POLL : The BEST enlarging paper is...

POLL : The BEST enlarging paper is...

  • AZO and only AZO

    Votes: 2 0.9%

  • Oriental Seagull Fibre

    Votes: 23 10.1%

  • ILFORD/AGFA Graded papers

    Votes: 20 8.8%

  • ILFORD/AGFA VC/Multigrade papers are just as good

    Votes: 109 48.0%

  • I have no idea either, waiting to see the answers!

    Votes: 77 33.9%
  • Total voters
    227
Last post - one day ago
The one before that - one day ago
The one before that - 2014
🙂

Got me a bit nostalgic for the glow of OC safelights and sounds of running wash water.

Back in those film days, for me, nothing but these graded papers:

Agfa Brovira
Agfa Portriga
 
I have AGFA Brovira which was given to me by RFF member. I was able to find it locally as well.
I also have same age single grade Ilford.
It will keep me going for another few years...

Honestly, as long as paper is not fogged and not turning grey on next day it is my favorite paper.
This old paper I have is very forgiving, new RC is too finicky sometimes.
 
RC paper is not good at all, the prints are not tenable.

It must be silver/gelatine paper with variable contrast so you can make split grade prints on it.

Agfa Brovira is no longer made, I think for more than twenty years now. The machines on wich Agfa paper was made are bought by Adox. Adox makes the best paper available, MCC 110. Adox MCC 110 has the deepest black of all the photographic papers on the market. It has however its price: EUR 100 for a box of 100 sheets 18x24cm.

Erik.
 
"It must be ...variable contrast so you can make split grade prints on it."
Erik, as a graded Brovira fan I must admit there are times that is an undeniable advantage.
 
Canyongazer & Narsuitus, given that Agfa Brovira is gone, what do you currently select as your paper of choice?
 
Deardorff38 said:
Canyongazer & Narsuitus, given that Agfa Brovira is gone, what do you currently select as your paper of choice?
Click to expand...

I am currently using 12-point glossy digital paper to print scanned digital images from medium format black & white film.

However, unless someone has a better idea, I contemplate trying 16x20 inch Adox Premium MCC 110 VC glossy fiber-based paper for my return to enlarger printing.
 
Thanks N. I'll have to give the Adox paper another try some time. I tried a couple of boxes of Vario Classic & MCC about 5+ years ago. For whatever reason they didn't stand out for me (could have been the choice of negatives). Foma Variant lll & Ilford WT (FB) get the most use in my darkroom. The Adox is in the price range of the premium papers. I'll have to give it another try just in case the supply of Foma dries up.
 
My absolute fav was Kodak Elite graded fiber. I always had boxes of grade 2,3 & 4 and several sizes in the darkroom all the time. I also really like Oriental Seagull
 
airfrogusmc said:
My absolute fav was Kodak Elite graded fiber. I always had boxes of grade 2,3 & 4 and several sizes in the darkroom all the time. I also really like Oriental Seagull
Click to expand...

I remember that Elite was very thick. I never used it much having gotten stuck on Zone Vi Brilliant. The new Oriental isn't like the old stuff. Airfrog, the real question is what are you currently finding that works for you?...
 
Elite had the most silver of any paper at the time so the tonal separation in the shadows was so subtle but terrific. When I was in college I had a couple of semesters of the zone system and yeah I did all the tests and I liked Elite the best out of several different papers I tested.

I haven't shot film since I lost my darkroom (divorce) and I had a darkroom at a clients and lost that a few years back so I haven't shot film in over a decade. If I still had a darkroom I would still be shooting film. I have been all digital for a long time now. I do miss the darkroom though.
 
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