Agfa APX 400 is back?

Oscar Carlsson · Aug 12, 2013

Hi!

I've just noticed that MACODIRECT sells APX400, labeled with NEW EMULSION. Is this really APX400 that's back?

Also, is APX400 any good?

Schlapp · Aug 12, 2013

I use Agfa ASP 400 and that's nice.

Jesper · Aug 12, 2013

If you are not happy with the new one I think Fotoimpex.de still has some of the old version on 30,5m rolls (I just bought one).

mnemosyne · Aug 12, 2013

Nope. The "new elmusion" Agfaphoto APX100 and APX400 have nothing to do with the original Agfa emulsions. The information available now suggests that these films are very close to if not identical with Kentmere 100 and 400, only 25% more expensive (at least here in Germany). They are distributed by Lupus imaging, a company that currently owns the rights to the "Agfaphoto" brand name. If you liked the original Agfa APX400, fotoimpex.de still sells remaining stock of bulk rolls of this film.

AgX · Aug 12, 2013

Neither Lupus nor Agfaphoto Holding are owning the brandname Agfaphoto, but Agfa.

Agfa however, after the sale of their consumer branch which used the designation AgfaPhoto lately and a legal case with that new company AgfaPhoto Holding on this branding matter, has to license it to the latter due to court decision.

The icon corresponding to the name Agfaphoto is a red dot, not that red rhomb Agfa use for themselves.

clayne · Aug 12, 2013

What's the story with why German companies keep pulling these games?

Oscar Carlsson · Aug 12, 2013

OK, it's not the same old film? I'm ok with this.

I'm currently using RPX100/RPX400 but it would be nice to use a film which I can use in all/most formats. RPX is only available in 135/120, but is pretty nice so I think I'll stick with it until I go all LF and then stick with like TMAX400 or HP5+.

AgX · Aug 12, 2013

clayne said:
What's the story with why German companies keep pulling these games?

The only asset that remained at AgfaPhoto Holding after the insolvency of the AgfoPhoto manufacturing entity is the ability to use that brandname.
They built their whole business around that.

Jesper · Aug 12, 2013

Strange, just last week Adox had a film on their website, Adox Pan 400 based on APX 400 to be released and today there are no trace of this.
This info can be found cached but not today:

"ADOX PAN 400 Film

AgfaPhoto in Leverkusen went into receivership in 2005 and all attempts to save it failed.
Since November 2006 the company is beeing liquidated.

ADOX has acquired together with former research engineers of AgfaPhoto machines and KnowHow from the liquidator.

These engineers managed to remanufacture a new APX while avoiding the weaknesses of the old emulsion.
The emulsion is beeing made on genuine Agfa equipment and coated on Agfa´s former coating line now owned by a new company."

Since they had acquired both machines and personnel from Agfa it could have been close to the original.

AgX · Aug 12, 2013

Adox stated to have have worked long time on a ISO 400 film. When they they technically were prepared they stated in 2012 to have lost market capability due to the loss of large scale customers in connection with cheap competition.

Jesper · Aug 12, 2013

I eagerly await the CHS II so I visit the Adox site daily. The information on the Adox Pan 400 was there last week. Not taken down in 2012.

AgX · Aug 12, 2013

Mirko from Adox may state one thing and put something seemingly contrary on the same site.

EDIT:
The text by Adox in the link given in the next post is not even contrary.
Only giving another reason why not running a full-scale production of Adox Pan 400.

miha · Aug 12, 2013

Jesper said:
I eagerly await the CHS II so I visit the Adox site daily. The information on the Adox Pan 400 was there last week. Not taken down in 2012.

It still is: http://www.adox.de/english/ADOX Films/Premium/ADOX-PAN-400/PAN400.html

Jesper · Aug 12, 2013

Interesting. If you use the direct link the Pan 400 is still there but if you load a fresh page and choose film there is no premium line any more just a list of films sans Adox Pan 400.
I don't know why it disappeared but it just happened.
As long as there is Silvermax and CHS II in LF I'm happy.

miha · Aug 12, 2013

You are right, I've googled it. Strange.

MartinP · Aug 12, 2013

Looks like they have just left off the "Premium" level sub-directory during a simplification-and-refresh of the sidebar menu. The main thing is that CHS-II is due to be released in the next quarter.

Pity about the prototype Adox 400 emulsion, but it looks as though Harman have that area sewn up in the short term - which is not a bad thing, as at least it is newly produced material providing real turnover for a current manufacturer, instead of the ten year old frozen film that was undercutting the lower speed ranges until recently.

clayne · Aug 13, 2013

I'll tell you this though, if I didn't already have more than enough original APX100 to hold me over, I'd be on the hunt for the original APX100 Lupus has been offering. That being said, I do think there is still room for ADOX Pan 400 as both APX100 and APX400 are not duplicated by any existing 400 speed film. None of the APX line is and the closest I've seen is TMY2 giving similar mid-tone tonality, but APX has always had it's own thing going on due to how they tuned the sensitometry.

richyd · Aug 13, 2013

It's a shame about Adox Pan 400. I tried a roll of the pre-production trial coating and I really liked it, good tones and balance, and was looking forward to full production especially in medium format; I still have a roll of that run but it may be too aged now. Waiting for CHS II but I see that Fotoimpex still have stock of their German produced version of CHS 100 in 120 format in stock.

AgX · Aug 13, 2013

That german produced CHS 100 film is the late EFKE Version, re-checked and spooled as type 120 in the Adox plant for better spooling quality.

cmacd123 · Nov 1, 2013

I got some of the "New Emulsion" APX400 today from B&H in New York. AS expected the only thing that looked familiar is the name.

The new film DOES seem to be Pakaged in The UK, by the one known supplier. The central type number in the bar code on the cassette is one digit different than the code from Kentmere 400, and the film was provided in an all Black Can (or Tub) identical to those used for ILFORD hp5, Kentmere 400 and ILFORD Pan 400.

The box was also cut in the same shape as those used by Harmon.

AS I say, I have just received the film and so I have not run any tests yet. The actual film may have been coated anywhere. at US 6.29 a roll it is considerably more expensive than Ilford HP5 (US $4.75) or even Kentmere 400 (If it still exists) at US $3.50 so I doubt that I would be adding it to my film cupboard on an ongoing basis unless folks report Supernatural results. It may be cheaper in some markets.

Ricardo Miranda · Nov 2, 2013

Charles
Read this: (there was a url link here which no longer exists)
Yes, it is coated and finish by Harman Technology.

or even Kentmere 400 (If it still exists)

It is in production as far as I know. It was only introduced in 2009: (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Agfa APX 400 is back?

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