I have been a regular user of Agfa black and white films, since the days of the famed APX 25, AgfaPan and other such long gone goodies. Honestly, the APX 100 and 400 (in old and new emulsions) were probably not the first in my b&w films list (Tri-X has been always the first), but they certainly topped on the first three places (HP5, as second place).
Good film, the APX 400; despite of its sometimes (and for some) boulder-size grain, I never was bothered with that. Grain is something one should embrace, not avoid. Its latitude is very good for what I need, on both push to 800 (farthest I needed) or pull (250); good results in both situations. Granted, it’s not Kodak nor Ilford, but this is because it’s Agfa. One of the best there are, for me at least.
Loaded this in a Nikon F2 and shot it as 800, processed the same, in Rodinal 1+25 for 20′; first minute gentle inversions, then 2 inversions every 2 minutes. The negative looks all right, let us have a look at the scans of this Agfa APX 400 pushed to 800.
I am surprised at how well it handled the highlights; given the snow and ice, I would have thought these would be blown quite bad. As far as I can see, they are quite tamed. The development? Could be.
Will I continue with this beautiful emulsion of Agfa APX 400 (pushed or not) ? Hell, yes!