Efke let down

[nc5p]

I've only shot a few rolls of their 25 but it came out great. I'll probably buy some more now that I'm employed again.

 

[Rolleijoe]

I use Kodak Rapid Hardening Fixer and have had no problems at all. Efke 25 is a very very fine film. As is their 100 speed. Combine with Rodinal, and there's nothing I've found to touch it.

 

[jim appleyard]

FWIW, I just did my first roll of Efke 25 just now (fiinally ran out of APX 25, nudge, nudge, wink, wink) in D-76, 1+3, 10.5 min with a presoak. Negs look; no scratches, etc.

 

[Black Dog]

Haven't devved my big pile of EFKE yet, but I used Forte for 5 years or so and only had a handful of pinholes which were definitely dust. IMO tanning and staining devs like PMK and PCAT harden the emulsion slightly which is a real help with these older type emulsions.

 

[jim appleyard]

FWIW, I just did my first roll of Efke 25 just now (fiinally ran out of APX 25, nudge, nudge, wink, wink) in D-76, 1+3, 10.5 min with a presoak. Negs look; no scratches, etc.

That should read: "Negs look good." Someday, I'll learn to type

 

[doughowk]

Haven't had any major problem with Efke film till I started using 7X17 format. No matter how I process the Efke PL100 film, I get density bands especially noticeable in even-toned areas such as sky. I may be able to salvage the film for "busy" scenes; but I'm now using J&C 400 for 7X17 format. Its a shame that they are having QA problems, because I really liked the negs I get in 4X5 format with Efke films.

 

[Photo Engineer]

Doug;

I have seen this on EFKE film before. It has banding due to 'coating chatter' with a frequency of a few inches. There is a sinusoidal pattern to the coating which can ruin large format pictures which have uniform density areas which actually vary in density in tune to this pattern.

This is due to one of several possible problems. They either have a variation in the coating machine transport, variation in the speed of a pump delivering the emulsion or the air blowing on the film causing pulses to appear in the emulsion resulting in these bands.

I have some sheet film here with the same problem and have been wondering if I could scan a piece of the raw stock and post a picture of it.

It is just one more problem that EFKE faces trying to make good product in an aging plant.

PE

 

[doughowk]

Ron,
This is scan of section of contact print from Efke 100 film. Does this look like a film issue?

 

[Photo Engineer]

Comparing it to my sheets, I would say YES as the defect I see is present in the raw film but similar to yours. The peaks are about 2 - 4" apart, are evenly spaced, they are parallel, and they are at exact right angles to the long edge of the film.

This is typical of a manufacturing defect that I was taught to look for. It is all too common to see when a part is malfunctioning.

PE

 

[Tom Kershaw]

Ron,

To what extent are these defects likely the product of very old equipment, or how much is in the knowledge base of the people operating the
machines?

Tom.

 

[Photo Engineer]

Tom, I know that very good people using old equipment can get inferior results. I also know that very inexperienced people using very good equipment can get inferior results. I was one of the latter at EK when I started, and spent time helping a crew clean my mess up from the floor of the machine when the coating literally slid off the support on the turnarounds. And, I know how hard it is to do well and to do it consistantly.

I know that their equipment is old, but I know that they have experienced people. I think that their results have been amazingly good with occasional blips and I would hate to condemn all of their products for occasional coating glitches as posted here and elsewhere. I said earlier on something to the effect that this is a very painful thing to see for a group striving to produce good product for us. I hate reporting on it and have been restrained.

There are several reasons more why I hate doing this. Some think I don't know what I'm talking about (see posts here and elsewhere regarding this), and some think that I'm just being pro Kodak due to my former job. It goes on.....

Anyhow, I use Ilford B&W film and papaer and a mix of Kodak film and paper and Fuji film for color. I do use EFKE films from time to time as well. I use Kentmere papers as needed. I am eclectic in what I use. I pick and choose what I see as being the best for my needs. If an EFKE product fills a need, then I buy it and recommend you do the same.

Sorry for the long-winded answer, but I think that I really don't want to discourage anyone from using EFKE. It would not be fair. And, I can't comment on their people or equipment beyond what I have already said. You have some of my feelings on all of this and some of the reasoning. I think that is as fair as I can be to all concerned.

PE

 

[Tom Kershaw]

Thanks for that clarification of your position. Very fair.

Tom.

 

[avandesande]

I would suspect that in the long run, the older equipment is going to be more likely to survive than the state of the art stuff. I doubt there is anything in the efke factory that can't be replaced by a competant machinist.

 

[Simon R Galley]

Photo engineer did give me a chuckle... we can relate to the stories, I have never been at the 'wet' end in ILFORD but some of the stories are legend, such as the development chemist many years ago going for full machine trial, enquiring how his paper coating went..and the coating managers reply was succinct ' the coating went very, very well, and if you would like to see it its still in the first dryer section from the floor just about to the top the ceiling, although I am not a PHD lad, my suggestion is that the recipe is not quite right...and over there is a very big bucket, a mop, a scraper and pair of rubber gloves...see you a week on tuesday...'

Simon ILFORD Photo

 

[Photo Engineer]

Simon;

They asked me to bring my own scraper from home. It was coated on "B" trick. I was working much of the night.

I got into quite a 'discussion' here on APUG over Fischer (Agfa) type couplers vs Kodacolor type couplers some time back. Someone was questioning how or what I knew about them. Well, this coating set was comparing a group of identical Fischer and Kodacolor chemistry (other than method of incorporation) and I learned the hard way the differences and similarities to these two types of compounds. Coatability was a big one! The worst part was that I had to recoat the entire set until I got it right.

PE

 

[uraniumnitrate]

I had Efke fell out of my 8x10 holder since than I never use in it! Not that hurray quality either! I have used Forte since than and I'm really satified! I have brought a couple boxes Europan 200 on Ebay and it would be fun to try!