New at Photokina 2012: ADOX SILVERMAX 35mm film 135/36

wblynch

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But can you send 10,000 sample prints to us for evaluation? I would be happy to receive one.


Thank you.
 

Flux

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Henning Serger said:
I don't think we can really evaluate the characteristics of a film by looking at the pictures online, on computer monitors. It doesn't make much sense.
Click to expand...

You also got the Wehner pictures online. It is not good for evaluating, but good enough to get a first impression.
Would you give me the link to the Wehner pictures? I am very interested.
 

Henning Serger

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Flux said:
You also got the Wehner pictures online. It is not good for evaluating, but good enough to get a first impression.
Would you give me the link to the Wehner pictures? I am very interested.
Click to expand...

O.k., o.k., you have all won.....
But really, it is only for a first impression. If I look at these slides on a lighttable and especially in projection, it is a completely different world compared to the very low quality on the computer monitor.

The following shots are all made on Rollei Retro 80S as an infrared film, using a Heliopan RG 715 filter (this filter blocks light up to 715 nanometer).
All shots developed by Klaus Wehner in his reversal process (a very sophisticated 20 step process).
Klaus Wehner has modified his reversal process for Retro 80S a bit for even surpassing the excellent results when using this film as an IR film. So he offers reversal processing of Retro 80S as a normal film, and additionally he offers a slightly modified process for 80S as an IR film ( he is a perfectionist concerning reversal quality).
The Dmax of his Retro 80S slides is in the 3,80-4,00 logD range.

Here are some test shots (no art....):

http://www.high-end-scans.de/img/bilder/web/Serger_SWD_RR80S_03_4000ppi.jpg

http://www.high-end-scans.de/img/bilder/web/Serger_SWD_RR80S_04_4000ppi.jpg

http://www.high-end-scans.de/img/bilder/web/Serger_SWD_RR80S_05_4000ppi.jpg

And here two shots which I have with full intent underexposed to get a "moonshine effect":

http://www.high-end-scans.de/img/bilder/web/Serger_SWD_RR80S_01_4000ppi.jpg

http://www.high-end-scans.de/img/bilder/web/Serger_SWD_RR80S_02_4000ppi.jpg

I am using Retro 80S and Superpan 200 for years now as infrared films with a Heliopan RG 715 filter. The results have always been excellent (the IR sensivity is on the same level as the Rollei IR film). I've always got an excellent Wood effect with brillant white with the foliage. The characteristic curve of these films is flattening a bit in the highlight zones (VII - X). Therefore you can even intensify the Wood effect by a light overexposure (and without 'burned highlights') to get an even more brillant white if you want that.
BW infrared slides look outstanding in projection. The brillant white of the foliage is really shining. It is impossible to get that stunning look with prints. As much as I love making my own prints in my darkroom, but with BW IR I prefer BW reversal, it is a league of its own.

Best regards,
Henning

P.S. Thanks to Dominique Ventzke for making the scans.
 

thomas l

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Henning, I'm sorry to say, but as Maco itself says that the films are identical and I remember even Schroeder himself stated exactly this one time after his end of work with Maco

But maybe it is a different batch, a batch which Harman didn't want to use, or something like that, I don't know. But it is completely clear that Harman did not make a special new film just for Mr Schroeder. We all see how difficult it is to make a new film.......and it would be really strange if Harman created a new unique film just to sell a small batch under the label of Rollei and stop production then. This would be completely nonsense and I'm sure that Harman does not make such nonsense. SO nobody believes this, this wouldn't be very logical. I'm agreeing with you, that Harman does not sell its products for OEM products, but this film maybe was not bought officialy directly from Harman - this is the reason why it was possible to sell it as Rollei RPX and this is the reason why Rollei RPX is running out. This is very simple if you are thinking logically about it

This does not mean that RPX was a bad film, please don't get me wrong

Thomas
 
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Flux

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Henning Serger said:
O.k., o.k., you have all won.....
Click to expand...

Thank you very much, Henning. I like the "test-shots" you made. I think everybody here knows that the monitors can not show how the projection or even the print look in real life.
I guess seeing the projection for the first time is quite stunning.

Kind regards
Tim
 

Henning Serger

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Hello Thomas,

thomas l said:
Henning, I'm sorry to say, but as Maco itself says that the films are identical
Click to expand...

no, they say exactly the opposite, that the films are not identical. I've talked to them about this topic at Photokina last week.
Ilford has very clearly told them that these emulsions are different compared to the Kentmere.
They are also in very close contact to developer manufacturers Wolfgang Moersch, Heribert Schain and other independent experts who have tested all these films side by side. And all have so far confirmed Ilford's statement.

As you don't believe Ilford, Maco, Moersch, Sänger, Schain I suggest you just do a comparison test by yourself. Then you will see that the films are different.
(BTW, the error on the German macodirect shop site has been corrected).


Of course they did it not for 'Mr Schroeder'. They have a contract with Maco. Mr Schroeder has retired more than a year ago, but the contract is still there. And both companies keep this contract.

thomas l said:
and it would be really strange if Harman created a new unique film just to sell a small batch under the label of Rollei and stop production then.
Click to expand...

The production is not stopped. There is just a new shipment from England on the way to Germany. The two RPX films will be available in the future. At Photokina they told me that the demand for these films is increasing.

thomas l said:
This would be completely nonsense and I'm sure that Harman does not make such nonsense.
Click to expand...

I completely agree that Harman does not make nonsense. They are very clever. And they are very cooperative. At Photokina I've heard so much happy comments about Harmans policy to cooperate with other companies. Their policy is very appreciated by their partners.
Harman produce film for Maco (the RPX line).
They also make paper for
- Adox
- Bergger
- Oriental.
It's part of their business to do OEM manufacturing. It works. It makes sense for them and their partners.

Best regards,
Henning
 
OP
OP

georg16nik

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Its a wild guess with those scans, look at the sky area of the 100% crops...
I am not familiar with this V700 (Epson?) scanner but it looks like 3200ppi is way beyond its optical capabilities and the grain is extremely interpolated..
 

MDR

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georg16nik said:
Its a wild guess with those scans, look at the sky area of the 100% crops...
I am not familiar with this V700 (Epson?) scanner but it looks like 3200ppi is way beyond its optical capabilities and the grain is extremely interpolated..
Click to expand...

This might be but the tonality is nothing like APX. Still I think think the examples look good just not like APX.

Dominik
 

Felinik

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Thomas Bertilsson

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MDR said:
This might be but the tonality is nothing like APX. Still I think think the examples look good just not like APX.

Dominik
Click to expand...

Tonality is somewhat in your control, by changing exposure and development. The characteristic curve I posted a few posts ago mustn't have been very accurate, then, since the Silvermax and APX had almost identical curves after x- and y-axis had been scaled to be the same for both films. .
 

Felinik

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georg16nik

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Felinik said:
Probably your computer has the images cached, I only get broken image placeholders from that cache link, thanks anyway! (Maybe you can dig them up from your cache?).

Click to expand...

Cache always off on my side - sorry! Besides, the images wasn't worth the look.
--
Thanks for sharing those, ath!
ath said:
ADOX Silvermax first shots / samples
Click to expand...
I wish folks used clean water, filtered fixer, clean tank/spiral etc.. while doing those..
Lots of white spots, and some of the frames shows the developer was not agitated properly..
 

Henning Serger

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Thanks, Tim.

Seeing the projection is indeed absolutely stunning! Not only for the first time, every time .
As much as I love doing my own prints in my darkroom, but BW slide projection with the right films is unique in its brillance and characteristic look.
There is a certain "impact" you can only get in projection. Difficult to describe in words, you must have seen it.

Best regards,
Henning
 

Trond

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I just upload a couple of prints from the new Silvermax film to the gallery. My first impressions of the film is very good. I used the Silvermax developer at the recommended time, and this produced negatives that were easy to print.

Trond
 

Oxleyroad

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My film order arrived today. I'll post some images after the race that stops a nation. That is I will post Wednesday next week after the Melbourne Cup horse race which is a public holiday
 

braxus

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So how are people liking this new film? How does it compare to other high silver films like Efke? How does it look when used in regular developers like Xtol? Freestyle should be getting more in hopefully tomorrow, so I've ordered a roll to try it. I do prefer old school grain films though, which is why I like Tri-X and all Efke films.
 

Richard S. (rich815)

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Whoa! $6.49 a roll when Tmax 100 and Acros are $4.50 from B&H?? And Fomapan100 for $3.69? Even FP-4 is only $5.75. That Silvermax better be something special....
 

Trond

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rich815 said:
Whoa! $6.49 a roll when Tmax 100 and Acros are $4.50 from B&H?? And Fomapan100 for $3.69? Even FP-4 is only $5.75. That Silvermax better be something special....
Click to expand...

Strange pricing!

Silvermax is the cheapest alternative when ordering from fotoimpex.de, even cheaper than Fomapan 100, while Acros is the most expensive.

Great film! Although I haven't made any direct comparisons.

Trond
 

pentaxuser

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Trond said:
Strange pricing!

Silvermax is the cheapest alternative when ordering from fotoimpex.de, even cheaper than Fomapan 100, while Acros is the most expensive.

Trond
Click to expand...

Not strange at all. We have been here before. It is yet another example of "what the market will bear" or what the seller(s) think the market will bear. Clearly the sellers believe there is a premium on something new with lots of silver in the U.S. market.

Cynical on my part? Of course but I am only reciprocating the cynicism shown to me by the sellers.

pentaxuser
 

Richard S. (rich815)

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As much as I'd love to try a new film I cannot justify using it vs all those other great films that are cheaper. Besides, I still think its just APX100 and I have a decent amount of that frozen still...
 

Oxleyroad

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You want to come dowm here to the southern hemisphere and look at the prices we have to pay. I buy all of my film from overseas now. If I run out of a film, then I have to wait until my next order goes out and is subsequently delivered. I have to admit that I have no preference between US, UK or DE as to where I purchase from as it is governed by what I need and what the exchange rates are. Funny thing I am often trying to save only AU$15 on a AU$400 order when comparing geographic locations. If I were to purchase locally the cost would be in excess of AU$1000.

Back onto this film: I find it makes a great reversal with plenty of tonal range when developed in D19. I will buy more in time as my stock deplete.
 
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