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| Flooded village. Contax 137 MA, 50mm Planar, Adox CHS 100 II |
It may have had a gestation period comparable to an elephant's but Adox have now brought the roll film version of their really excellent CHS 100 II to market. I had a spell a while back when I was shooting nothing but that film in 35mm and I'd still be using it but for changing to a different style of photography that needs a faster emulsion.
I'm leaning more towards handheld shooting but if I can be bothered getting the tripod out again, I'll definitely be running some of the Adox film through the Rolleiflex. I'd mostly used it with Spur's HRX - a wonderful combination - but I think I'd give it a go now with Adox's own developer.
I did shoot a roll or two of 35mm back then and developed it in Adox Atomal but I didn't think the negs were quite as sharp looking as from, say, D76. However, that wouldn't be an issue with the 120 size and certainly Atomal produces lovely negs from fine grain and tonality points of view.
I also happen to think that buying film is all very well but it's often the chemistry that adds the icing to a company's financial cake so if you'd like to support Adox then buy their film but also stock up on their film and print developers and consider the rest of their chemistry.
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| Disused Boathouse. Same technical details as before. |
Of course, you're not limited to the fine grain Atomal. Adox do two versions of Rodinal as well - Adolux Adonal and Adolux APH09 - either of which would also be an excellent choice with the roll film version of CHS 100 II. Then there's Adolux ADX A+B, a two-part developer that produces nicely balanced results somewhere between the fine grain of Atomal and the accutance of the two Rodinal-esque brews.
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| Tenement Banister. Contax 137 MD, 28mm Distagon, Adox Chs 100 II. |
Back to the film now and here's what Adox say about it in their technical blurb:
ADOX CHS 100 II is an orthopanchromatically sensitised B/W film with classical grain and a sensitization optimised for grey scale separation.
The film is made from two separate emulsions in a single layer coating and yields a very large exposure latitude.
Due to its classic sensitisation it features a very harmonic tonal separation.
Compared to modern films it differentiates better between lips/face, clouds/sky, water/land.
The film is coated onto clear archival PET.
ADOX CHS 100 II and can be reversal processed (including the sheet films).
Due to the backside Layer the sheet films are retouchable with photo dyes.
In the 35mm and 120 format ADOX CHS100 II has two anti halation layers:
• Between the emulsion and the base (AHU)
• On the backside layer (anti halation, anti light piping and non curling)
Due to the extra AHU layer in the miniature and 120 format there are slight differences in the developing times between those films and the ADOX CHS 100 II sheet film.
In order to achieve a medium contrast of 0,65 reduce the sheet film developing times by about 10%.If you want to find out more, then here's the link to the technical sheet PDF. And some sample development times with different developers:
Key:
"Kipp" = agitation
"kont" = continuous
"alle 30s fur 5 Sek" = every 30 seconds for five seconds
"dann 10s pro minute" = then 10s every minute
"entwickler" = developer
If you use the search box in the right hand column of this blog you'll be able to find quite a lot of information and pic samples for Adox CHS 100 II and a little with it developed in Atomal and Rodinal. However, if you want to read some more right now then try these links:
Adox CHS 100 II in Atomal
Adox CHS 100 II: First Look
I was quite pleased with the post that's the second link. I managed to publish the first review of Adox CHS 100 II on the internet. Still haven't worked out how I managed it.
This is the first time I've seen a modern B&W film with two emulsion layers. Frederick Evans, in some of his comments on his church pictures, had raved about such a film. Are there similar films that I'm just not aware of?
ReplyDelete'The film is made from two separate emulsions in a single layer coating and yields a very large exposure latitude.'
ReplyDeleteThat from you, I loved Verichrome Pan, so I will try some of this film. Thanks for the research you did.
I've tested a couple of rolls a while ago and liked very much the results of this film, albeit I stand developed it (in Adonal) but was unhappy for the lack of 120 format. So, It'a a very good new for me. Hope to give it a try soon and this time I'll do a regular development... ;-)
ReplyDeleteLooks very nice indeed Bruce - lovely images again too.
ReplyDeleteCan I just add, seriously - GET YOURSELF A LEICA TABLE-TOP TRIPOD! You could handle low speed films like this in the M2 no probs with a bit of practice.
Most B&W films have two or more emulsion layers, normally separate monodisperse (same size crystal)
ReplyDeleteIf this has a mixture of two different crystal sizes in one layer it is called polydisperse.
I still have some of the old CHS 100 ART in 120 if you would like to try it and do a side by side I'll be happy to send you one Bruce.