My first 2 rolls of Adox Silvermax

[Peter308]

I have just developed my first 2 rolls of Adox Silvermax 100 using Silvermax developer. Initial impressions are it really is a lovely contrasty wide tonal range film, I'll try and post some scans. Silvermax really suites bright direct light and in comparison to Ilford Delta 400 which I process myself, the film is thin and curly.

I followed the Silvermax instructions for agitation, being the Afa method of agitation for the first minute then one TILT every 30 seconds. I'm not sure what this precisely means so the initial agitation was inversion and the tilt was one inversion. Can anyone explain the Agfa method more precisely to me?

After dev, I used stop bath and fixed for 6 minutes with inversions every minute. Negs seem pretty good, maybe slightly thin.

 

[sepiareverb]

I've added about 20% to the suggested ADOX times for silver max. I wet print, and find the negs a bit easier with the added time.

 

[Rob-F]

What did you develop it in? I have some, and brought it along for a trip I'm on (SW US desert) but have never shot it yet. Is D-76 OK for Silvermax? What is recommended? I'd like to know more about that agitation method.

 

[Peter308]

My first 2 rolls of Silvermax

My first 2 rolls of Silvermax

Hi Bob, noted - I am not yet able to wet print but I intend to so the next couple of rolls I should I will try 12:30 rather than the 11 minutes recommended in Silvermax developer.

HI Rob, D76 should be fine, it is one of the developers aDox list and give times for.

Any views on the agitation method?

 

[Peter308]

I've just finished scanning my first 2 rolls of Silvermax 100 and here are some example files (just scans using a Plustek 8100 scanning as a negative then LR to invert, set B&W points and contrast and some sharpening). The only additional comment I would add is that because the film base of Silvermax is thin, it seems to scratch far more readily than the Ilford stock (Delta 400, HP5+) I use.

Any other Silvermax shooters out there who can share their experience?

 

[Peter308]

...and 3 more Silvermax test shots.

 

[oftheherd]

What did you develop it in? I have some, and brought it along for a trip I'm on (SW US desert) but have never shot it yet. Is D-76 OK for Silvermax? What is recommended? I'd like to know more about that agitation method.

It may be just a chance to make more money, but Adox seems to recommend their own Silvermax developer http://www.freestylephoto.biz/58650-ADOX-Silvermax-Film-Developer-100-ml for best results. I have yet to try it myself.

 

[Rob-F]

I'm surprised there isn't more activity on this! (Bump)

 

[2wenty]

If anyone is interested I came across this article that says silvermax is (or is a really good clone of) Agfa APX 100 (the original, not the relabel). The guy shows them both side by side and developed both in silvermax.

https://emulsive.org/reviews/film-reviews/film-showdown-adox-silvermax-100-vs-original-agfa-apx-100

 

[Rob-F]

He said they are the same in contrast. I see, consistently in three comparisons, a little more contrast in the Silvermax shots. The Agfa looks just a little flatter to me.

 

[traveler_101]

It is a fine grain film comparable they say to a tabular film in resolution. Here it is developed in D-76:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/93975264@N05/48873029396/in/dateposted-public/

 

[traveler_101]

Another one - Silvermax in D-76

https://www.flickr.com/photos/93975264@N05/48872498273/in/dateposted-public/

T-Max 100 also in D-76 for comparison

https://www.flickr.com/photos/93975264@N05/48873361362/in/dateposted-public/

 

[Mlehrman]

I've been using Silvermax for a few years, and recently have found excellent results in Rodinol semi-stand 1+100 for about 70 minutes (Massive Development Chart). I do overexpose a bit too.