Efke 25 versus Pan F

[AlanC]

I normally use my 35mm cameras for doing gritty landscapes with Tri X.
When I want to make photographs with sharp detail I use 120 and 5 x 4.
But there are places along the North Yorkshire coast that are a long way from the nearest car park, and it is always uphill on the way back! To lighten the load I've been thinking of using 35 mm and Efke 25 to photograph rock details and suchlike. But my first impression of Efke 25 is that it's not as sharp as I expected. I have tried it in Rodinal and Neofin Blue.

Would I be better off with Pan F?

Any thoughts from anyone who has tried both would be greatly appreciated.

Alan Clark

 

[Harry Lime]

What developer are you using. If it is sharpness you want, try Rodinal.

 

[bwakel]

Odd. When comparing 120 Adox CHS25 with Pan F+, both developed in Neofin Blue the Efke appears sharper to me though its handling's a real pain compared with Pan F+ (it scratches and curls up all the time).

I haven't tried it in 35mm but are you sure you aren't experiencing camera shake or shutter vibration from the longer exposure of the ISO25 film compared with the ISO50?

Barry

 

[AlanC]

Thanks Harry.
As I said, I tried it in Rodinal and Neofin Blue.
It was sharp, but not impressively sharp. Perhaps I am just expecting too much.
Alan Clark

 

[JPD]

I have compared Efke 25 and Pan F+ in 120 format. I used my Rolleiflex 3,5F with one of the sharpest lenses ever made - the six element Planar 3,5/75. I developed the films in Agfa-17 1+1 (close to D-76) and enlarged the negs as much as possible (more than 1x1 meters). I was surprised that I couldn't find any differences between these films grain and sharpness.

You could try Pan F+. Maybe it behaves differently in Rodinal than Efke. Or it could be that your lens isn't the sharpest?

 

[bwakel]

That was meant to be mirror slap rather than shutter vibration! My brain's fried, it is Friday afternoon!

 

[AlanC]

Barry and JDP,
I used an OMI with the mirror locked up, on a carbon tripod. I was comparing it's sharpness with TriX taken in the same camera and also developed in Rodinal. The Efke 25 was sharper, but not by an impressive amount.

Alan Clark

 

[AlanC]

Thomas,
Yes, I liked the tonality of Efke 25 too, and think it will suit the subject I have in mind.
I don't like swopping and changing too much so it may be best if I just stick with it, and try harder.
Alan Clark

 

[jim appleyard]

Alan,

It's uphill BOTH ways! I've done a bit with Efke 25 in 120 this spring and I'm very impressed with the sharpness and broad range of tones with this film. I've used Rodinal 1+100 and Pyrocat HD; the emulsion seems to be very tolerant of developer. However, the QC leaves a lot to be desired; you really have to shoot two (or more ) frames of everything.

With Pan-F, I find the QC to be top notch, but it's a fussy film; very contrasty and highlights burn out easily. I'm still trying to nail down times and agitation routines.

 

[AlanC]

Jim,
It certainly is! I have noticed that so far on this thread, nobody has offered to carry my 5 x 4 kit for me!
Thanks for the advice, especially about QC.

Alan Clark

 

[Snapshot]

I've used Efke 25 and PanF+ and I found them to be comparable in sharpness. I bought a bulk roll of Efke 25 and, for the price, I could not complain about the quality. However, I've heard that Efke is at times "hit 'n' miss" so if consistency is vital then PanF+ is your choice. I didn't find PanF+ too fussy but then again I'm not the most discriminating of shooters.

 

[Alan9940]

Hello Alan,

Have you thought about giving Adox CMS 20 a try? I recently experimented with this film, souping in their Adotech developer, and I was mightily impressed with the results. Tack sharp and no grain that I could see through a pretty strong loupe. Don't know where the enlargement limit would fall with this film, but it's probably beyond the size my Focomat V35 can produce.

My initial impression of this combination was MUCH more positive than anything I was ever able to achieve with Techpan! Give it a try...it may redefine what 35mm can deliver for you.

Good luck.

 

[Paul Howell]

I have liked Efke 25 rated at 12 souped in Rodinal, but last week end I shot a roll (my last roll) of Efke rated at 25 and a roll of Pan F rated at 50 and developed in DK 50 1:1, seems counter intuitive to use a high engery developer with slow speed film, but I am pleased with the tones, sharpness (sharper than Rodinal) and grain. Very tight enlarged to a 11X14.

 

[Neal]

Dear Alan,

If it's sharpness you're looking for go with Acros/Delta100/TMX.

Neal Wydra

 

[abcpyro]

from my experience with efke before with (d7 pyro) then with st 20 I have noticed that with d7 it had acutance problems and recording instead with st 20 I find is much beautiful one regarde alan

 

[AlanC]

Neal,
I had wondered about Delta 100.
AlanH,
I have not heard of AdoxCMS 20 but will look into it.
Paul,
Thanks for your comments.
Alan Clark

 

[Jim_in_Kyiv]

I normally use my 35mm cameras for doing gritty landscapes with Tri X.
When I want to make photographs with sharp detail I use 120 and 5 x 4.
But there are places along the North Yorkshire coast that are a long way from the nearest car park, and it is always uphill on the way back! To lighten the load I've been thinking of using 35 mm and Efke 25 to photograph rock details and suchlike. But my first impression of Efke 25 is that it's not as sharp as I expected. I have tried it in Rodinal and Neofin Blue.

Would I be better off with Pan F?

Any thoughts from anyone who has tried both would be greatly appreciated.

Alan Clark

I just got done developing my first rolls of Efke 25 (6x9) souped in Forte Universal Developer, and at first glance the rolls look pretty good. OTOH, these are the first rolls I've developed in 2 years, so maybe I'm still being kind to myself. Definitely not Tech Pan - I had done one roll of that earlier today - but it still made me happy. I don't know about it in 35mm, though. I've shot a good bit of PanF in 120, too, and I'd probably let your need for speed determine your film choice.

 

[RobertP]

I haven't used the 25. But I just shot the CHS or PL50 in 8x20 for vertical full length nudes and the negatives are just awesome. Now I used an old Wolly Versar 17x20 lens wide open ( 22") at F6 and at F8 so sharpness isn't what I was after but the tonality is just about as good as it gets and that's developed in a pyro developer. Can't wait to print these.

 

[Shawn H]

I'd go with Delta 100 & Xtol 1:1. Use your best aperature, align your enlarger and don't expect miracles. As good as it gets & no fuss.

 

[AlanC]

Thanks everyone for your helpful comments.
Shaun, I thought about Delta 100 but having already used it in 5 x 4 format I was put off by its very smooth tonality, which tended to take the bite out of textured surfaces. Maybe it wouldn't be so smooth in 35mm.

abcpyro, thank you for your comment.What is st 20?

Alan Clark

 

[abcpyro]

st 20 are a development produced from Arnano, are one traditional development with normal contrast and much clear one with Acros and Efke, in general terms one development classic.

 

[AlanC]

abcpyro,
Thank you.
I have just checked out your website. You have some very good photographs there.

Alan Clark

 

[abcpyro]

thanks so much

 

[Nokton48]

I've used 120 and 35mm Pan F for twenty years now. I still prefer Pyro PMK+ as my main preferred developer for this (and most) films. I bought a case of 120 Pan F from Jimmy A (Midwest Photo), I noticed while in a corner of their basement, years ago, at a real nice price. I threw it into my deep freeze, and I'm -slowly- shooting it up ever since. Happy Camper

 

[erikg]

I've shot Pan-F and Pan-F+ for many years now, mostly in 35mm and usually developed in Rodinal, and now more recently in pyrocat. I've shot some efke 25 and did some comparisons. I didn't see too much difference in sharpness and I found the efke to be pretty good, but the QC issue is a problem. Hard to trust the stuff completely. Pan-F is much better in that regard, especially in recent years. I think you may indeed be expecting too much. Efke 25 in 35mm is still 35mm and you are not quite going to get something to equal 120. I've been down that road, too. I will add that Delta 100 is becoming my favorite slow 35mm film since I've gone to semi-stand development in pyrocat. Great edge sharpness, highlights under control, I've been pretty happy and I'm always glad to use an Ilford product.