Agfa APX 100??

[stradibarrius]

Is Agfa APX 100 available in the US?
How does it compare in grain to Acros 100?

 

[Whiteymorange]

APX 100 was my favorite film of all and just when I got it down so that I could do what I wanted with it, it was discontinued. A stock of leftover 35mm film stayed with us for quite awhile (there may still be some out there) but 120 went the way of the Dodo. I have read that the emulsion is being "re-issued" by another manufacturer, but the details will have to come from someone else. Acros 100 is close, and now my favorite in 120, but the smooth gradations of APX are hard for me to get with any other film. Your results may vary.

 

[Ian Grant]

There's still APX100 available in 35mm when that start to dry up Fotoimpex will re-introduce it in all formats.

APX100 gives exceptionally fine grain with the right developers, Rodinal is a perfect match almost as if they were designed for each other. I always found it to be the sharpest and finest grain of the 100 ISO films with a better true speed.

Ian

 

[david b]

Yeah, APX 100 is long gone. I think Rollei got some of it for their film stock. Not sure what is left of that.

Other than having the same film speed, I think Acros and APX are very different.

APX is a traditional grain film while Acros, I think, is a more modern film like TMX, a tabular or T-grain film.

APX loved every developer I used on it. I was never really sure if I liked xtol or rodinal better.

 

[Mike1234]

HIGHJACK: APX is very similar to old defunct Agfapan, right? I sure hope Rollei re-intruduces 25 and 100 ASA in 8x10 and larger... or at least in 5x7.

 

[Ian Grant]

Rollei have zero to do with the re-introduction of the old Agfa emulsions luckily. A more reputable company Fotoimpex of Berlin are waiting to re-coat APX 100 once stocks drop. Agfa coated a vast quantity before closing the photo division.

APX25 can no longer be made as key components aren't manufactured any longer, Mirko indicated that Agfa's sale of APX 25 had been very low.

APX100 was a modern emulsion using Agfa's own technology, APX400 wasn't.

Ian

 

[Chazzy]

Rollei have zero to do with the re-introduction of the old Agfa emulsions luckily. A more reputable company Fotoimpex of Berlin are waiting to re-coat APX 100 once stocks drop. Agfa coated a vast quantity before closing the photo division.

APX25 can no longer be made as key components aren't manufactured any longer, Mirko indicated that Agfa's sale of APX 25 had been very low.

APX100 was a modern emulsion using Agfa's own technology, APX400 wasn't.

Ian

I know what Mirko said, but APX25 was the only Agfa film that interested me. I'm quite content with fp4+ in a medium speed film.

 

[Tom Kershaw]

APX25 can no longer be made as key components aren't manufactured any longer, Mirko indicated that Agfa's sale of APX 25 had been very low.

Ian

Ian,

Do you have any idea whether these were "chemical" issues, or base materials etc?

 

[Ian Grant]

Chemical I think, but the costs involved in re-formulating a substitute/replacement would be prohibitive and the demand for a slow speed emulsion is very low. APX25 was fairly unique in the way it behaved it wasn't as prone to swing in contrast as say Pan F.

Ian

 

[Tom Kershaw]

I never used APX25, perhaps it was discontinued around the time I got into analogue photography, but I understand it a had a reasonable following in the fine art photography sector.

Tom

 

[Ian Grant]

. . . . .but I understand it a had a reasonable following in the fine art photography sector.
Tom

Yes that was true but rarely as the main film. I used it in the 80's/90's in a roll film back with my 5x4. others did the same, it was a great film to use when you knew you'd not have enough loaded dark-slides (Film holders in the US).

It was so close to APX100 in it's behaviour and tonality that it was a great LF back-up in a roll film back.

I actually started using AP25 then the APX25 but the resolution, sharpness and tonality of both where quite different to Pan F.

One of my images of an abandoned canal and railway line has some radio masts (short-wave, Hereford say no more) in the background well over a mile away and every wire is crystal sharp & visible on the 6x9 neg and on the subsequent prints.

It really was the best film of it's type.

Ian

 

[werra]

AP25 is truly amazing, even in outdated shape. I'm currently on 7th-8th film from the ~100 I managed to get. Dated sometime in 84, has quite a fog in Rodinal but much less in ex-Soviet UP2 developer. Absolutely the best level of detail I have seen so far in 35mm. With nice APX100 tones as in Rodinal.

 

[thebdt]

There's still APX100 available in 35mm when that start to dry up Fotoimpex will re-introduce it in all formats.
...
Ian

APX100 + Rodinal 1:50 is my favorite film for street photography. Photoimpex's current catalog lists ADOX and Foma as replacements for the film. :confused:

Do you have any more information on the re-introduction of APX100? Any details on where you heard that Fotoimpex will re-introduce it? Any more light you could shed on the subject would be very valuable to me. Thanks in advance

 

[Chazzy]

APX100 + Rodinal 1:50 is my favorite film for street photography. Photoimpex's current catalog lists ADOX and Foma as replacements for the film. :confused:

Do you have any more information on the re-introduction of APX100? Any details on where you heard that Fotoimpex will re-introduce it? Any more light you could shed on the subject would be very valuable to me. Thanks in advance

Mirko said right here on APUG that they are waiting for the current supply of "old" APX100 to dry up before they proceed with a new coating.

 

[Alan W]

It's available here, http://www.ultrafineonline.com/agapx100bwfi.html

 

[cmacd123]

It's available here, http://www.ultrafineonline.com/agapx100bwfi.html

Tread carefully.

The Picture in the photo looks like "pro-max" brand film sold to students. I got some of the pro-max from another dealer and the film can, the cassette as well as the film inside looked more like Lucky SHD100 than any Agfa product. The number on the bar code even matched the Lucky Film. The Lucky stuff has little or no grey in the base so both sides look the same colour.

Now it Could be that what they are offering is real APX, but I would probably trust "Rollei" more.

 

[ozphoto]

I picked up 4 tins of 100' Agfapan 100APX from http://www.ultrafineonline.com/, although it was a couple of years ago.
Real deal and quite reasonable price including postage to AUS.
Now sitting in my freezer happily waiting for me to finish off the rolls I already have in stock.
Won't be too long before I need to thaw it out; when I run out it will be a very sad day for me; here's hoping Mirko is as successful with the film as he has been with the paper!

 

[Ian Grant]

APX100 + Rodinal 1:50 is my favorite film for street photography. Photoimpex's current catalog lists ADOX and Foma as replacements for the film. :confused:

Do you have any more information on the re-introduction of APX100? Any details on where you heard that Fotoimpex will re-introduce it? Any more light you could shed on the subject would be very valuable to me. Thanks in advance

You need to keep an eye on the (there was a url link here which no longer exists) Mirko posts regular updates about what's in the pipeline.

My gut feeling is that supplies of APX100 will begin to dwindle in the next few months which will make it viable for Fotoimpex to begin re-manufacture.

Ian

 

[DutchShooter]

I recently bought 40 rolls of rollei retro 100, to help them get rid of the stuff (and get myself some beautiful&cheap film)

 

[mablo]

Rollei Retro 100 is the best film deal in Europe right now. 1,49€ per roll is a bargain. Instead of souping it in Rodinal I've been using D-76 stock in 24C (6min 30sec). For some reason 24C gives much better tonality and nicer grain than 20C.

See: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2491/3891838091_be76512b4f_b.jpg

 

[stradibarrius]

How would you compare APX 100 vs. Acros 100? Please explain differences...

 

[thebdt]

You need to keep an eye on the (there was a url link here which no longer exists) Mirko posts regular updates about what's in the pipeline.

My gut feeling is that supplies of APX100 will begin to dwindle in the next few months which will make it viable for Fotoimpex to begin re-manufacture.

Ian

That was helpful, I didn't realize the sponsors had their own forums. Thank you.

 

[naugastyle]

Apx-100 is currently being sold as Rollei Retro 100...

I also bought some on eBay as Silver Tone (about $2.50 per 24exp-roll including shipping), but I think it's harder to find under that name than Rollei Retro. B&H has Rollei Retro in 120 and Freestyle also has the 35mm but only in bulk rolls for $39.99.

 

[mablo]

I ordered two more bulk rolls of Rollei Retro / APX 100. Not sure if it's a good idea to stick with a film that's basically discontinued but I'm prolonging the inevitable.