[Minox] Agfa Copex 8x11film.com

perkeleellinen

Subscriber
Joined
Apr 14, 2008
Messages
2,906
Location
Warwickshire
Format
35mm
I bought a lot of old Minox film on ebay to harvest the cassettes. In the lot were two rolls of Copex Rapid sold by 8x11film.com:



Given the slow speed of this film, I think it might be worth shooting them. Two questions:

Can anyone estimate how old these are?
Can anyone recommend a developer?

Thanks!
 

xkaes

Subscriber
Joined
Mar 25, 2006
Messages
4,791
Location
Colorado
Format
Multi Format
I vaguely recall that Minox sold Copex Rapid film, but that's all I remember. The Minox experts over at the SUBCLUB might have more experience with it.

As to development, you can use any typical Copex Rapid (AKA, microfilm) processing. There are many to choose from, and they are basically just very low contrast (AKA, compensating) developers. Unfortunately, you don't have much to run tests on. "Normal" developers can be used -- but special techniques need to be employed to reduce the contrast.

Processing Minox film -- of any type -- is no different from processing 35mm or 120 or 4x5 film. I'm sure you'll get lots of suggestions from other here who have used Copex Rapid. I've only used Kodak and Fuji microfilm -- which is basically the same. For example, I use Fuji HS-U at ISO 50 and develop in D-76 (1+7) for 13 minutes.

Microfilm is great for Minox camera because of its almost nonexistent grain.
 

ic-racer

Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2007
Messages
16,546
Location
USA
Format
Multi Format

The label indicates to use Spur Nanospeed. Looks like one could buy them together at one time.

 
OP
OP

perkeleellinen

Subscriber
Joined
Apr 14, 2008
Messages
2,906
Location
Warwickshire
Format
35mm
Yes, it seems Spur partnered with Minox to market interesting film / developer packages. Digging around on Subclub, I think the films are probably 20 years old. With such a slow speed I don't think I need to reduce ISO any lower.

Does Spur still make microfilm developers? If not, maybe Adotech will be a good choice.
 

Minox

Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2022
Messages
357
Location
Europe
Format
Multi Format
I used to cut this film, the Agfa Copex (bought in 35mm cassettes), shot it at 12-25 ASA and process it in either Spur's own or Rollei RLC. The second dev here gave a good tonal range with less contrast, for which this film is notorious.
 

Sergey Ko

Member
Joined
Jul 13, 2021
Messages
119
Location
Vilnius, Lithuania
Format
Analog

dokko

Member
Joined
Oct 4, 2023
Messages
356
Location
Berlin
Format
Medium Format
ADOX CMS20II is the analog (or repacking) of Agfa Copex.

that's incorrect, they are two different micro film emulsions, with CMS 20 II being significantly higher resolution and finer grain, but also lower sensitivity.

I often wondered how Copex reacts to being processed in Adotech IV. someday I will try
 

Sergey Ko

Member
Joined
Jul 13, 2021
Messages
119
Location
Vilnius, Lithuania
Format
Analog
that's incorrect, they are two different micro film emulsions, with CMS 20 II being significantly higher resolution and finer grain, but also lower sensitivity.

I often wondered how Copex reacts to being processed in Adotech IV. someday I will try
I can't research this myself, I just repeat the rumors I read a lot. It was not the only Agfa Copex emulsion, also was Copex Rapid, etc. I can hardly believe that ADOX produced something NEW. If they did, why the stocks now is practically empty?
 

dokko

Member
Joined
Oct 4, 2023
Messages
356
Location
Berlin
Format
Medium Format
I can't research this myself, I just repeat the rumors I read a lot. It was not the only Agfa Copex emulsion, also was Copex Rapid, etc. I can hardly believe that ADOX produced something NEW. If they did, why the stocks now is practically empty?

oh, Adox CMS 20 II is indeed an Agfa Microfilm confectioned by Adox (they don't make a secret out of this), just not the same as sold as Agfa Copex.

Agfa has stopped all micro film production, Adox still has some CMS 20 II stock but can't buy new one. there's also some Agfa Copex out there but also only as stock lasts.

There's a thread somewhere on this forum where Adox directly writes about this.
 
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…