Processing expired AGFA APX 25

bascom49 · Sep 11, 2015

I happen to have two 17 meter expired and unopened rolls of APX 25.
Does anyone have an opinion as what developer might be a good choice for processing?

The expiration date was 01 of 2003. Storage unknown.

Thanks
Charles

Ian Grant · Sep 11, 2015

Rodinal works best with APX film, try using at 12 EI and the old recommended tomes, I used quite a bit of AP25 ansd laer APX25 in 120 until it was discontiued.

Ian

Richard S. (rich815) · Sep 11, 2015

I've shot a decent amount of expired APX25 in the last few years, both 35mm and 120, and find in HC-110 little to any time adjustment is needed.

Bill Burk · Sep 11, 2015

If you use D-76 1:1 in a small tank, I can help you find a development time because that's what I use and I need to figure it out for myself. I've got a tail end of a bulk roll of APX-25 (expiration 01/97 on mine).

bascom49 · Sep 11, 2015

Bill Burk said:
If you use D-76 1:1 in a small tank, I can help you find a development time because that's what I use and I need to figure it out for myself. I've got a tail end of a bulk roll of APX-25 (expiration 01/97 on mine).

I do have d76 on hand Bill.
Let's give it a go.

Bill Burk · Sep 11, 2015

OK, according to my laminated datasheet for Agfa APX-25...

D-76 1:1 time is 13 minutes at 20-degrees C.

I have some other "high priority" film I need to develop right away that needs that same development time (my son's college class roll of film).

I don't know if you saw Stephen Benskin's post regarding the ANSI standards for speed determination. But there is a 5 day waiting period that you are supposed to use when testing amateur film. I am not going to expose a test strip and wait 5 days. So we shall call this film "professional" and I'll get this done over the weekend.

bascom49 · Sep 12, 2015

I'll shoot a few rolls and develop same as well. I have an x rite 810 densitometer, Ill check a test roll or two as well.

Bill Burk · Sep 12, 2015

You might include a few frames of something gray, Zone I checks (meter and stop down 4 stops) will lead you to a speed - probably 16 but it "means" 25.

In the middle of the straight line, shoot a couple frames a couple f/stops apart. So with those few shots you can establish contrast and speed - relatively speaking. I'll use the EG&G which will give me a full curve and we should be able to compare that.

Bill Burk · Sep 12, 2015

Good news
Bad news

Good: I loaded a short roll of APX-25 with enough room for a few pictures and a step wedge exposure
Bad: I heard the end of the roll come off the core.

LarsAC · Sep 13, 2015

Last roll I did was Rodinal 1+100 for 15mins at 20C. Was 120 film though, exposed for EI 16.

Lars

bascom49 · Sep 13, 2015

Bill Burk said:
Good news
Bad news

Good: I loaded a short roll of APX-25 with enough room for a few pictures and a step wedge exposure
Bad: I heard the end of the roll come off the core.

Sometimes I think photography is worse than golf.

Bill Burk · Sep 19, 2015

bad news
good news

bad news, I think we lost a stop.

I got a very low contrast index 0.4 and at the 0.1 speed point the EI is 8

I believe the EI would be higher measured by Delta-X but probably only 12, and more development is required.

I have B+F of 0.39 but believe the film itself has a tinted base, I don't believe the fog is serious.

So my assessment: Try 13 minutes in D-76 straight, and EI 12.

good news, I took a look inside the loader (with IR goggles) and I have plenty left.

Bill Burk · Sep 20, 2015

I looked at my curves for APX-100 (similar vintage). B+F 0.38, so that's to be expected.

After trying 13:30 and getting low contrast on APX-100 like these results on APX-25, I used D-76 1:1 for 19 minutes with APX-100 and got nearly normal contrast. So I am going to use 19 minutes with D-76 1:1 next time (instead of 13 minutes D-76 straight).

I skyped with PE and he suggested this long developing time might be due to an age effect he called "gelatin hardening".

Richard S. (rich815) · Sep 20, 2015

Bill Burk said:
I looked at my curves for APX-100 (similar vintage). B+F 0.38, so that's to be expected.

After trying 13:30 and getting low contrast on APX-100 like these results on APX-25, I used D-76 1:1 for 19 minutes with APX-100 and got nearly normal contrast. So I am going to use 19 minutes with D-76 1:1 next time (instead of 13 minutes D-76 straight).

I skyped with PE and he suggested this long developing time might be due to an age effect he called "gelatin hardening".

Just curious, why are you changing two variables in the next try?

Bill Burk · Sep 20, 2015

Richard S. (rich815) said:
Just curious, why are you changing two variables in the next try?

I'm only changing time. With numbers buried in narrative I can see how this might be confusing.

I did 13 minutes in D-76 1:1 the other day. I was only thinking about going to 13 minutes straight next time, but after seeing my comparable test result... I am going to use 19 minutes in D-76 1:1

mindthemix · May 12, 2016

Agfa APX 25 EI20
Rodinal 1:50 for 10 minutes
Pre-soak: 1 minute
Development: First minute continuos inversions then 5 seconds "wine swirls" every minute.

Processing expired AGFA APX 25

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