efke 400

nzeeman

nzeeman

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did anyone use this film recently. i searched the net but i didnt find many photos. i would like some more recent photos because efke stopped packing hp5 and started again making their own 400.
thanks in advance
 
few days ago I was ready to buy 30m roll of efke 400.... but found Ilford pan 400 for the same price (230kn ~ 40$)... don't know why... but Ilford prevailed 🙂

I never used bulk film before... so we will see... btw I will wind it on spool by hand 🙂
 
If this is the same film as ADOX 400 (PRO-line), the film has the same specs as Ilford HP5+. I used one or two rolls quite recently and it seems to behave like the HP5+ indeed: I was able to use the same processing 🙂, and it came out as purply casted as the Ilford equivalent 🙁.

see www.efke.nl for more info...

Groeten,

Vic
 
I got some in bulk about six months ago. I have tried it in HC110, Clayton F76 +, Rodinal and Diafine. Invariably I have been getting grainy and muddy looking negatives that are difficult to scan. I may yet find the right developer for this film and end up liking it, but after about five rolls I have put it in the freezer for later experimentation.

This one was developed in Diafine. I seemed to get the best results from this film using Diafine at 800 to 1200 ISO this one was shot at 800 ISO.
251856891_a029b40665.jpg


Here is a link to my Flickr tags for KB400
 
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As i understand it, from the million miles of Efke/Adox conjecture out there, the Efke KB400 that's available currently is a 'new' (meaning that it was created, but never sold to the public) Agfa formulation that was made shortly before they went belly-up (it was once HP5+, but i think Ilford no longer allows rebadging?).. Fotokemika bought that stock and is using it as their KB400, and when that stock is gone, something else will take it's place. Or something like that.. I'm sure someone out there knows more about this than i do, so hopefully any of my errors will be cleared up.. I have a few rolls of KB400, but have yet to shoot any, as i'm working my way through 2 dozen rolls of HP5+ that expired last year 🙂..

There's more info here.
 
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Well, I've been in contact with the Efke factory in Croatia about this and other films, as I'm dropping by there in September to pick up some film/paper from their factory store.

It is indeed a totally new 400 speed film, not repackaged Agfa, Ilford (as used to be the case) etc. I use mostly Efke 25 and 100, but will pick up about 50 rolls or so to play with while in Europe.

So far they say there is no interest for it from Freestyle (who has the U.S. exclusive distribution rights to Efke/Fotokemika products). But would agree to cutting some 4x5 if there were a big enough order for it. Still waiting to hear back from them as to what minimums would be enough....was on the phone to Croatia for over an hour last week.
 
i have some old fotokemika catalogue from 70s. they had kb14, kb17, kb20 and kb25. later they changed kb 14 to 25 asa( that would be 15 in DIN) and all others they changed 1 DIN up. so i think they upgraded all their emulsions and made 27DIN (400 ASA) from kb25 . many peple doubt that they have machines to make film faster than 100 ASA, but if they could make it in 70 why couldnt they make it now.i also think its their own film and not only repackaged.
 
The info that i used to form my assertion above was from direct quotes from folks who distribute the stuff (in the States, and Europe), *not* the folks who actually make it.. a vastly different thing, i have come to realize.
 
Cale Arthur said:
The info that i used to form my assertion above was from direct quotes from folks who distribute the stuff (in the States, and Europe), *not* the folks who actually make it.. a vastly different thing, i have come to realize.
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some time ago i saw on apug big argue about that efke 400. biggest problem is that fotokemika really did repackaged that hp5 for some time. now people lost faith in their capabilities. and also people think they are small east european factory which cant compete with ilford, kodak... i think that people who like black and white photography should buy efke from time to time. i would be very sad if their company collapse like forte did. people talked that forte wasnt good and later they were sad when they stopped production. east european factories biggest problem is that dont have fancy packages like big companies - and many people like products wrapped in nice package - even if that dont have anything with taking photos.
 
nzeeman said:
some time ago i saw on apug big argue about that efke 400. biggest problem is that fotokemika really did repackaged that hp5 for some time. now people lost faith in their capabilities. and also people think they are small east european factory which cant compete with ilford, kodak... i think that people who like black and white photography should buy efke from time to time. i would be very sad if their company collapse like forte did. people talked that forte wasnt good and later they were sad when they stopped production. east european factories biggest problem is that dont have fancy packages like big companies - and many people like products wrapped in nice package - even if that dont have anything with taking photos.
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Here's what i do know:

-- Efke/Adox films are what got me back into shooting B&W.
-- i think their packaging looks amazing, way better than most, but i'd use it even if it was wrapped in a paper bag!
-- I've bought more Efke/Adox than any other film, and can't imagine that changing (in fact, i just ordered more KB100 an hour ago).
-- i too would be very sad if they went out of business, as there's just no good reason for that to happen. Hopefully their honest intentions (and B&W shooters) will sustain them for a long while. If RolleiJoe's commitment is any indication, it all points in a very positive direction.
-- i'm genuinely interested to see what the new KB400 *looks* like, but have no interest in the pointless hot air that these topics seem to illicit from certain folks - it's just plain tiring.

So, all things being equal, i'm with you 100%, Nzeeman! 😉

Cale
 
Cale Arthur said:
Here's what i do know:

-- Efke/Adox films are what got me back into shooting B&W.
-- i think their packaging looks amazing, way better than most, but i'd use it even if it was wrapped in a paper bag!
-- I've bought more Efke/Adox than any other film, and can't imagine that changing (in fact, i just ordered more KB100 an hour ago).
-- i too would be very sad if they went out of business, as there's just no good reason for that to happen. Hopefully their honest intentions (and B&W shooters) will sustain them for a long while. If RolleiJoe's commitment is any indication, it all points in a very positive direction.
-- i'm genuinely interested to see what the new KB400 *looks* like, but have no interest in the pointless hot air that these topics seem to illicit from certain folks - it's just plain tiring.

So, all things being equal, i'm with you 100%, Nzeeman! 😉

Cale
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i know we are equal. i just hope that my post didnt look like i want to argue or continue that arguing from other sites about efke. if it looked like that - i am sorry - it is probably because english is not my first language so i use a bit agressive way of composing sentences. serbian language structure is much different.
anyway there is one difference between two of us - i ordered bulk of kb50 😀 i like it more than kb100. and i bought one roll of kb400 so we will see is it any good.
i hope you will make many nice photos with your 100.
Srdjan
 
nzeeman said:
i know we are equal. i just hope that my post didnt look like i want to argue or continue that arguing from other sites about efke.
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Nope, not at all - you're all good. I was referring to the argument that we both read 'over there'. As you know, it can get very discouraging to read those kinds of things, when you're just trying to learn..

I do have some Adox CHS50, which i'm looking forward to using soon! I believe i got the last of what J&C had before they packed up to move (to Las Vegas, as i just found out!). I may be getting some bulk Efke soon, as well - am going to be loading old Nikon cassettes! Good times...

What's your preferred developer for the Efke 50 and 100, Nzeeman?

Cale
 
Cale Arthur said:
Nope, not at all - you're all good. I was referring to the argument that we both read 'over there'. As you know, it can get very discouraging to read those kinds of things, when you're just trying to learn..

I do have some Adox CHS50, which i'm looking forward to using soon! I believe i got the last of what J&C had before they packed up to move (to Las Vegas, as i just found out!). I may be getting some bulk Efke soon, as well - am going to be loading old Nikon cassettes! Good times...

What's your preferred developer for the Efke 50 and 100, Nzeeman?

Cale
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i use some universal no name developer which dsome serbian firm make. its very very cheap - so that is only developer i can buy. i found good times with it for efke so i get good results. but probably i would get better results with some real film developer. maybe sometimes in future - for now this is good enough.
 
I have used Adox (efke) chm 400 for the last year or so. ISO200-1600 - just excellent results. I don't know ho to analyze this film and all I can say that when used with xtol (and xtol + rodinal combination) the tonality is just amazing and grain is small, but still very sharp. Check out under my signature (strap) that rock festival story, it is 100% adox chm 400 @ISO200. 1+2 xtol and traditional wetroom printing (prints scanned). And yes, I develop my negs slightly flat -- they also scan very very smoothly.

I have 80 rolls of chm 400 at the fridge and decided to buy 100 rolls more 🙂
 
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i developed my efke 400 few days ago and on film is written KB400. it seems that they really start producing 400 asa again and not repackaging it.
i also find on market some expired efke 400 from 1992. i wonder whats in it.
 
pmu said:
I have used Adox (efke) chm 400 for the last year or so. ISO200-1600 - just excellent results. I don't know ho to analyze this film and all I can say that when used with xtol (and xtol + rodinal combination) the tonality is just amazing and grain is small, but still very sharp. Check out under my signature (strap) that rock festival story, it is 100% adox chm 400 @ISO200. 1+2 xtol and traditional wetroom printing (prints scanned). And yes, I develop my negs slightly flat -- they also scan very very smoothly.

I have 80 rolls of chm 400 at the fridge and decided to buy 100 rolls more 🙂
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Hey, those are some REALLY nice shots. Great work. The film really resembles APX400 to my eye. Grain evident but in a good, sharp way, and some real luminescence to the tonality. Thanks for sharing.
 
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