Silvermax film

[Tony-S]

Has anyone used Silvermax film with its developer, and if so, what are your impressions of it?

 

[pstake]

I can not entirely answer your question. I haven't used the Silvermax developer. But I've used the film a fair amount with Rodinal (stand). It's my favorite combination when I can afford the speed. The shadow detail is remarkable. And very sharp, very wide tonal range. Really lovely film.

When I was researching it, I came across a post somewhere, in which someone had tried it with Rodinal and with the Silvermax dev. The results were blown up 100 percent and it was very difficult to see any difference between the two. Or rather, the difference was negligible / inconsequential, a matter of taste if anything.

In short, Silvermax with Rodinal is a tough combo to beat. I'm not sure why Adox decided to create a separate Dev. It would be interesting to learn their reasoning.

Cheers,
Phil

 

[Tony-S]

Thanks for your input. My readings on the interwebs indicates the SM developer provides greater dynamic range.

 

[Ricardo Miranda]

Phil
Was this what you were referring to? http://www.digitaltruth.com/products/product_tests/silvermax_filmtest_001.php

 

[pstake]

Phil
Was this what you were referring to? http://www.digitaltruth.com/products/product_tests/silvermax_filmtest_001.php

Yup.

 

[damonff]

I have made great negatives with D76 (1+1 - 9 minutes), XTOL (stock - 7 minutes), and TD-3 (1.5 hour stand). I have not used SM developer.

 

[piu58]

Silvermax is Scala 200, which is based on APX 100. Slightly simplifying, it ist an APX 100 on a clear base.

 

[Jesper]

Silvermax has become my main small format film and it works very well with the Silvermax developer. I haven't tried it with any other developer, and don't think I will since the dedicated one works fine.
Try it.

 

[bernard_L]

Just yesterday developed my first silvermax in HC-110 (dil. B, 7min @20°C). Looks like APX-100 (as mentioned above by piu58), consistent with the similarity in the HD curves. Really "shines" in scenes with high dynamic range, combining sunlit and open shadow parts. Presumably the character of the images is more correlated with the emulsion than with the developer. Strange statement found on the fotoimpex site: "SILVERMAX is only available as a 35mm film and will not be manufactured in other formats"; a pity, might change if sales reach sufficient volume.

 

[Trask]

Looking at the digitaltruth page cited by Ricardo above is educational in terms of Silvermax in SM vs Rodinal. But one thing that caught my eye is the general amount of detritus that we see on the images, for example, on the window screens and such. What are odd white spots, and the sort of fracturing that's visible? I've seen such before in some of my negatives and have wondered if I was seeing mild reticultation along with defective (i.e., not uniformly coated) emulsion. Is that the fundamental, basic structure of the film we're seeing there? I would have hoped for something much more uniform.

 

[ath]

FWIW I think the grain comparisons on digitaltruth done at 2900dpi scanned are next to useless.

 

[Jesper]

Ten years ago I read tests but today I don't.
If I worry about grain I just use larger negatives.

 

[Roger Cole]

Just yesterday developed my first silvermax in HC-110 (dil. B, 7min @20°C). Looks like APX-100 (as mentioned above by piu58), consistent with the similarity in the HD curves. Really "shines" in scenes with high dynamic range, combining sunlit and open shadow parts. Presumably the character of the images is more correlated with the emulsion than with the developer. Strange statement found on the fotoimpex site: "SILVERMAX is only available as a 35mm film and will not be manufactured in other formats"; a pity, might change if sales reach sufficient volume.

The only reason I'd be interested in a new black and white film available in 35mm only would be for reversal processing for projection. Or at least, the only reason I'd be interested in THIS one, since the vast majority of my black and white is shot in medium and large formats now.

I could imagine being interested in a super speed film that was effectively faster than Delta 3200 or the remaining-stock TMZ, but even then I'd bemoan it not being available at least in 120.

Still, I have been tempted to shoot some 35mm slides and send off to dr5, and this sounds like the perfect film for that.

Has anyone reversal processed it or had it done and can comment?

 

[miha]

Silvermax is Scala 200, which is based on APX 100. Slightly simplifying, it ist an APX 100 on a clear base.

None of the above films is made anymore while SILVERMAX is freshly coated.

 

[hacked - sepiareverb]

Silvermax is lovely stuff in both the dedicated developer and Rodinal. Smooth grain, beautiful tonality and a long scale. I've not reverse processed it.

I'd say it is slightly longer scale with the dedicated developer, but I don;t see a huge difference with it or Rodinal 1:50.

 

[ArgentixCa]

Good day all.
At present time, I have not tested the Silvermax 100 with its dedicated dev but I'm going down in Maine this weekend and I bring 6 of them I will process with the Silvermax developer.
I will try (not very fluent with this technology) to scan some negs to post here later.

I sold some to a pro photographer living on Montreal's North Shore and he replied back with something like AMAZING!!!
Another patron switched to this film as standard ammunition.

Anyway, it remains a question of personal choice.

I still have some sample of the Silvermax dev available in 2-ounces bottles. Yes the price may frighten, but for testing purposes, it is lot more interesting to invest for 6 films and decide after that.

Have a great weekend and see you in Boothbay Harbour!
Jacques

 

[pstake]

Couple of real examples. Here are two from the same roll, stand developed in Rodinal. Neg scans at 1600 ppi then reduced. Nothing else done. SM might have a longer dynamic range but I'm okay with the limited range available with Rodinal

 

[richyd]

I reversal develop it, produces beautiful transparencies. Tried one roll as negative but the slides come out better for me, wide range of smooth tones.

 

[Tony-S]

How do you reversal develop?

 

[AgX]

Strange statement found on the fotoimpex site: "SILVERMAX is only available as a 35mm film and will not be manufactured in other formats"; a pity, might change if sales reach sufficient volume.

In case the Silvermax is actually the same as Scala then most probably only 35mm raw stock is still around.

 

[Ricardo Miranda]

How do you reversal develop?

This might give you a start point: http://www.ilfordphoto.com/Webfiles/20114271220441194.pdf

In case the Silvermax is actually the same as Scala then most probably only 35mm raw stock is still around.

Mirko has said here and in other places that Silvermax is only available in 35mm due to the base film thickness and availability of the same. Adox had aquired several rolls of film base from Agfa at the time of its insolvency. Silvermax was coated at Inoviscoat on that film base that is only suitable for certain formats, not for 120. Silvermax was created by former Agfa employees now working for Fotoimpex/Adox basing the new film on the APX100/Scala films. That's why they are similar.

 

[AgX]

Ricardo, I was argueing on the line of those who believe that there is no new film.
In case it is a newly designed or re-made film, I don't see a technical reason not to coat on two different bases as done with their newest CHS film.

I don't know.

 

[miha]

Ricardo, I was argueing on the line of those who believe that there is no new film.
In case it is a newly designed or re-made film, I don't see a technical reason not to coat on two different bases as done with their newest CHS film.

I don't know.

I wondered the same: (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

 

[Ricardo Miranda]

Thanks Miha! That's the post I remembered seeing.

 

[AgX]

Well, Maco once converted stock made for type 135 into type 120. AS the do want another coating, Fotoimpex could do the same with a masteroll at hand.

(Yes, I'm aware of the technical implication this might have on the user side.)