Approximating APX100

[BetterSense]

A generous member of this forum gave me 3 expired rolls of this film. They were some of the first rolls of medium-format I ever shot. I developed them in D76 using MDC data. I still have one roll left.

I was just digging through my tub of work prints and dug some of the APX100 prints up. They are gorgeous. Just striking. I don't know exactly what it is. Maybe it's because I usually shoot 400 speed film and the grain on this APX100 is just invisible. I suppose that's the most logical conclusion.

But it's not just the grain, either though. It's the glow. The smooth skintones. Like every subtle gradient on a human arm or neck is visible, even though it's a very subtle difference in tone.

If I was going out specifically to shoot people, I would totally load this stuff up. But it's discontinued. Now that APX100 is gone, what film do you suppose is the closest?

 

[E76]

Probably any of the T-grain films, including Kodak Tmax and Ilford Delta, would be pretty close. I find that Tmax has a "glow" and smooth skintones like you describe, and it's the only film I use for portraits (although I'll admit I never had the opportunity to try APX).

 

[Scruff McGruff]

Though I've never tried APX100 myself, I've heard from many people that Fomapan 100 (really fantastic stuff, IMO) is very similar.

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

I replaced APX 100 with FP4+. If you do, you probably want to tweak your film processing to less contrast. FP4+ is fantastic film too.
I too have heard that Foma 100 is similar to Agfa 100. Personally I stopped using anything but Kodak, Ilford, and Fuji for quality reasons. Too many damaged frames. Agfa had very good quality control too.

 

[Morry Katz]

I shot APX 100 for at least 20 years - and was very sorry to see it go. I replaced it with Ilford Delta 100. Almost no visible grain, very smooth and a nice long grey scale in D-76, HC 110 or Perceptol. Try it, you'll like it.
Cheers
Morry Katz - Lethbridge, AB

 

[BetterSense]

Isn't Arista.EDUultra 100 the same thing as fomapan 100? Maybe I'll try some of that.

 

[sidearm613]

Isn't Arista.EDUultra 100 the same thing as fomapan 100? Maybe I'll try some of that.

It is

 

[Ian Grant]

Tmax100 is almost a direct swap for APX100 except for its film speed, while APX10 was a true 100 ISO film, to get the same tonality with Tmax you need to use it at 50 EI. Same dev times.

I now use Delta 100 which again gives very similar results. Fomapan 100 is quite a reasonable film but it needs treating with respect use at 50 EI and be careful as it develops much faster than other films & only needs about 2/3rds the times of other films.

Ian

 

[clayne]

APX100 is all about tones. Gorgeous mid-tones. I've noticed a lot of TMY-2 stuff that has similarities in some regards. It's hard to put a complete finger on but the feel is similar to me (atleast in the shots I've seen).

I'm glad I have 5000 feet of it in the freezer. I approach the loss of great films such as APX like preparing for a riot. However, if we ever lost Tri-X, I'll gladly join the riot.

 

[Tom A]

You can still get APX 100 (as long as stocks last), just under another name, Rollei Retro 100, here:
Macodirect.de

It is the same wonderful film!

Rolleis 120-size is cut from 135-stock so it curles a bit after development, but it can be flattened after a day or two under some heavy books.

Regards,
Tom

 

[jim appleyard]

I would think that Plus-X or FP-4 would be your best subs. I've never liked the t-grain films and APX100 was not a t-grain. To me, tonality is missing in the t-grains.

Plus-X in Rodinal or FP-4 in P'Cat HD are now my 100 speed films. APX 100 (and 400) in staining devs was sweet!

 

[Mark Antony]

APX is my standard 100 speed film in both 120 and 35mm. I have enough for about another year, but as others have noted Rollei retro is APX for 120 and there is still a fair bit in 35mm around.

As far as replacements go T-Max is good and has the tones but not the grain structure, FP4 is quite different especially in the shadow regions in my opinion although you can down rate and have lower contrast it's not quite the same.

My choice would be the Foma classic which responds to development in Rodinal in a similar manner, has nice tonality and medium fine grain like APX I've used 20 or so rolls with no problems with QC
heres my test:
http://photo-utopia.blogspot.com/2007/03/fomapan-100-classic-foma-is-czech-firm.html

When the APX runs out Foma will be my 100 speed choice.

Mark

 

[RobertV]

Comparing APX100/Rollei Retro 100 and Fomapan 100 on E.I. 80 both developed in Rodinal the difference is small. This film comes close to APX 100.

APX100/Rollei Retro 100 is running out of stock. It's from production 2005 from Agfa Photo. So if you like the film try to get was is still available.

Here my example of Retro 100/AXP100 E.I. 80 in Rodinal 1+50

 

[luxikon]

Here for example: http://www.monochrom.com/cc/monoc/shop/rmiArt003.asp?artnum=00026100

 

[milosz]

You can still get APX 100 (as long as stocks last), just under another name, Rollei Retro 100, here:
Macodirect.de

It is the same wonderful film!

Rolleis 120-size is cut from 135-stock so it curles a bit after development, but it can be flattened after a day or two under some heavy books.

Regards,
Tom

I used to use APX100/400 a lot, mainly in 120 format. I remember that APX 135 and APX 120 seemed to be rather different products in a way. The base/emulsion in 135 seemed a bit firmer, thickness wise, than in APX, in 120 (or the other way around). Also the colour of some waste developers after processing were different, for instance Ilfosol S was turning pink after processing 120 APX, whereas after processing "same" APX in 135 format it was kinda emerald green. I also remember that Agfa changed APX somewhat around ~2004- the base seemed thiner.
I am actually thinking about stocking up some Rollei Retro. However, is this Rollei Retro really a rebranded Agfa APX? Is anybody here that has the experience with "old" Agfa APX100 and this Rollei Retro 100? In other words, are these same product or just marketing of a rather similar film...?

 

[RobertV]

From Rollei-Maco marketing manager Mr. Junghans in one of the German Forums:

Guten Tag, mein Name ist Sebastian Junghans, ich bin im Marketing bei Rollei/Maco tätig und möchte gerne versuchen, auf Ihre Fragen zu antworten.

1. Stimmt es eigentlich....
Ja, es stimmt, die unter der Marke ROLLEI RETRO konfektionierten Filme, KB wie RF stammen aus der letzten Grossproduktion der Agfa im Jahr 2005.

2. Violett.
Bei dem, was Ihnen aufgefallen ist, handelt es sich um nicht gänzlich aufgelösten Sensibilisierungsfarbstoff. Wenn ein frisches, gutes Fixierbad verwendet wurde und ausreichend gewässert, dann kann trotzdem eine rötliche Einfärbung, die durchaus auch bei Filmen anderer Hersteller nicht unbekannt ist, vorliegen. Dies ist fotochemisch kein Nachteil. Diese Einfärbung verschwindet unter Einfluss von Tageslicht, bzw. UV-Licht rückstandsfrei.

3. Rollen / Curlingverhalten
Die unter Rollei Retro angebotenen Filme wurden ursprünglich nicht für den Einsatz als Rollfilm vorgesehen, sondern als KB-Filme. Daher ist der grau gefärbte Triacetatfilmträger etwas dicker als sonst von Agfa APX-Rollfilmen gewohnt. Standard war: 100 Mikron bei RF, 135 Mikron bei KB. Das mag einen Einfluss auch auf das Planlage-Verhalten der Filme haben.

4. Planlage
Auf das Planlage-Verhalten haben jedoch auch Parameter, wie die Wässerung und die Trocknung einen wichtigen Einfluss. Mit der Verwendung von spezielllen Filmentwicklern hat das erfahrungsgemäss nichts zu tun.

5. Entscheidung zur Produktion von APX-Rollfilmen
In der Abwägung keine APX Rollfilme mehr anbieten zu können oder eine vielleicht nicht ganz optimale Planlage zu akzeptieren, hatte sich Rollei/Maco dazu entschlossen, eine sehr erhebliche Menge APX Filme mit 135 Mikron durch die Fotokemika in Zagreb abpacken zu lassen.

6. Entwicklungszeiten:
Die "alten" APX-Emulsionen verlangten kürzere Entwicklungszeiten als die "NEW"-Version die noch im Jahr 2005 durch die Agfa eingeführt wurde. Die Belichtungstoleranzen von "NEW" sind erheblich weiter als bei der älteren Version. Dem hat bisher die A&Q mit der neuen Rodinal-Zeitentabelle entsprochen. Hier sind deutliche Differenzen zu erkennen. Bei der Version "NEW" handelt es sich zweifelsfrei um die erheblich verbesserte Version. Die Zeiten für die "NEW"-Version haben bisher noch keinen Eingang in die Entwicklungszeit-Tabellen der Tetenal gefunden.

Mit freundlichem Gruss / With kind regards

Sebastian Junghans
Marketing Manager
MACO PHOTO PRODUCTS

 

[milosz]

Thanks for posting this letter. Just bought some...

 

[mwdake]

Photowarehouse still has some listed on their site, 35mm only though.

http://www.ultrafineonline.com/agapx100bwfi.html

 

[Ian Grant]

Mirko at Fotoimpex is getting ready to re-manufacture APX100 and bring it back in all sizes. He's waiting for the current stocks to drop as there was rather a lot made just before Agfa ceased film production.

I stopped using it when the sheet film was discontinued, as I prefer to use the same film across all formats were possible.

Ian

 

[Philippe Grunchec]

In France, argentic-numeric.com

 

[WRSchmalfuss]

ROLLEI-FILM with his partner in the USA, FRESTYLE, have already presented the ROLLEI RETRO 400 S, as a successor to the AGFA APX 400. This new AGFA film is since the date delivered, since no original AGFA APX 400 "Made in Germany" were anymore available. The new film is produced by AGFA Gevaert in Mortsel/Belgium. He is distinguished by a better sharpness, better tonality, and a with finer grain, combined with an unchanged attractive price. There are 35mm and roll film 120 available. NO sheet film. In contrast to the APX 400, the RETRO 400 S is a super-panchromatic film, which can be also used to produce infrared images.

In contrast to the APX 400, poured on triacetate by AGFA Germany, the successor from AGFA Gevaert is made on the modern synthetic film base.

 

[milosz]

Just got some Rollei Retro 100 along with a bottle of Rodinal from macodirect.de. I was quite surprised when I noticed that "instructions for use" that came with bottle of Rodinal quote quite different development times (for the same gamma, temperature and dilution) for Agfa APX100 and Rollei Retro 100.
Here it goes: gamma=0.65, temp= 20C
1:25 Agfa APX100- 8min; Rollei Retro 100- 5min
1:50 Agfa APX100- 17min; Rollei retro 100- 10min
This is a bottle of Rodinal made by A&O imaging solutions that are said to had taken over "the chemistry" side of business after Agfa's trouble 2005 and the leaflet came with the developer, has their logo etc. How could it be possible that films which are said to be identical are quoted so significantly different development times for the same gamma in the same developer?
I intend to get a clarification from maco but maybe somebody has already been there...

 

[clayne]

Just got some Rollei Retro 100 along with a bottle of Rodinal from macodirect.de. I was quite surprised when I noticed that "instructions for use" that came with bottle of Rodinal quote quite different development times (for the same gamma, temperature and dilution) for Agfa APX100 and Rollei Retro 100.
Here it goes: gamma=0.65, temp= 20C
1:25 Agfa APX100- 8min; Rollei Retro 100- 5min
1:50 Agfa APX100- 17min; Rollei retro 100- 10min

As far as the films go, I was under the impression that they were the same emulsion - but a different base. Not sure how much that would affect development time specifically - but it's something to consider.

 

[AgX]

The last batches of APX of 2005 (still Agfa) were different to the extend that developing times had to be changed, as stated by Maco.
Of course those new times would be applicable for the "Rollei Retro" conversion too.

 

[RobertV]

Here are tested Rollei Retro 100/400 developing times:

Dead Link Removed

Best regards,

Robert