Adox Silvermax 21 ISO 100

[specpro]

Just developed my first roll of Adox Silvermax using Kodak HC110 dilution 31+1 at 7 minutes around 23 degrees C. Results are pretty good see some samples at my blog: http://adventuresinphoto.com/2014/04/13/adox-silvermax-21-iso-100-review/

 

[tsiklonaut]

Interesting, didn't know ADOX had such film. Have to try it!

One of my favourite films are the ADOX CHS series I've stocked up with. ADOX films are very underrated and still largely unknown films IMHO, despite their long history and high quality products. It simply don't get the brand name hype of i.e. Fuji, Kodak or Ilford heavyweight likes.

 

[oftheherd]

For whatever reason, I think Adox was a little better known in the 70s. I think Spiratone used to sell it, and probably others as well. I used to like it when I was in Korea, and liked it, but wasn't so sure it was that much better than Kodak Plus-X. It may have been the developer I used, which was D-76. Mind you, it did have smaller grain, but didn't seem that much better.

 

[Filzkoeter]

As far as I know the Adox today has not that much in common with the Adox back then.

It's a now brand belonging to the same guys that run Fotoimpex in Germany. But contrary to other brands (Rollei for example) they in fact started their own film production (I think on machines they bought from Agfa) and are making their own films (and papers) now (such as the Silvermax, which is a tweaked version of the original APX100... or the CHS100 II which was modelled after Efke100, but somehow tweaked and with better QC).
I have read that they work together with Inoviscoat for their coating, Emulsions are made in their plant in Bad Saarow in Germany.

In my opinion it's really worth to buy their stuff, as they had the guts to start a brand new film manufacturing plant... and simply that is worth to support.

 

[Tom A]

Chris Livsey in UK sent me some Silvermax last year and I have been trying it in various developers. This is in Td 201, a two bath developer from the Anchell/Troop "Film developing Cookbook". It seems to work well with conventional developer like D76.ID 11 and though it has a very thin emulsion base - even two bath works. Some "thin emulsion" developers don't absorb enough of the A bath to fully saturate the emulsion for the B bath.
This is my "test root" on a beach here in Vancouver. M6, Summilux 50f1.4 Asph. Td 201 3 min in A, 3 min in B with continuous agitation.

 

[tsiklonaut]

Yes, they do have long history and running their own machinery is something to be admired in today's economy. I discovered them somewhat recently buy I've never had a bad Adox film and I just hope I shoot more of it - in fact just bought some 6 rolls of Adox CHS 100 ART ! 🙂

On previous post - that's a great looking shot - a superb tonality out of small 35mm frame IMHO! Story says that Adox actually invented the modern thin-layer sharp emulsions before others started to copycat their "idea". Ironically it was through a happy accident in Adox factory by coating a batch of film series with thinner layer of silver instead of thick that was popular before 1970s, they noticed the tonality didn't suffer much while the sharpness/acutance greatly improved. Now it's a norm on much of modern film production. The downside is you need to have a right developer combo (solvent vs non-solvent) to use all the advantages of this technology(?)

 

[lynnb]

Tom, that photo is gorgeous. I must try this film.

 

[Tom A]

Chris also sent me some Adox CHS II 100. This is with a bit of a strange lens, a Menopta 53mm f1.8 that Brian Sweeney re-shimmed for me. This on a Nikon S2 - part of the Nikon Rangefinder Month in March.
At the moment I am on a Pyrocat HD "kick" so this is Pyrocat HD, 1:100 for 18 min with agitation at 3/6/9/12 and 15 min. The Pyrocat HD gives an exaggerated look of sharpness - high edge definition but it can also increase contrast a bit.
Kudo's to PhotoImpex for doing these films - and with summer coming - there will be enough sun to use 100 iso films too.

 

[JPSuisse]

I am really keen to try this film again as well. My first try was with ACUROL-N, which was pretty much a failure... Now I will try Rodinal with this I guess, as the only developers I have on hand are DD-X, Rodinal and ACUROL-N... Suggestion are welcome, if you have any experience with either of these developers with Silvermax!!!

 

[Mlehrman]

From passenger seat (daughter driving). Local lab in Manhattan, uses D76. Silvermax shot at ISO 100