Agfa APX 25 in 120

Mackinaw · Mar 24, 2006

I was recently given three rolls of Agfa APX 25 in 120 that had been frozen for the past twenty years. I'm not worried about the film still being good, I've used other kinds of film that had been storted even longer with good results, but I do need some advise regarding developing times in Rodinal. I don't have the luxury of shooting a test roll, once this stuff is gone it's gone for good, so any tips folks can offer regarding Rodinal time, dilution, agitation, etc. would be appreciated. Also, I'lll be using the film for portraits, mostly indoors with studio flash, umbrella, etc.

Jim Bielecki

jim appleyard · Mar 24, 2006

APX 25, good stuff. I'm down to my last two rolls myself.

IMO, this film is better for outdoor/scenic photos; waterfalls at 1 sec. shutter speeds, stuff like that. I think you would be better off using a higher speed film for your portraits, APX 25 might be TOO sharp, especially for female portraits. Just my $.02 worth.

My favorite dev for this film is Rodinal, 1+50 for 12 min (after a 5 min presoak {lovely jade-green water; I'll miss that!}), 2 inversion/min., 20C, EI of 25 w/spot meter.

Whatever you end up doing, have fun!

Stephanie Brim · Mar 24, 2006

I have ONE roll of this in 35mm from a very, very nice person. ONE roll. I'd like some more, but ten dollars a roll is too rich for my blood. I'm going to do a family portrait shoot (head shots of everyone in my family and then a big family portrait) with it. I'm more curious about how it looks in Rodinal 1:100. Has anyone used 1:100 with this film?

david b · Mar 24, 2006

I did a lot of this stuff 1:100.

Agitate for the first minute and then 5 inversions every other minute and you should be fine.

I've gotten over it and moved on to Pan F+ at 1:100 as well as 1:50

Stephanie Brim · Mar 24, 2006

I'll most likely be switching to Efke 25 as a very, very slow film.

df cardwell · Mar 24, 2006

Agfa 25 is what let every 120 camera make 8x10 negs.

Amund · Mar 24, 2006

APX 25 is nice in Rodinal 1:100, I developed a roll yesterday. 18 35mm rolls left, and then it`s over

Petzi · Mar 24, 2006

Buy Rollei Pan 25, it is the same film only spooled by someone else. They even have 120 rolls.

Amund · Mar 24, 2006

Petzi said:
Buy Rollei Pan 25, it is the same film only spooled by someone else. They even have 120 rolls.

I don`t believe that, APX 25 has been gone for years.
You`re probably confusing this with the rumour that the Rollei Retro series is APX emulsions.

Petzi · Mar 24, 2006

No I'm not and I don't think it's rumour at all. The manufacturer chooses not to disclose this officially. This does not mean it's untrue. Maco (who supply the Rollei film) have always bought lots of stuff from Agfa (and Efke), and never produced anything of their own. They bought frozen master rolls from Agfa. They cut, spool and market that stuff under their own brand (or the more prestigious Rollei brand.)

As you know, b/w film will last almost forever if frozen. Especially low sensitive film. The last coating of APX 25 was maybe 5 years ago, and Maco has probably bought several master rolls. Given the slow sales of ASA 25 film, this is going to last for years. They defrost a roll and get it ready for the market when they need to. That is their definition of "production".

And they won't tell you it's APX 25 because then people would not buy it, knowing it was coated 5 years ago. (Though there may be no difference at all compared to fresh film.)

Also, regarding the Rollei Retro 100 and 400: that was last coated in late 2005. It makes perfect sense when Maco market APX film under the Rollei brand. If that film is not APX, tell me what it is? Who made it?

Or in other words: There are a very finite number of film coating facilities in the world, and also a finite number of different film emulsions.

But beware: Not all Maco product has been coated by Agfa. They bought a lot from Efke, and they can buy from whomever they want. But I guess due to Agfa's insolvency, they have been able to make some good deals on a couple master rolls of Agfa film recently.

antielectrons · Mar 24, 2006

If any company out there has any of the APX 25 they are not going to be keeping it a secret, the would make more money by making it public knowledge.

Amund · Mar 24, 2006

antielectrons said:
If any company out there has any of the APX 25 they are not going to be keeping it a secret, the would make more money by making it public knowledge.

Yep, that makes perfect sense and that`s why I don`t believe in Petzi`s speculation....

Petzi · Mar 24, 2006

You disbelievers! If you think I'm speculating, why don't you just buy a roll of Rollei Pan 25 and compare the results to APX 25? Make some sensitometric tests, evaluate the grain etc. Then tell us if you find a difference that would prove it's a different film (not just a different emulsion number.) Bring light into this matter to end all speculation.

Maco may have an agreement with Agfa that prevents them from disclosing the source of the film. Why would Agfa want someone else to compete with them using their own product? It has always happened that all kinds of retail chains have sold film products with their own label and quite often there was Agfa in the box. Have you ever heard any of these retailers disclosing to you there was the same film in the box as the Agfa or the Fuji film standing right next to their house brand in the same cabinet?

You are also overestimating the value of APX 25 in the marketplace. It was a film that Agfa discontinued because it was not bought in sufficient quantities. Only a few geeks like you ever bought it. And you didn't even buy enough of it to justify its production. Now you're whining about its discontinuation and how much you would want it, but you still don't buy it because it does not say Agfa on the box. Is it because you like to whine?

kaiyen · Mar 24, 2006

Ah. It's a fun day in APUG. Petzi, you are on fire today.

allan

Amund · Mar 24, 2006

Petzi said:
Maco may have an agreement with Agfa that prevents them from disclosing the source of the film. Why would Agfa want someone else to compete with them using their own product?

Ahem, as Agfa really doesn`t exist anymore, that doesn`t make much sense..

Best regards from disbeliever

Petzi · Mar 24, 2006

You know I shouldn't waste my time with this. I don't care if Maco sell one roll of film. I just can't hear this whining over and over, we want APX 25. But when you rub it under their nose they don't buy it.

It is important to know the economy of film production, because we want to have this stuff now and in the future.

Petzi · Mar 24, 2006

Amund said:
Ahem, as Agfa really doesn`t exist anymore, that doesn`t make much sense..

Agfa Gevaert does exist and is doing good business.

AgfaPhoto does exist and my guess is it will exist in 10 years. Just not as an industrial corporation, rather as a brand I guess. Like Grundig for example. You can still buy Grundig products, but who knows where they are made? Not in Germany.

As long as there is only one guy operating Agfa, everyone who has a contract with Agfa will have to fulfill their contractual obligations to him.

Anybody want a film and a paper coating machine, about the size of a football field? I can give you the number of someone who has that for sale...

Dinesh · Mar 24, 2006

OK seriously, now that we may or may have not put this issue to bed, can someone explain to me how Clark Kent can be Superman when he wears glasses and Superman doesn't?

Agfa APX 25 in 120

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