Photokina: Positive news for film

[Edwardv]

Just as new films are being introduce or in the mix, the banks have to go bust.

[Henning Serger]

Hello,

there are some positive news to add. Last weekend a small, but very good photo fair took place in Münster, Germany ("Fotoforum Münster").
In Münster often the smaller, but very innovative German photo companies are presenting their products (film and digital). This was the case this year, too.

In Münster the photo engineering company SPUR (Speed Photography + Ultrahigh Resolution), http://www.spur-photo.com , introduced a new developer, SPUR HRX-3.

First of all, I think it is a good idea to introduce this company to you, because it's a unique company with unique products. They are the best experts for high resolution developers worldwide. No other company has such an experience.
They designed the SPUR Nanospeed developer for the Agfa Copex Rapid film and the SPUR Imagespeed for Kodak Imagelink.
Then they introduced the SPUR Orthopan UR film to the market (made by Agfa-Gevaert), with the dedicated SPUR Nanospeed UR developer. With this film developer combination Zeiss achieved the outstanding resolving power record of 400 Lp/mm.
Look at http://www.zeiss.de/c12567a8003b58b9...25711c006fc2c2.
This film is also sold under the Adox Label (Adox CMS 20). The Adotech CMS developer is made by SPUR for Adox (Adox has no own production facility).
Last year SPUR designed the SPUR Technospeed developer for the new Rollei ATP film. This developer is now exclusively made for Rollei by SPUR and called Rollei ATP DC. The resolution values of this film developer combination are extremely high as well. A bit lower as with Orthopan UR/Nanospeed UR, but you get double sensivity with ATP (32-40 ASA).

SPUR has also some excellent developers for 'standard' panchromatic films and paper developers in their production programme. The now introduced HRX-3 film developer is the successor of HRX-2. HRX-2 is well-known for highest resolution and finest grain with T-Max, Acros and Delta films. One of the best developers for these films, due to my experience over the years. I've always got outstanding results.
With HRX-3 you even get higher resolution, finer grain, better detail contrast and more exposure latitude. And improved shelf life of two years (it's a liquid developer).

The German enlarger manufacturer Kienzle ( www.kienzle-phototechnik.de ) presented his new washer system for fibre base papers. He told me that they see new demand for enlargers from Scandinavia and the USA. Some schools and universities are building up darkrooms again, or invest in new and more solid equipment for the future (Kienzle enlargers are extremely solid, full metal construction). The last years were very hard, but now he is convinced it was the right decision to stay in business. He thinks the future looks better for his business.

Best regards,
Henning

[foto-r3]

It is nice to hear of these recent developments. Keep the good news coming!

Another dose of positive energy from Spain:

Agreed, the new Rollei ATP V1.1 is a great film, especially when considering that exposure values of up 100 ISO can be reached with the *right* developer (e.g. http://www.foto-r3.com/en/argenti-hi-tech-250ml.html-0). The use of tech-pan-type film for handheld photography is quite interesting to say the least.

Cheers,

[walter ivenz]

Mirko,thanks for the interesting link , and the -fo rme-unusual jugedment for the Agfa-Gaevert Quality-film Avi Pan 400S "Made in Belgium"
which is used e.g. by the NATO as high definition avi-film.But what has this to do with the Agfa APX 400 "Made in Germany"?
Why you made the suggestion to replace the old APX400 through Avi Pan 400S?? As you can read in the Agfa Data-Sheet, the Pan 400s
is a completly different film-emulsion. The AVI Pan of course could be a good IR-Film, but not a sucessor of the APX400!
By the way, why would someone replace the APX 400?
In "goold old Germany" there is now offered a Agfa-Geavert Film, who is highly better, than the "new" APX 400.
Take a look at the Rollei Retro 400S ! The film - newly produced by Agfa-Gavaert -could be replace the APX 400. But he has nothing to do with the Avi-pan 400s.
In german speaking communities, this "replace" was tested an the users are highly impressed.
So, good bye APX 400 - welcome Retro 400S ! Soon in the US?
Kind regards
Walter

[Jayson]

thank you so much. any chance of finding 100t or fuji 160NPL in 8 x 10 color size?

[jmdco]

Dear Henning Segers, this is great news that you
bring, I am allowed to recount in my blog (http://jeanmarcdeconinck.blogspot.com/). I also mention your name
If you do want, let me know.

Jean-Marc

[Tristan]

Excellent to read, thank you!
What formats are the new films by Kodak being supplied as?
Obviously 35mm but what about 120, 4x5, 8x10?

[Fotogeorge]

....is in stock at B&H. My order is on the way. I'm anxious to test out the new film. I wish it was also available in 120.

[tim elder]

....is in stock at B&H. My order is on the way. I'm anxious to test out the new film. I wish it was also available in 120.

Glad to hear Ektar 100 is in stock at B&H as I'm heading over there in a couple of hours anyway and will definitely pick it up. Even if I don't use it too much in the winter months, I'm excited to try it out and I'm hoping that strong sales in 35mm will prompt Kodak to try it out in 120, which would be simply amazing - although, if it's anything like the old Ektar 25, I do expect "120-like" results from it in 35mm.

Tim

[Henning Serger]

Hello,

I've found another interesting article about this years Photokina from the perspective of a film photographer (Urs Bernhard).

Look here, "Photokina Impressions":

http://www.thiaps.com/editors/

Best regards,

Henning