After my first couple of rolls of Acros, I was very impressed and eager to shoot and test it further. Unfortunately, B&H's buyers didn't seem to think it would sell, so they ordered only a nominal amount and B&H was out of it for a month.

Now that supply has caught up, I've been shooting it at every opportunity. I find that with each roll shot, I can't wait to develop and print it.

I can say unequivocally now, Acros is the most pleasing b&w film I have ever used. The tonality is extraordinary. It seems to combine the best of TMX's rich midrange values with Delta 100's ethereal highlight separation. Grain is tight and extremely fine--but use a high acutance developer!--and it is super sharp. I only wish it was available here in 4x5. Nonetheless, Acros' superb tonality often fools the eye and one has to examine a print carefully to determine it was made from a 35mm negative and not 4x5.

If this film does not soon become available in 4x5, I might have to finally give in and buy a 120 camera!

High praise to Fuji! Now, how about an Acros 400 ...? And please send us 4x5.

-- Ted Kaufman (writercrmp@aol.com), September 18, 2001

Answers

Gushing praise indeed Ted, but can you explain the Acros difference in slightly less mystical terms. For instance: I've never noticed any "ethereal highlight separation" in any film, that couldn't be put down to camera flare or some other tangible cause. It's also my belief that tonality is inseperable from fineness of grain.
At least tell us what you souped it in.

-- Pete Andrews (p.l.andrews@bham.ac.uk), September 18, 2001.

Look here www.badgergraphic.com for Acros in 4x5, 8x10 and Quickload. Look in large format > accessories > sheet film.

-- John Hicks (jbh@magicnet.net), September 18, 2001.

Pete: I use a developer of my own making that employs catechol. It is a staining type developer which yields tonal smoothness (and, yes, fine grain) much like PMK and DiXactol. And like PMK and DiXactol, it shows remarkably high acutance, thus it is particularly well suited to films such as TMX, which tend to look diffused in many developers. Acros has a look very much like TMX in terms of grain and sharpness, and it can also share its diffused appearance. In my developer, however, it appears very sharp, yet with a fine, smooth grain pattern that contributes to a very smooth tonal scale.

If you want to see the ethereal highlight separation I'm talking about, shoot some and run it in PMK. Then you'll understand. Otherwise, wait a year and I'll be happy to sell you some of my developer.

John: Thanks for the link. Damn that stuff is expensive! It's more than color transparency film.

-- Ted Kaufman (writercrmp@aol.com), September 18, 2001.

I agree with Ted, let me bore you with my last test of Acros: I recently bought a Gandolfi 8x10 from Badger Graphics and they did not have TMX in 8x10 in stock ( my film of choice) so I said what the heck send me the Acros, let's try it. I also develop my film in a Ctechol developer so I made a pic outside my house at 12 noon in the Houston summer heat.....my guess was since I use EI of 50 with TMX I would use 40 with Acros just to be on the safe side. Well after all the developing and printing was done I was looking at the test print and my roomate walked by....saw me looking at the pic and asked me "what is wrong with your pic?" I said nothing, it was just a test...and she replied " I tell you what is wrong! you have no shadows, you took the pic in the middle of the day and all is bright and sunny!"......LOL...she could see all of this in a half assed test print even though she knows nothing about photography and is happy with her Pentax IQ zoom I got her..... So If you want to see wonderful tone scale with bright highlights and well define shadows give it a try! I will comment on the fact that I did not like the middle tones as much as I do with TMX, but then my test was half assed using standard printing times etc.....

-- Jorge Gasteazoro (jorgegm@worldnet.att.net), September 18, 2001.

Living here in Alaska I sure do see alot of snow, and highlight separation is essential for snow- detail on the verge of d-max (shoulder?) sure is nice to have, and Delta 100 is the only film that gives me the highlight detail I like.

Etheral highlight separation is exactly how I would describe this quality, So IMO Ted nailed it with this description.

-- Mike DeVoue (karma77@att.net), September 18, 2001.

etheral highlights ... ah yes, I remember the first year in med school and a bottle of ether. never mind.

I was thinking I was the only bloke who loved TMX as dearly as I do. though I flirt with Delta 100, Agfapan 100, and now Acros, I always seem to load the Hasselblads or Technikardan with TMX when the chips are down.

now, if Acros 400 comes my way I will definitely be interested. I like TMY well enough, but not pushed, and would love to see a contender for Delta 400's spot.

-- daniel taylor (lightsmythe@agalis.net), September 18, 2001.