO UP 100+ from about a decade ago. It's a nice film but definitely NOT Agfa.

Further research reveals Mitsubishi Gekko MW 100 to be a re-branding of MACO UP 100+ which is a re-branding of EFKE KB100, a.k.a. ADOX CHS 100. Heaven knows how old this stuff is, though it didn't show any appreciable base fog.

I decided to keep the 10 rolls because it's a decent film, and at a $1.99 not going to break the bank. But I think potential buyers should be aware of this blatant case of false advertising. Photo Warehouse probably lost my future business because of this--any customer has a right to know what they are getting. I wouldn't want to receive any more "acceptable alternatives" to what I believe I'm ordering.

best regards,
Tim

 

[pentaxuser]

Tim, it seems to me that we are living in a business world where pursuing the "search for wisdom and truth" is for losers. We have at least one if not two generations both of whom work in and now even run companies at middle and senior level management who were never taught about truth and integrity. If this isn't built in to both education and parenting systems then we cannot expect future generations to fear the visitation of that terrible spectre called "guilty conscience" in the small hours of the night that keeps most of society on the "straight and narrow"

I see things that makes me genuinely fear for the future behaviour of the species. I would have laughed at anyone saying this a few years ago and now it's me saying it

pentaxuser

 

[CGW]

With respect, the original APX100 we knew and loved is over. Seems to be a large-ish con afoot to convince people otherwise.

 

[bluesun267]

Yeah, I have to agree with you both. I had read so much about there being much left-over APX 100 "pancakes", it re-kindled the fantasy I would be able to use it one last time. But really, it is going on 7 years since they stopped making it, so to be wise, anything you find now, unless it is in a sealed Agfa box with an embossed date of 2010 or earlier, is probably not going to be the real thing.

As for the future, I fear the health of our species too. But I wasn't laughing a few years ago--just hoping it wouldn't come true as fast and as furious as it seems to be now.

best wishes to all--

 

[Leigh B]

Tim, it seems to me that we are living in a business world where pursuing the "search for wisdom and truth" is for losers.

That depends entirely on how you define "winning".

If you have no ethics nor morals, winning is defined by the size of your paycheck.

Others define it differently.

- Leigh

 

[Jedidiah Smith]

Very unfortunate, and I'm sorry to hear about it. Sure does wonder at what point people will perpetuate a falsehood just to make a buck. Insane, really. Well, APX100 sure was an awesome film - just had a certain bite / sparkle to the way the highlights came off.
Maybe Plus-X with a slightly increased acutence over what straight D76 gives you would make an "OK" substitute for your future shooting?

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

Always been lots of rumor, and some claim true, that Tura P100 is APX100. I have a few bulk rolls frozen that I got a few years ago on eBay. Have not seen it too often. I might pull out and spool some up soon.....

 

[NB23]

I found a seller on ebay germany, about 4 months ago, that was selling 100' rolls. The last I saw in the past 3 years. I was madly searching for some o that film when the idea arose that if I was going to find some, it would be in or from Germany. I purchased his last 4 bulk rolls and he's disappeared ever since.

I'm keeping my APX for the very special occasions, like when traveling aroind the world.
Amazing stuff.

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

Just found a non-bulk roll of the Tura P100 I forgot I had. Here's what it looks like:

 

[bwfans]

Ultrafine actually listed Mitsubishi Gekko film as made by Maco (Maco MW 100) in their published catalog (bottom of page 3). So I wonder if this is some sort of mistake.

 

[clayne]

I think they made a mistake. I've bought lots of bulk-rolled APX from UF over the years and it's been fine (ends quite a bit scratchy though).

 

[newcan1]

I somehow doubt they did this deliberately. I bought some of that stuff from them last year when it was $1.79 - still in my freezer - what a shame it isn't the real thing! I do, however, still have most of a 100ft roll of the real thing in the freezer, which I bought in 2003 and kept cold ever since. It is still in brand new condition - I shot a couple of rolls a couple of months ago - what an awesome film!

 

[Joe Vitessa]

Generally, I find Ultrafine to be a little bit shady. I've bought color film from them that they sold as new but it had a bad color cast. I also purchased some of their "house brand" APX 100 recently and received the Gekko stuff with a note on my invoice that this was a replacement. I have to say I got good results with the Gekko. I can't imagine it's anywhere near fresh but it developed well. Go figure?

Joe

 

[M. Lointain]

The only thing I have bought from Ultrafine was a ton of 100' rolls of Agfa Optima II after Agfa went out of business. I love the stuff but it is getting long in the tooth these days. There is nothing else like it.

If you are itching for real Agfa film, remember to keep your fingers crossed that Adox will make it again.....



Along the lines of the other discussion, I'll second the lack of honor and integrity in the world today.

 

[Roger Cole]

Generally, I find Ultrafine to be a little bit shady. I've bought color film from them that they sold as new but it had a bad color cast. I also purchased some of their "house brand" APX 100 recently and received the Gekko stuff with a note on my invoice that this was a replacement. I have to say I got good results with the Gekko. I can't imagine it's anywhere near fresh but it developed well. Go figure?

Joe

Humm, I was thinking my experience might have been a fluke. I bought some Elite Chrome 400 "Cold Stored 2008 dating Shoots Pervectly Fine" last year. It certainly doesn't "shoot just fine." Faded, pastel colors and grainier than it should be, clearly it's aged - and it was only two years out of date. I shot a second roll to be sure, with the same results. I have eight rolls left, which I refuse to use for anything but eventual experimentation with cross processing.

"Pervectly fine" BTW is a direct copy/paste from the e-bay listing. I should have let that set off my spidey senses as it usually would. A seller that can't spell check their listing is already behind with me.

 

[clayne]

I don't know what UF is up to these days, but in the past I've purchased perfectly good 100' rolls from them. I've also purchased the 24exp APX400 rolls, which were obviously bulk-loaded, and haven't had significant issues there (other than the headers/trailers being pretty scratched up).

 

[bluesun267]

Not that I feel compelled to defend them, but I did try the Ultrafine "Xtreme" 100 also and it was wonderful. Side by side comparison with Kentmere 100 and I believe it is the same emulsion. Very close to FP4+, a bit more grain and little more "blocked" highlights, but definitely workable (I use Rodinal 1:50, 12 minutes). It also lays flatter than any other B/W film, plus identical frame numbers, leads me to believe it's a Harman/Ilford product. They do, however, bulk roll themselves and start at any random frame number ending at 42 with followed by a couple spaces and then back to "0" in the middle of the roll.

Despite this APX hiccup, B&W still photography is thriving--I wish I could say the same for motion pictures (I'm also a film maker): Hollywood is jettisoning film at an alarming pace and there's not nearly as many alternatives. I would be very happy to shoot Ilford in 16mm again!

 

[Joe Vitessa]

Not that I feel compelled to defend them, but I did try the Ultrafine "Xtreme" 100 also and it was wonderful. Side by side comparison with Kentmere 100 and I believe it is the same emulsion. Very close to FP4+, a bit more grain and little more "blocked" highlights, but definitely workable (I use Rodinal 1:50, 12 minutes). It also lays flatter than any other B/W film, plus identical frame numbers, leads me to believe it's a Harman/Ilford product. They do, however, bulk roll themselves and start at any random frame number ending at 42 with followed by a couple spaces and then back to "0" in the middle of the roll.

Despite this APX hiccup, B&W still photography is thriving--I wish I could say the same for motion pictures (I'm also a film maker): Hollywood is jettisoning film at an alarming pace and there's not nearly as many alternatives. I would be very happy to shoot Ilford in 16mm again!

Yes, I've found their line of Xtreme films to be quite good--and obviously an Ilford product. I just won't be purchasing anymore color film from them. Also, their "private label" XP2 films I've found to be scratched, dusty and of poor contrast. They are also obviously well past their expiration date and of questionable quality to boot.

 

[Roger Cole]

Yes, I've found their line of Xtreme films to be quite good--and obviously an Ilford product. I just won't be purchasing anymore color film from them. Also, their "private label" XP2 films I've found to be scratched, dusty and of poor contrast. They are also obviously well past their expiration date and of questionable quality to boot.

I've heard enough. Combined with my experience with clearly not-cold-stored or at least not-effectively-cold stored Elite Chrome that they claimed they tested and worked fine (that was either untrue or they have radically lower standards for "works fine" than I) I won't be buying from them again. There are too many other places to buy film, and saving a buck isn't worth film that isn't right.

What's this with scratched bulk loads? An arthritic orangutan could bulk load film without scratching it, provided he wasn't more than moderately drunk or mildly concussed.

 

[clayne]

The scratching was at the beginning and end frame. Probably something to so with the loader. I don't know and I didn't care as the rolls were insanely cheap at the time.

 

[newcan1]

I am quite surprised at everyone's negative experiences with Ultrafine. On the whole, I have had good experiences with them. I have bought various films from them, both color and b&w, and on the whole, everything has been as advertised. I also buy graphics products from them - imagesetter film and developer etc., and I have never had a problem. Their customer service can be a bit thin, but anyone who has ever owned a small business can understand that.

I have noticed that they seem to have fewer films on offer, but probably that is because the era of film is ending. Which is why I am stockpiling wherever I can.