Gast
Dear forum members!
I’m planning to take backlit shots – which naturally involve strong light contrasts – in black and white, and I was thinking of using a 100 ISO film for this.
My main priorities are good antihalation – i.e. no overexposure effects – and sharp contours.
Is there a particular film that stands out?
Many thanks,
Manfred
Gast
Agfa APX100!
Gast
RIGHT.....
Gast
Hi Manfred.
APX 100, right, a good choice and easy to process!
Alternatively: R3 (Rollei/Maco). Technically a 200/400 film, but its range extends from 50 to 6400 ISO. I use it myself (and its predecessor, the Cube 400c) from 100 to 3200 ISO in practice, so it’s a one-for-all! The results are superb....... but!!
The R3 is tricky to handle, as it needs to be treated differently from ‘normal’ films. This applies particularly to the use of the developer, the speed achievable with it, and the necessary development times! Incidentally, many development times available online are incorrect and can really only be used as a rough guide.
An example: anyone who performs the exposure of the R3 at 400 ISO and develops it in Promicrol 1:14 at 24 degrees for 10 minutes, as specified in the data sheet (for both R3 and Promicrol), is likely to be disappointed. The time isn’t long enough. In Promicrol, even with rotary development—which is normally 10 to 15 per cent shorter than the agitation time—I need 10 minutes and 45 seconds. Otherwise, it’s a superb film: super-panchromatic, very flexible, very easy to control, with a very rich tonal range even in the push range, etc. However, I don’t want to turn this into an advertising pitch. Unfortunately, the R3 is also very expensive.
Due to its construction (antihalation), it is certainly very well suited to your requirements (be sure to read the technical data sheet, which you can download from Maco). With the R3, you can achieve both extreme sharpness and very high resolutions. It all depends on you, the chosen speed and the developer used.
If using 100 ASA, you should develop it in LP CUBE SX (higher resolution). Promicrol also works at 100 ASA (greater acutance), but personally I only use the R3 with Promicrol down to 200 ASA. If you’re interested, I develop the R3 in the following developers: LP CUBE SX (50 to max. 200 ISO); Champion Promicrol (200 to 3200 ISO) and Calbe R09 (400 to 3200 ISO).
My experience here relates exclusively to roll and sheet films, as I only work with these formats. Development is always carried out in a rotating drum at 24 degrees.
Right, that’s it. It ended up being a bit more text than I expected. Good luck and have fun with it.
Regards, Lothar
fotohuisrovo
We have now finished testing the R3.
Here are our results:
In the low range up to ISO 200, but optimal at ISO 50: CG512, 23 minutes at 24 degrees. (Tilt)
At ISO 400 to around 800: AM74, 18 minutes at 20 degrees (ISO 800). (Tilt).
We haven’t yet found a good alternative above ISO 1000.
SPUR developers don’t work well with this film; ID11/D76 didn’t impress us either. Tanol produces an unusual (sharp) grain.
Xtol also seems to work well (customer feedback). We don’t stock any Kodak products.
Incidentally, Cube XS produces the same results as CG512.
Conclusion: An interesting film, quite developer-specific. Suitable for ISO 50–1000 with two different developers, no overexposure effects, and for a polyester base, the film lies flat. We have tested the 35mm and 120 roll film. Price: About a euro too expensive.
Robert
Gast
Thanks again to everyone – so I’ll be going for the APX 100 and will also include the new Rollei R3 in my tests.
Manfred
Gast
I’ll just put Fomapan 100 forward as another alternative for discussion.
I think it’s almost as good as APX 100 when it comes to light diffusion protection.
cfb_de
Hello Oleksander,
I’m happy to agree with you there. Fomapan-100 isn’t a bad film and can certainly hold its own against the APX100 in many respects. I’ve noticed a slight blue cast, but it doesn’t bother me at all.
Best regards,
Franz
Gast
I would agree with that; Fomapan 100 is very similar to APX100 (though it may have slightly lower speed...)
