ISO 50 films

Terrence Brennan · Jun 3, 2009

I need a slow, fine-grained, high resolution film for a project I have on the go. In looking at the Freestyle Photo site, I see that there are three ISO 50 films available: Adox CHS 50, Efke KB50 and Ilford Pan-F Plus. My primary developers are D-23 and a variation of Ansco 17M (1/3 less hydroquinone, 2x sodium metaborate).

I would appreciate some info from those in the APUG community who have used these films in the past, and especially interested in any info about the differences between these films. I recall having read somewhere (was it APUG?) that some of the EFKE emulsions are made by Adox (or is it the other way around?).

While I am not considering using anything slower than the ISO 50 films, any corollary info on the slower films would also be welcome. A quick check of Freestyle's site shows that Adox, EFKE and Rollei make ISO 20-25 films.

sgoetzin · Jun 3, 2009

Hi Terrence,

I used the Ilford Pan-f which is a 50 ASA film, developped in XTOl 1+1. However, I recently switched to Acros 100, which I mostly shoot at 80 ASA and 50 ASA, and I find the picture are as sharp and crispy as those taken with the PAN-F.

Serge

MikeSeb · Jun 3, 2009

tmax 100 fits the bill also. It's as fine-grained as any if the films you mentioned, or more so, without the quality-control problems.

mawz · Jun 3, 2009

I'd say Acros. It's as high-resolution and fine grained as any of the ISO 50 films, lacks the potential QC issues of the Efke and Adox films and also lacks the sensitivity to developer choice of TMX.

JPD · Jun 3, 2009

Ilford Pan F+ and Efke 25 have comparable grain size. So if you prefer "classic" emulsions to faster modern T-grain emulsions (and whatever they are called), try Pan F+.

Mike Wilde · Jun 3, 2009

I find Pan F+ works best for me at ei25, and works very nicely for low contrast scenes. I find it doesn't do high contrast scenes as well as Plus x/FP4 tradotional mid speed films.

BradS · Jun 3, 2009

Like MikeSeb said above TMAX-100 is as fine grained and high resolution as any of the old style ISO 50 films...and it lacks the quality problems (Efke/Adox) to boot! Delta 100 and Fuji Acros would also be good choices.

RobertV · Jun 3, 2009

It's a difficult choice.
Acros 100 has excellent capabilities and can be only beaten by a cubical film from iso 25. Efke 25-Rollei Pan 25-Rollei ATP1.1 (Advanced Technical Pan - iso 32).

Controlling the contrast is not to bad with Efke 25 and Rollei Pan 25. The Tech Pan film needs a special developer to control the C.I.

I have very good experiences in the high definition developers like AM50 (Amaloco, based on pyrocatechine) and Beutler (metol) on the two regular films.

Here some shots to compare. (1) Acros 100 in Rodinal 1+50 (2) Rollei Pan 25 in AM50 1+29, (3) Efke 25 in Beutler 1+1+10.

Neal · Jun 3, 2009

Dear Terrance,

Don't forget that you don't necessarily need a slow film. Neutral density filters can be used to slow down Acros/Delta100/TMX to allow long exposures.

Neal Wydra

Thomas Bertilsson · Jun 3, 2009

I wholeheartedly (like a few others) recommend Kodak Tmax 100. It is incredibly fine grained while you can enjoy the benefit of one stop extra film speed and amazing reciprocity characteristics for long exposures.
You will not be disappointed with sharpness, grain, or quality of this amazing film.

- Thomas

jim appleyard · Jun 3, 2009

Neal said:
Dear Terrance,

Don't forget that you don't necessarily need a slow film. Neutral density filters can be used to slow down Acros/Delta100/TMX to allow long exposures.

Neal Wydra

And a polarizer!

RalphLambrecht · Jun 3, 2009

RobertV said:
It's a difficult choice.
Acros 100 has excellent capabilities and can be only beaten by a cubical film from iso 25. Efke 25-Rollei Pan 25-Rollei ATP1.1 (Advanced Technical Pan - iso 32).

Controlling the contrast is not to bad with Efke 25 and Rollei Pan 25. The Tech Pan film needs a special developer to control the C.I.

I have very good experiences in the high definition developers like AM50 (Amaloco, based on pyrocatechine) and Beutler (metol) on the two regular films.

Here some shots to compare. (1) Acros 100 in Rodinal 1+50 (2) Rollei Pan 25 in AM50 1+29, (3) Efke 25 in Beutler 1+1+10.

Robert

I'll take the one in the middle

Larry.Manuel · Jun 3, 2009

My results with Delta 100, exposed at EI 50, developed in Rodinal 1+50 or 1+100 give wonderful, silvery midtones. Very rich and fine grained. My observations with a grain magnifier under the enlarger show that the Delta 100 grain is similar in size to the grain in Agfa APX 25.

sidearm613 · Jun 3, 2009

I vote for Pan F. its my primary slow speed film in 35mm, and I think its absolutely wonderful. Bring a tripod though...

sidearm613 · Jun 4, 2009

Terrence Brennan said:
I recall having read somewhere (was it APUG?) that some of the EFKE emulsions are made by Adox (or is it the other way around?).

/QUOTE]

Currently, Efke makes some (many?) of the Adox films, but just to confuse you, they use formulas developed by Adox, way, way back when. But, that is technically a different Adox.

Alan Johnson · Jun 4, 2009

Pan F+ has resolution 150 lppm (see Thomas Wollstein):
http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=005G7o
Adox/Efke 50,IIRC, is about 105 lppm and is less red sensitive:
http://www.adox.de/english/ADOX_Films/ADOX_Films/ADOX_CHS_Films.html
In some cases the tonality of these traditional films may be preferred to that of modern tabular grain emulsions.

2F/2F · Jun 4, 2009

The Adox and the Efke are the same emulsions according to the employees at Freestyle.

According to DR5, Efke 50 is the most contrasty of the three Efke/Adox films. I only shot one box of it, and decided that I didn't need it AND the 25 (could not see a ton of difference between them), so I have just used the 25 since then, and occasionally the 100.

If you want Pan F to have any shadow detail in a normal-contrast situation (let's say a 10 stop luminance range), you are in trouble at EI 50. If not, then it will be great. It is ISO 50, of course, but it has a narrow range at box speed and recommended development. Pan F is one of the most amazing looking films I use, but it is definitely not easy or forgiving to use.

If you truly need EI 50 and "normal" looking shadows in a normal-contrast situation, I would suggest a 100 or 125 film shot at EI 50 and developed to suit. Flattening one of these films by a grade won't hurt too badly at all, and will likely help in many situations.

Philippe Grunchec · Jun 4, 2009

Give Fomapan 100 / Arista Edu Ultra 100 a try! Pretty cheap films, with "ancient" look.

StorminMatt · Jun 4, 2009

2F/2F said:
According to DR5, Efke 50 is the most contrasty of the three Efke/Adox films.

Just keep in mind that, as they say on the dr5 website, films processed in dr5 are essentially different films from the same films processed as a negative. Comparing, say, Efke 50 in dr5 with Efke 50 processed as a negative is a little like comparing Kodachrome with Portra. You REALLY can't say with certainty based on dr5 information that Efke 50 is going to be the most contrasty of the Efke films when processed as a negative.

ISO 50 films

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