Agfaphoto APX Pan 100-new emulsion

tho60

tho60

Well-known
Local time
12:15 AM
Joined
Jul 16, 2010
Messages
309
Dear Buddies,

what about the Agfaphoto APX Pan 100-new emulsion film? Some people claim that this film is not the same as before. It is quite cheap (in 30,5 m bulk the price is about 45 euro, almost the Fomapan 100 price). I have read that the new Agfaphoto APX Pan 100 is actually a rebranded Ilford or Kentmere, but some photographers disagree.

It is worth to buy this film?

Thanks, Thomas
 
Lupus is owning the Agfa Photo brand now and they made a deal with Harman/Ilford. Kentmere 100/400 is in these Agfa APX-100/400 (NEW) cassettes.
The film emulsion has nothing to do with the Agfa Leverkusen APX-100/400 film which last production was done in 2005/2006 in very big amounts.
 
Fotohuis said:
Lupus is owning the Agfa Photo brand now and they made a deal with Harman/Ilford. Kentmere 100/400 is in these Agfa APX-100/400 (NEW) cassettes.
The film emulsion has nothing to do with the Agfa Leverkusen APX-100/400 film which last production was done in 2005/2006 in very big amounts.
Click to expand...

That is correct.

The best replacement for the original APX 100 is Adox Silvermax:
It is the original APX 100 emulsion, but with a bit higher silver content, and coated on a clear triacetat base (so also excellent as BW reversal film).

Cheers, Jan
 
HHPhoto said:
That is correct.

The best replacement for the original APX 100 is Adox Silvermax:
It is the original APX 100 emulsion, but with a bit higher silver content, and coated on a clear triacetat base (so also excellent as BW reversal film).

Cheers, Jan
Click to expand...

Hey Jan,

I used miles of APX-100 from the later 1980's until it was discontinued (still have a few rolls in the freezer). I have been hesitant to try the Adox Silvermax because I keep hearing there is a limited quantity of that also and when it's gone, that's it, there is no more (don't want to develop a process for it and find I can't get that anymore either).

Do you know what the situation is with the Silvermax? Is it really limited quantity? Or is it something Adox can keep running for years to come?

Thanks,
-Tim
 
Also I'm almost certain that there ain't much difference in 100/400 speeds in these "new" emulsions. I've used both at ASA speeds from 50 to 1600 and it's hard to tell which film is which. Of course developing accordingly. I generally like to use them from ASA 64 to 320, faster then that and both of them are quite contrasty and grainy. Even in perceptol.
 
Well, the old APX-100 Agfa Leverkusen was a dream in R09/Rodinal 1+50 which I can not say for the Ilford emulsions, except PAN F+.

For a bit faster film you should try the new Foma Retropan 320 Soft, where the Soft stands for low contrast type film and indeed when checking this film with HC-110 (dilution B, 1+31) normally a pretty fast working developer, it is amazing how slow the contrast is going up with this combination, measured with my densitometer.
On the other hand it is a pretty grainy film and I did not check the film yet with an ultra fine grain type developer like CG-512/Perceptol/Microdol-X.
 
Timmyjoe said:
Hey Jan,

I used miles of APX-100 from the later 1980's until it was discontinued (still have a few rolls in the freezer). I have been hesitant to try the Adox Silvermax because I keep hearing there is a limited quantity of that also and when it's gone, that's it, there is no more (don't want to develop a process for it and find I can't get that anymore either).

Do you know what the situation is with the Silvermax? Is it really limited quantity? Or is it something Adox can keep running for years to come?

Thanks,
-Tim
Click to expand...

Hi Tim,

don't worry. There is enough Silvermax for many years to come. And Adox is working on a long term production of this film.

Shoot it and be happy ;).
Excellent film. Higher resolution, better sharpness and finer grain compared to FP4+, Kentmere 100 / AgfaPhoto APX 100 New, RPX 100, Fomapan 100.

Adox CHS 100 II has almost the same high resolution, sharpness is identical, grain is a bit coarser with CHS 100 II compared to Silvermax.
Both are excellent as BW slides films, too.

Cheers, Jan
 
It is available in 35mm only so for me already some limitation for an iso 100 film. But it is not a bad film, specs in grain like FP 100 and about the same price, Eur. 3,25 in DM Drogerie in Germany.
 
It is worth to buy this film?
Click to expand...
Depends how much you can get it for. I'm sure it is Kentmere 100 re badged so as such is a basic emulsion, its nothing like the original APX100 I used to shoot. It has a much harsher tonality in Rodinal and larger grain. Some photo supply companies are actively claiming it is infact Kentmere 100 and sell that instead

Kentmere 100 tends to be cheaper so I would spend your money on that if you like the emulsion rather than spending more on Agfa packaging

I was a big fan of the old Agfa APX100 and so I too have switched to Adox Silvermax which is a lovely film. It is better than the old APX in tonality and fineness of grain
 
I would know whether the Agfa is better than Fomapan? Prices are the same. Very interesting comments. Selling a downgraded film under a prestigious trademark; this actually ruins the brand's reputation. Why?
 
APX100 is not a bad film its a good basic emulsion. If you're looking for cheap film why not try a roll of APX100 and a roll of Formapan 100, develop using your preferred method and see which one you prefer before buying a large roll. For my way of working I prefer APX to Formapan but the choice is yours, it depends what you are looking for from a film
 
Bumping up this old thread. Fotoimpex has bulk of this film. Is it any good? It isn't possible that this is old emulsion. Is it?

I didn't like the fomapan. Its base was so soft and was scratching very easily.

Ps. I saw that they have silvermax at slightly higher price. Shall I prefer that one instead? I liked the old apx look.
 
I've slowly been going through my stock of 35mm APX100 with expiry 12/2014. Is that the old or the new emulsion?
Thanks.
 
It is mentioned on the box: APX-100 NEW.

The Leverkusen APX-100 from 2005-2006 has been gone everywhere, so will be the Fuji Acros 100 in a few months.
 
Timmyjoe said:
Hey Jan,

Do you know what the situation is with the Silvermax? Is it really limited quantity? Or is it something Adox can keep running for years to come?

Thanks,
-Tim
Click to expand...

All I know is the situation with the Silvermax in my freezer. I can influence this situation and it is currently quite good with many bulk rolls that will last long enough for me to enjoy this film.
 
valdas said:
All I know is the situation with the Silvermax in my freezer. I can influence this situation and it is currently quite good with many bulk rolls that will last long enough for me to enjoy this film.
Click to expand...

How do you find this film? How is it compared to fp4 and old apx ?
 
Fotohuis said:
It is mentioned on the box: APX-100 NEW.

The Leverkusen APX-100 from 2005-2006 has been gone everywhere, so will be the Fuji Acros 100 in a few months.
Click to expand...

In one of the old threads someone said that the apx in fotoimpex is old stock. Is it still possible? On apx100 it says new emulsion but on apx 400 it doesn't say.
 
It's amazing how these old film threads last longer than some films!

Thanks for clarifying Robert - and for your informative posts. I just found your RPX Flickr group too.

I tried the new rebranded Agfa APX100 [Lupus] when it came out against the original Agfa Gevaert APX100 (Leverkusen) in relation to grain, tonality and appearance using the original Rodinal formulation pre-R09 Rodinal - another rebranding and new formulation, marketed as the original 'Rodinal'.

The R09 Rodinal which you've referenced is not the same formulation as the original Rodinal, pre-Agfa collapse discontinued, less than 2 years after Agfa Scala was discontinued before the whole company collapse. As much as internet chatter has insisted on the similarities, the pH buffering of the R09 Rodinal formulation shifts the pH via Sodium Hydroxide. R09 offers a closeness to the original Rodinal however it is another confounding variable in comparing like for like Agfa APX100 [Leverkusen master rolls] with Lupus rebranded medium grain average 100 ISO film, now the only "APX100" offered on sale, in date. Still, the new ubiquitous APX rebranded product remains a shadow of its former rich tonality using the original rodinal formulation.

What do you think about RPX100 as an alternative for a 100 ISO film in lieu of the original Agfa Gevaert APX100 [Leverhusen]? I have only experience with its much slower RPX25. Silvermax is great for 35mm shooting, although Retro100 might be worth looking into? Were it not for Rollei's failure to master the anti-curl layer in Retro 80S' curling pompadour, tighter than Elvis', I would be advocating Rollei 80S as a tonal replacement and similar grain to the original APX100 - with heightened near infrared filming sensitivity. It's still a great film with identical box speed to Fuji Acros (ISO 80) and original APX100 characteristics in the original Rodinal developer.

Kind regards,
RJ
 
LeicaFoReVer said:
How do you find this film? How is it compared to fp4 and old apx ?
Click to expand...

I still have some old APX and also Rollei Retro 100 (I guess it is the same), but I don't see any disadvantages in Silvermax. I did not do any scientific tests, I am a bit sceptical when it comes to side by side comparisons - it has to be done "ceteris paribus"... but in real life we normally have a preferred technique, developer ect for each film. I just can say - I like Silvermax.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom