joe_weiler Posted October 22, 2004 Share Posted October 22, 2004 How good is 35mm Efke 25 film? (Distributer says it is made with ADOX formulas and provides a high silver conent emulsion) How does the grain, sharpness and tonal range compare with T-Max 100? Is it worth trying? Would appreciate any info before I order some from J & C Photo. Many thanks for you shared collective knowledge! JFW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilko bulte Posted October 22, 2004 Share Posted October 22, 2004 Although I have never shot 35mm Efke 25 I like it a lot in its 120 form. Some 50x50cm prints(that is approx 20" square) show a very nice almost grainless image. Bit of an apples/orange comparing 120 to 35mm but still.. I would sure suggest you give it a try, well worth it in my opinion. Wilko Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmc Posted October 22, 2004 Share Posted October 22, 2004 As far as I can tell the grain depends a lot on how you develop it. I got quite bit of grain - but I had it developed at some lab. I think you want to make sure you use the right chemistry and stuff... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim_shanesy1 Posted October 22, 2004 Share Posted October 22, 2004 Much nicer than T-Max 100. No comparison. Buy it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henricus Posted October 22, 2004 Share Posted October 22, 2004 I've only used the 120 ISO 50 version and overall I like it. My only complaint is that the film curls badly, but if you know this and use precautions it is only a minor inconvenience. Here is one of the pics I recently took with it.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jordan_w. Posted October 22, 2004 Share Posted October 22, 2004 I have tried exactly one roll of it, in 120, but got very nice results -- tight grain, very smooth tones. I developed in Rodinal 1+50. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henricus Posted October 22, 2004 Share Posted October 22, 2004 Shot with a Zeiss Nettar.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henricus Posted October 22, 2004 Share Posted October 22, 2004 You can see the orthochromatic effect on bike as it is actually black and red. The red portions look grey where the light hits it and black where there is more shade. Here is crappy digital of the actual colors.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majid Posted October 22, 2004 Share Posted October 22, 2004 Efke KB25 is very fine-grained, even in 35mm developed with Rodinal 1:50. There are reports it reacts poorly to Rodinal 1:25, however. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe_weiler Posted October 22, 2004 Author Share Posted October 22, 2004 Efke sounds like a must try film! I am planning to try in PMK Developer which I have never used before either. Many thanks for your input, Joseph Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patric_dahl_n Posted October 22, 2004 Share Posted October 22, 2004 Efke in 35 mm doesn't curl. Only the 120-versions had problems with that. I bought a 10-pack of the latest Efke R25 batch, and it seems like they have solved the problem. I love Efke. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troll Posted October 22, 2004 Share Posted October 22, 2004 Two years ago I shot about 10 rolls of EFKE 25 between Reno, Virginia City, Yosemite Park, Mono Lake, and the mountains and valleys in that area. It was exposed at ISO=25 and developed in Rodinal 1+50. It is absolutely beautiful stuff, easy to print 11x14 or larger! The exposure latitude is great (far better, I think, than Agrapan 25, or Ilford Pan F). It is extremely fine grained, and has that "full bodied" look more like Plus-X, not like TMX. I shot with a Canon Elan and 28-105 zoom, and sharpness was, unfortunately, limited by the lens. I have a roll in my Leica CL right now, exposed at EI=12, to develop in PMK if I ever fiish the roll. This is a really great film, IMO at least as good as, and possibly better than, Agfapan 25. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolfe_tessem Posted October 22, 2004 Share Posted October 22, 2004 I agree with Bill that Efke 25 in Rodinal 1:50 is absolutely gorgeous. Big, fat midrange tones just the way we used to like it before TMAX and its clones came along and confused things :-). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frank.schifano Posted October 23, 2004 Share Posted October 23, 2004 Well, I see that there are some who disagree with TMax 100 and I can understand why. Though I have no experience with any of the Efke films, and believe me I'm not trying to badmouth these films at all, I have used quite a bit of TMax 100 (TMX) over the past few years and I like it very much. If there is a B&W film out there capable of more resolution and finer grain, it's a rare bird. Developed in XTOL, TMX is a very fine film. If Efke 25 can best it in terms of grain and resolution, the differences will be overshadowed by all the other variables in the process from exposure to print. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viktor_pravdica Posted October 23, 2004 Share Posted October 23, 2004 Go for it!<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim_curry Posted October 23, 2004 Share Posted October 23, 2004 Efke 25 at asa 12, PMK @ 7:00 & 70f (my version of N development). This is the shot I use to show what Efke & PMK looks like. Nikon FM, 50mm lens, full sun and chrome, lots of it.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomas_sullivan Posted October 23, 2004 Share Posted October 23, 2004 Tim....is that PMK at 1:2:100? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulh Posted October 23, 2004 Share Posted October 23, 2004 I can't comment specifically on the 35mm version, as I have only just tried my first 120 roll of it in a Franka folder. The results are gorgeous, beautiful tones and no grain. I dropped it off at the lab / photo shop here in Amsterdam<P> Here's one <A HREF="http://pch.fotopic.net/p8302443.html"><B>example photo</B></A> - the scan doesn't do the negative justice. And <A HREF="http://pch.fotopic.net/p8328575.html"><B>another</B></A><P> The only negatives ('scuse the pun) are that it is a bit curly, and is quite easy to scratch if you're not careful. I'll certainly be using more of it in the future, and I'll have to try the 50 and 100 versions too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_lauritzen2 Posted October 23, 2004 Share Posted October 23, 2004 Anyone develop this in Diafine? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henricus Posted October 23, 2004 Share Posted October 23, 2004 PC, <p>Nice shots! I left my negs to dry and then sleeved and pressed them between two massive books. This helps with the curling, but I still had to be very careful not to scratch them. This was especially true when they were wet. I don't remove any water from the final negative. I let them dry while they are clipped horizontally. I also recommend a hardener and a wetting agent in the process of developing. How do you handle yours?<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulh Posted October 23, 2004 Share Posted October 23, 2004 Henry, I drop mine off at the lab, and pick them up a couple of days later :-) When I got the roll home (along with some Ilford FP4+), I cut the 6x6 negs into 3s, and put them in some sleeves, kept flat in a folder under some books. The Ilford, scanned the next day was flat, but the Efke wanted to curl. After a few days in the sleeves in the folder, they have gone flatter. One day I may get round to developing the B+W myself, but for the moment, the lab does a pretty good job, so there's little incentive, not to mention little room at home (Amsterdam houses are small!) Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henricus Posted October 23, 2004 Share Posted October 23, 2004 <i>"I drop mine off at the lab, and pick them up a couple of days later :-) "</i><p>I wish I could, but it is getting harder and harder to get b&w developed here. Most of the places that still do it are far away and expensive. :-( I've been using the c41 b&w films when I know I won't have time to develop it myself. I can just drop these off anywhere! :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gene_taylor Posted October 24, 2004 Share Posted October 24, 2004 I have used both 35 and 120 versions and they work great. Development in Rodinal 1+25 was just fine. To avoid that curve effet, I woud let the film dry in the spool, it really helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim_curry Posted October 24, 2004 Share Posted October 24, 2004 Thomas, Sorry to take a few days to get back about your question. Yes, the dilution for the chrome shot was 1:2:100, or a "normal" dilution for PMK. I use Efke 25 in low light as well, because of its good reciprocity characteristics and full inherent contrast. It takes some getting used to, but is fun to work with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
todd_phillips1 Posted October 24, 2004 Share Posted October 24, 2004 This film looks very interesting, and since I've never used it.... Where is it made? And where can one buy it in the States?? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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