AgfaPhoto APX100 Review - 'German Quality'

Our Agfaphoto APX 100 review combines the community's comments, recommendations, sample images and feedback to give you an excellent overview of Agfa APX100 film's strengths and weaknesses!
To buy Agfaphoto APX 100 - or any of the other 200 films that we stock - then head to Analogue Wonderland here:
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Agfa 100 is a slow black-and-white film. This 35mm is well-suited to architecture, landscape and still life photography. It can be pushed or pulled by up to 3 stops.
Known for its fine grain and wide range of exposure, it produces striking images with excellent sharpness and contrast
In standard development in black and white chemistry it has a very fine grain texture with high resolution and tonal latitude.
Customers described it as a ‘perfect all rounder’ and great for those looking for a budget film that still produces high quality results.
Please note: all images used in the video remain (c) of the credited artist.
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[@chrpauls]

You could have mentioned that current Agfa APX 100 and 400 is produced by Harman Technologies (owners of Ilford Photo) and that this film is the same as Kentmere 100 / 400 and Rollei RPX 100 / 400. Surely that would be of interest to potential buyers?

[@lensman5762]

There seems to be a lot of comments stating that AgfaPhoto APX 100, Rollei RPX 100 and Kentmere 100 are all the same emulsion manufactured by Harman in the UK. I can not comment if Harman manufactures these emulsions, or just coats the base for any of those brands. What I can say that I have used Knetmere 100 and Agfaphoto APX100 in 35 mm and they look different to each other. I am no novice BTW, I have over 40 years of experience in film photography of all formats. There is also another review /comparison on KZbin by someone, who exposed and developed these films in a studio ( controlled exposure ) under identical conditions, and comapred the histograms generated by Photoshop. None of the histograms were identical, though there were peaks in similar positions . At the end of the day it doesn't matter if Harman manufactures this film, or Mr Ching Chow in China. What matters is that we have access to a decent B&W film that doesn't cost the earth, and hopefully it doesn't follow the same pattern of huge price increases of Kodak or even Ilford. Just use it and enjoy it and enough amateur detective work.

[@trulsdirio]

It is actually repackaged Kentmere 100, same as the APX 400 being Kentmere 400. Rollei RPX 100 and 400 are also the same stock. So if you can get one cheaper or easier, this might be something to consider. But to the film itself, it is great! Behaves well at ISO 160, wich is said to be the actual native ISO and gives you a bit more detail in brighter areas without loosing much if any shadow detail. I love it for summer landscape work or especially for studio portraiture. Handles high contrast really well and does not easily blow out highlights. Nice and sharp with good grain structure, it captures details really well. And it is really nice and cheap, I pay around 4€ per roll! My go to for anything not requiring more speed, with my APX 400 being my go to for everything that does. Do 90% of my work with it and love it each and every time!

[@dalkapur]

Its my 'go to' 100 speed B&W film. Pushes to 200 ISO very nicely with minimal increased grain. Just tried pulling to 50 ISO to reduce contrast, with equally impressive results.

[@gd4465]

How do you develop this film? I purchase this film and develop it in Adox adonal for 5 minutes 20°. It's unusable the grain is massif , I don't know what's wrong with it. Years ago I used to work with the old version Agfa APX at 100 ISO and used the real Rodinal developer and I had fantastic results, now it's a disaster.

[@richardsimms251]

Great video. Thanks

[@AnalogueWonderland]

You're welcome!

[@georgevincent6303]

I came across your review. As a former film guy I switched to digital early 2000's I went back to my darkroom recently and found two bulk film loaders with film in them I tested one marked HP5 Ilford developed it a bit of fog the other to my surprise after development in Rodinal turned out to be the 90's original Agfa APX100 after reading your review I'm so pleased the negs had no fog the images perfect Thank you for your post

[@AnalogueWonderland]

How exciting! Sounds like a great entry back into analogue. Thanks for sharing your experience and watching our video review 🙌

[@ingowalkerling5141]

AGFA invented the Latex-Coupler technology just when they went out of business. They sold the patents to Fuji, which turned out the Velvia films based on this technology.

[@Dan-ms4oq]

The video you want starts at 2:10.

[@rasitalpatasoy3866]

I have an important question: Can I use this film in Agfaphoto 35mm camera?

[@AnalogueWonderland]

yup!

[@erichstocker8358]

I believe the current Agfa APX100 is really Harmond Kentmere 100.

[@conrailwitty]

I found this "reintroduced" Agfapan 100 to be much more grainy than the previous version from 20 years ago. That being said I was pretty disappointed with it. I loved the APX 100 I shot back in the 1990s.

[@nicktinkl]

I agree 100 percent. I use ultrafine extreme 100 now. It feels more like the old APX 100.

[@conrailwitty]

@@nicktinkl What is Ultrafine Extreme?

[@nicktinkl]

@@conrailwitty Its a nice fine grain film that I found at a Toronto Camera store a few years back. I found it was a nice alternative to the original APX 100 which I shot a pile of in the nineties. When APX 100 was discontinued I replaced with Acros 100 (original) then of course it was discontinued then I stumbled upon this cheap gem of a film. I'm not to sure if it is a rebrand of something else. I found it had a really wide latitude when developed in D76 @1:1. Alas it has been back ordered at that store for at least half a year so this could also be a product that is no longer available.

[@Uwe_Ludolf]

@@conrailwitty I think that is the same as Fomapan 100

[@gd4465]

I have the same problem, it's unusable (developed in Adox Adonal 5 min 20°) Years ago I used to work with the old version Agfa APX at 100 ISO and used the real Rodinal developer and I had fantastic results, now it's a disaster.

[@sednoid]

All well and good except the AgfaPhoto films are just rebrands which have nothing to do with the real Agfa. These APX ones are made by Harman in the UK.

[@vinyljunkie07]

That's what I was thinking, the new APX-100 has nothing to do with the old emulsion. This is re-packaged Kentmere 100 I thought, the closest thing to Agfa now is probs what Adox are doing

[@sednoid]

@@richardjames3022 Rollei RPX is also made by Harman, most of other Rollei film is made by Agfa-Gevaert but it's aerial film and that kind of stuff. I think Adox Silvermax was supposed to be closest equivalent to the old Agfa APX but now it's discontinued as well...

[@mamiyapress]

I use this film all the time and it is great, my #1 film.

[@aag24]

Thank you sir.

[@SinaFarhat]

Nice!

[@Uwe_Ludolf]

There is nothing German in this film, other than a German company (Lupus) having the right to use the name Agfaphoto. As far as I know Agfa also never worked with Ferrania and only Ferrania film was sold under the name of Agfaphoto.

[@cecilsharps]

I've shot apx, i loved apx, i wept when it died. this isn't apx. it is a darn good film it just isn't apx.

[@kevin-parratt-artist]

This is Agfa in name only. The rebranding circus is such bullsh*t. It is nothing like the original APX100. Nor will there ever be another APX 25. A responsible reviewer would not talk about the history unless the true facts about what this actually is and who produces it are stated clearly.