Agfapan Vario-XL (anyone used this?)

[MtnPhoto]

I have come possesion of 3 rolls of Agfapan Vario-XL ASA 125-1600 C-41 (Exp.1984) 35mm. Does anyone has some suggestions as to what ASA and developing tips for my Lab.

I was thinking of using the 1st roll as a test roll 10 at 125, 2 blanks, 10 at 400, 2 blanks, 10 at 1600. Then ask my lab to do a cut & develop seperately. Maybe to much fiddling but it might be interesting. I would love to find out if folks have used this stuff and/or creative options to use up this film.
Thanks, DL

 

[MtnPhoto]

It is B&W film that is processed C-41.

 

[Dougg]

DL, I have used 10 rolls of this film in 1982-83 when it was on the market... It was very similar to Ilford XP1 (now evolved into XP2 Super), and gets the same normal C-41 lab processing as if it were a color film ... and it does not have an orange mask as does the current Kodak BW400CN.

The quality of your three rolls depends on the storage to some degree; If it was frozen or at least refrigerated it stands some chance of being usable. Back in Oct 1983 I loaded some cassettes from a 100' bulk roll of XP1 and put it in the fridge. As fate had it, about half the rolls remained unused to be discovered anew 20 years later, in 2003. Yes, it was still good. A little low in contrast, but then XP1 was like that anyway, and this is actually preferable for scanning.

So... without the adveretising hype, Vario-XL is an honest 400-speed film, like XP1. I always had better luck shooting it at EI 250, for a bit richer contrast in the shadows and dark tones, and like any chromogenic film it's almost impossible to totally blow out the highlights despite what you might see in the scans or prints... the info is there!

I'd suggest you test a roll as you proposed, but narrow the range of exposure indexes a bit to, say 50, 200, 400, 800. Make sure you have the same full-toned subject with detailed highlights and shadows for all the tested speeds. Have it processed standard C-41 and see how it turns out!