Experiences with ADOX 25?

Ian Grant · Jul 21, 2009

Tom, I've only ever used the Adox/EFKE 25 and it's a great film, extremely sharp and lots of micro detail due to it's high resolution capabilities.

If you were shooting 35mm then KB 25 would substantially out preform Fomapan 100 both at EI 50, there is still a similar difference between them in 5x4 but it's become less immediately noticeable.

They are films worth trying, I don't use Aox/EFKE 25 that often for 5x4, but it's my main film for 10x8 and in combination with Pyrocat it's just so sharp, you can see it just looking at teh negatives which are very easy to print.

At some stage I'll do some tsets as I have 5x4 Delta 100, Fomapan 200, EFKE 25 & HP5 here with me in Turkey.

Ian

dancqu · Jul 21, 2009

Ian Grant said:
Adox Pan 25 comes from a different manufacturer. Ian

Din 14 or 17, ring a bell? I've a lot of that slow Adox stored
in Adox glassine sleeves; 4 sleeves to each each envelope.

Never had any problems processing Adox and the negatives
after 50 years of storage are in fine condition. Dan

Tom Kershaw · Jul 21, 2009

Ian Grant said:
Tom, I've only ever used the Adox/EFKE 25 and it's a great film, extremely sharp and lots of micro detail due to it's high resolution capabilities.

Ian

How would you compare the film to ILFORD Pan F Plus?

Tom

Ian Grant · Jul 21, 2009

Yes Dan it was called KB14 when I first started using it

Tom, EFKE 25 always seemed less prone to the contrast issues of Pan F which is an excellent film but I haven't shot a roll of Pan F for probably close to 30 years. I preferred AP25/APX25. I do have a roll of Pan F so it's another to try but I prefer to use a 120 emulsion that's also available in 5x4/10x8 if possible. APX25 was very close in behaviour to APX100, but Pan F is quite different to FP4/Delta 100.

Maybe if I worked only MF or 35mm I'd give Pan F serious consideration, but I shoot mainly LF.

Ian

Tom Kershaw · Jul 21, 2009

Ian,

I have some out-of-date stocks of Pan F Plus that I've not used as Delta 100 is far more convenient. Perhaps I should try Pan F Plus now that I'm developing with Pyrocat-HD.

Tom.

Ian Grant · Jul 21, 2009

It's worth a go Tom, mine will get processed in Pyrocat HD too as it's the only developer I have with me here in Turkey. I'd expect it to be a great combination.

Ian

Nikanon · Jul 21, 2009

YouTupi can compare the curves of film developed and shot similarly to get the best idea of the comparisson

Tom Kershaw · Jul 21, 2009

YouTupi ?

Tom

mcfactor · Jul 21, 2009

Ilford Pan F (rated at EI 25) has beautiful midtones, while efke 25 is sharper and more contrasty. I develop Pan F in FX-1 and Efke 25 in Rodinal (although for comparision's sake, you could develop them in either developer). The two films have a very different look, you should try them both yourself and see which you like better.

Stoo Batchelor · Jul 21, 2009

Tom Kershaw said:
How would you compare the film to ILFORD Pan F Plus?

Tom

Tom, if your thinking of a move from Ilford films to Adox, there is one major factor to consider, film curl. All or most of the above users are using sheet film. The roll film has a tendency to curl like a roller blind. I will not take away the fact that this is a wonderful emulsion, I personally use the CHS 25 Art and it is tack sharp and grainless, and works well with staining developers, but it is a real pig to handle. As soon as you take the weighted clips off after development it will immediately roll up almost as tight as when it was on the reel. O.K, slight exaggeration there, but you can imagine the problem this causes when trying to put a neg in your carrier. With time, it will flatten down a bit, but I always find I have to use a bit of masking tape in the neg carrier to stop the film from slipping out and ending up on the floor. I guess regular users of this film have more patience than me :rolleyes:

Stoo

ntenny · Jul 21, 2009

Stoo Batchelor said:
Tom, if your thinking of a move from Ilford films to Adox, there is one major factor to consider, film curl. All or most of the above users are using sheet film. The roll film has a tendency to curl like a roller blind.

I'm using rollfilm, and I agree, it's pretty curly. I find it settles down adequately after spending some quality time underneath a pile of books, though. For me it isn't a deal-killer, but the potential problems in handling would certainly be something for a prospective user to take into account---best to shoot a couple of rolls as a trial and see how much it bothers you in practice, I'd say.

Now, the Efke IR emulsion, that's a *really* curly film. Getting that stuff to lie flat is like nailing jelly to a tree.

-NT

Stoo Batchelor · Jul 21, 2009

ntenny said:
Now, the Efke IR emulsion, that's a *really* curly film. Getting that stuff to lie flat is like nailing jelly to a tree.

-NT

It take a lot to make me chuckle but that killed me

Stoo

Tom Kershaw · Jul 21, 2009

Stoo Batchelor said:
Tom, if your thinking of a move from Ilford films to Adox, there is one major factor to consider, film curl. All or most of the above users are using sheet film. The roll film has a tendency to curl like a roller blind. I will not take away the fact that this is a wonderful emulsion, I personally use the CHS 25 Art and it is tack sharp and grainless, and works well with staining developers, but it is a real pig to handle. As soon as you take the weighted clips off after development it will immediately roll up almost as tight as when it was on the reel. O.K, slight exaggeration there, but you can imagine the problem this causes when trying to put a neg in your carrier. With time, it will flatten down a bit, but I always find I have to use a bit of masking tape in the neg carrier to stop the film from slipping out and ending up on the floor. I guess regular users of this film have more patience than me :rolleyes:

Stoo

Stoo,

Thanks for this information. I'm not considering a move to Adox films as such, I'm just trying to comprehend the various available films, and may try CHS 25 and Rollei Pan 25 at some point. If anything, I'm strongly considering a move to T-Max 400 from Delta 400 in '120', based on the image quality I've experienced using TMY-2 in 35mm format.

Tom.

Experiences with ADOX 25?

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