Developer for efke films

[Jimi]

Hello,

I'm considering buying some efke film. I'm pondering what developer I should use with it. Currently I have only rodinal. The shop that sells efke here, has on stock Tetenal Neofin Blue developer. Which developer should I use from these two, or do you have any other recommendations (liquids please). I'd like to have quite small grain, because I shoot 35mm only. I will be probably shooting KB25 and KB100.

General comments of this film and alternatives are also very welcome.

Thanks

 

[Ole]

Either one will do. Neofin Blau was originally made for the ADOX films that are the direct forerunners of the EFKE films, and gives great results. I haven't tried Rodinal, but I do use Neofin.

 

[tomishakishi2]

While Ole is right, such a dev may be a wee bit sharper and grainer than you seek, depending upon format for the 100 speed - prob spot on for the 25. PL100 in 5x4 is not fine grained - grainier than FP4 I think. However, it is very pretty. I used HC110 for times I got off the Masive development chart and got moderate grain and a beautiful look. I have not used lots, but fell in love with it. I Have loads in the fridge and when I get up an ruinning again, will go for HC110, get this nailed down and then try something like Aculux 2 for finer grain. The grain structure in HC110 looks very sharp, so I bet even a solvent developer would still produce negs with decent 'bite', as is the case with HP5 etc. Being an oldie film, I bet you could dev it in pretty well anything and get a decent reult. Fracesco uses Pyrocat HD for Azo, with great results. I once used Dixactol, but got huge grain and massively high B+F and very long print times. I will try it this time with Pyrocat, but for enlargement printing, unlike Francesco. Std devs such as D76/IDll/HC110 are all likely to give great results, or rodinal/neofin for greater sharpness.

 

[Flotsam]

Largely thanks to a member here on APUG who shall remain nameless*, lately I have been sticking everything I can lay my hands on into a tank of Rodinal, shaking it around a bit and seeing what happens. Last night I did a roll of Efke R50. I haven't printed anything yet but the negs look encouraging with full speed and very nice contrast.

*Dr. Morten Damkjær​

 

[rjr]

Neal,

R50 and Rodinal 1+50 are a dream team. I am using it for 3 years now... yes, Efke films usually stick to the speed printed on the pack, they are actually a bit faster... somewhat unusual sensibilisation, wonderful tonality.

My fav in 120 next to APX100 in "the miracle water".

Jimi,

use Rodinal or Neofin/Beutler with the KB25 and some "grain eater" with KB100 - the latter is not that nice, with visual grain, similar to FP4+. I´d recommend Calbe A49 for it.

And be careful with handling, the emulsion is still quite soft. Omit the stop (use plain water instead), don´t use hardener, don´t wipe the film and all will be fine.

 

[Flotsam]

I'm just waiting until it gets dark enough to do a printing session. (In the Winter I don't hassle will putting up the window blockers). Can't wait to see how it prints.

 

[TPPhotog]

I dumped a couple of rolls of old KB14 in Rodinal 1+100 a while back and they looked and printed beautifully. So it's my choice when I get some of the new stuff.

 

[rjr]

Neil,

it usually prints easily, I usually hit the g2-3 on the spot.

Some time ago I switched to a 1min pre-wash (to get rid of the blue AHU-laquer), then dev for 480-720s depending on the contrast needed.

Hey, even the undeveloped film is a beauty - a real nice, deep blue. ;-)

 

[TPPhotog]

Jay I've not tried PC-TEA, but the Look Rodinal has with grain is one of the positives in my book which is another reason I love it so much

 

[rjr]

I agree, it´s the appearance of the grain that makes part of the R50 fun. I will never ever try it with another dev.

 

[doughowk]

I've used Rodinal 1:50 with both Efke 25 & 100 (4X5 on both & 2X3 for latter) with very good results - some of my best negs so far. Good appearance with enlargement (my max is 16X20 prints).

 

[garryl]

Have any of you Rodinal afficienados tried PC-TEA? I'm curious to know how you would compare it to Rodinal. I find that it possesses all of the positive characteristics of Rodinal, and none of the negative,
Jay

as they say in missouri, "show me"! }:^)>

 

[titrisol]

35mm Efke 100
Rodinal 1+50 9min gave a nice negative with "normal" grain,
have to test it in DDX.. anyone has tried that combo?

 

[Flotsam]

I printed that R50 in Rodinal 1:50 this evening. It could have used a bit more contrast but a small boost in dev. time will fix that on my next roll. Tone and grain look very nice. I'm down to my last few rolls and have been avoiding the JandC site (Too many temptations there) but I guess it is about time to put in an order. (Oh my achin' credit card )

Here's a scan of a print for what it's worth.

 

[John McCallum]

I printed that R50 in Rodinal 1:50 this evening. ...

Nnnnnnice apple from the Big Apple (?). I'm getting quite fixed on those high dilutions of rodinal in certain situations.

 

[Flotsam]

I've like R50 in FG7 too. Nice tone. I'm going to play with it in
Rodinal for a while though.

 

[J. Smith]

I like the 100 in microdol 1+3 and the 25 in rodinal has been good to me too. I have a post of each in my gallery.

 

[TPPhotog]

Oh, you like the grain, loss of emulsion speed, and long development times. Nevermind. Enjoy.

Jay

LOL Jay, Each to their own as they say, some like sugar with their coffee and some like sharp salt and pepper grain with their prints .... mmmm that's me on both counts I've used it with speeds as low as 25 and as high as Tmax P3200 and Delta 3200, I just love the look.

 

[noseoil]

PMK or Pyrocat

At the risk of offending those among us who are Rodinalians, I've had good luck with both PMK pyro and Pyrocat-HD.

Efke 25 is incredible for its sharp grainless prints, which can be enlarged from 35mm shots. Efke 100 has a much longer tonal scale, but it does show some grain. I've settled on 25 for low contrast shots and 100 for larger film sizes or high contrast lighting situations. The PMK does tend to help mask grain and give a smoother rendition of tonality, but shadow values are degraded somewhat due to the general stain.

The enclosed chrome shot is a 35mm enlargement to 5x7 done with PMK. The print looks better than the scan, but I think you can see how nice tonality and acutance are, even in this harsh contrast situation. This would not be my first choice now, as the 100 would be better with respect to tonality, but Efke films are a great bargain with respect to flexibility and print quality.

The desert shot is a bit longer in scale and is also a 35mm shot. Sorry about the lousy scan, but you get the idea. Both of these images were done in PMK pyro. I've recently made a change to Pyrocat, so I'm still working on times with these two films, but I like what I'm getting already. Perhaps this weekend I'll have something else to post with pyrocat.

 

[André Ferreira]

Would someone tell me if D76 would work with such a film? I´m in Brazil, and my acces to devs is very limited... And I always wanted to buy Efke!
André Ferreira.

 

[TPPhotog]

Would someone tell me if D76 would work with such a film? I´m in Brazil, and my acces to devs is very limited... And I always wanted to buy Efke!
André Ferreira.

I see no reason for it not to, it's a beautiful soup and I used it for years before I went over to Rodinal.

 

[TPPhotog]

At the risk of offending those among us who are Rodinalians, I've had good luck with both PMK pyro and Pyrocat-HD.

Narrr I'm not offended, your images and Neals apple are all stunning. I guess that goes to show how good Elke films are in the right hands.

 

[modafoto]

Largely thanks to a member here on APUG who shall remain nameless

I'm proud to have influenced someone in here to use Rodinal...(crying tears of joy).

Yet I have to try Efke-films as they are not available to me in DK.

 

[titrisol]

Morten, probably foto-impex in germany can mail them to you...

 

[modafoto]

Morten, probably foto-impex in germany can mail them to you...

Yes, I might try that, but I am using Ilford's Delta 100 for now...I just tamed it in Rodinal 1+50 for studio use. But for out-door portraits et.al. I might go for an Efke