Arista Premium 100 ... is it Plus-X ... does anyone know for sure?

[Keith]

The reason I ask this question is because I've just shot a roll of Plus-X and developed it in Rodinal 1+50 and I'm really blown away by the look ... kind of old school black and white if you know what I mean!

I've not used very much of this film from a short dated lot that I bought from an eBay seller a while ago ... it's kind of been lurking in the freezer and the few rolls I have used I've developed in Xtol which gives it a very different look to the Rodinal and doesn't really bring out the film's true character IMO!

If I can establish that Arista Premium 100 is in fact Plus-X I think I'd definitely be getting a couple of hundred feet of it next time I'm ordering from Freestyle.

 

[Jaans]

Keith - I can't help you with that question specifically, but I'm maybe Tom A. had done some testing on that (I read something here a while back). Also, I have read on other forums soemwhere that it is the same, but don't hold me accountable for that.

I also like Plus-X and have used D76 as it is the recommended developer at 1:1. Lovely tones and you can get some strong/brilliant whites and deep blacks if you develop for longer.

 

[kxl]

I am convinced Arista 100 IS Plus-X. Here's a sample @ 125 developed in Microdol 1+3.

 

[Uncle Fester]

Hi Keith,

I am going to go out on a limb and say that it is. Freestyle says that it is made by a "Major American Film Manufacturer". Since the ONLY film manufacturer I know of here in the States is Kodak, I am sure that the film is at least a Kodak product. I have also heard that the 100 ISO film does not look anything like TMAX-100. I have read a lot about it and people consistently say that looks and behaves and prints EXACTLY like Plus-X.

If you look at the suggested developing times for Arista Premium 100 and Plus-X, they are the same, according to data sheets provided by Freestyle. I haven't had time to investigate this myself, but plan to as soon as I have time to do so in the future.

I hope that the two films are in fact the same, as Plus-X costs considerably more per roll than the Arista Premium 100.

Mike

 

[ItsReallyDarren]

I've developed both Plus-X and AP100 in the same tank. Everything came out just like Plus-X. Also Arista Premium has the same dark base color as Plus-X.

 

[Keith]

I am convinced Arista 100 IS Plus-X. Here's a sample @ 125 developed in Microdol 1+3.

Definitely the strong whites and lovely blacks that I'm seeing in my Plus-X shots ... it's a beautiful film alright!

These are straight scans from yesterdays pics with my V700 ... no adjustments at all!

 

[Tim Gray]

While no one can say for sure, it looks and acts like Plus-X. Same times, made by an American manufacturer, etc. So I think you can treat it just like Plus-X. Go for it.

 

[wayneb]

I had a strange experience when this first came out - bought maybe 10 rolls. First two I shot and were very overexposed. I shot the next roll at 400 and it was perfectly exposed. It was like they mislabeled a batch of 400. Now I'm scared to buy more 🙂

 

[Tim Gray]

Tri-X and Plus-X aren't *that* expensive for me, so I just buy them.

 

[Gumby]

I just buy the Kodak product, too... but I'm curious why nobody seems to say what the edge markings of the Arista product says.

 

[bwcolor]

Keith:

Why not just buy some Arista and see if you like it? Plenty of folks think that it is the same, so good chance you will like their product.

 

[Keith]

Keith:

Why not just buy some Arista and see if you like it? Plenty of folks think that it is the same, so good chance you will like their product.

I think I will eventually but unfortunately I just bought 100ft of Legacy Pro 100 which is supposedly Fuji Acros 100 ... not to mention the 100ft I have of Rollei Retro 100 in the cupboard which is suposedly Agfa!

It's all so confusing! 😛

Mind you with summer well on the way here in Oz I expect to be shooting a lot of slower film.

 

[allthumbs]

I just buy the Kodak product, too... but I'm curious why nobody seems to say what the edge markings of the Arista product says.

"Arista Premium 100"

 

[Freakscene]

The beginning = the end

The beginning = the end

Mass spectrometry of a recent batch of Plus-X and Arista Premium 100 indicates that they are the same emulsion.

Leica MP, Konica Hexanon 50/2. Arista Premium 100 @ EI 64, Xtol 1+3. Semaphore, Adelaide, June 2009.

 

[Keith]

Mass spectrometry of a recent batch of Plus-X and Arista Premium 100 indicates that they are the same emulsion.

Leica MP, Konica Hexanon 50/2. Arista Premium 100 @ EI 64, Xtol 1+3. Semaphore, Adelaide, June 2009.

Marty ... as always the reliable and informed technician!

Thanks for that info. 🙂

 

[Freakscene]

You're too kind Keith. I just have a science background and access to all the, er, not toys, um . . . equipment.

And I'm still not sure about the film base. I can't do advanced plastics analyses. They have the same density and very similar colour, but I am not sure if they are the same. It makes sense that they would be, but that doesn't mean they are.

Marty

 

[Scandium]

Arista Premium is Plus-X

Arista Premium is Plus-X

I've been testing a number of 100 ISO films during the past two months. I've completed testing of Arista Premium 100, Plus-X, Legacy Pro 100, and Acros. I'll be buying some 5231 and testing it next. I ran H&D curves on all four films in HC-110 at dilutions B & H. The Arista Premium 100 and Plus-X curves are identical within experimental error. As far as I can tell, they are the same film. Legacy Pro 100 and Acros curves also match each other within experimental error.

Thank you Freestyle for providing us such bargains!

 

[FA Limited]

if arista premium is iso 100 ... and plus-x is 125 ... what iso should you rate this stuff?

 

[Scandium]

Arista Premium 100/Plus-X EI

Arista Premium 100/Plus-X EI

if arista premium is iso 100 ... and plus-x is 125 ... what iso should you rate this stuff?

The difference between EI 100 and EI 125 is only 1/3 stop. Considering equipment precision, darkroom technique, and the wide latitude of B&W negative film, the difference is probably unnoticeable.

Both films measured identically in my experiments. I calculate an EI of 100 with HC-110(H), 7 min. @ 20C and EI 125 with HC-110(H), 7.5 - 8 min. @ 20C. EI 100 gives me negatives that both scan and print well in the darkroom, so that's where I'll shoot it most of the time. Pick an EI and see how the negatives come out given your equipment, developer, and technique. If the results aren't what you want, adjust the development and exposure to see if you can improve your results.

The ISO values assigned to films are obtained with precisely defined exposure and development and should be viewed as guidelines and starting points. In practice, exposure indices are affected by equipment variation, developer and development technique, desired negative density and contrast, etc.


Glenn