AGFA Process 70

Let’s mention here AGFA Process 70. Belgian and German, AGFA was the taste of a chocolate chewing while driving a convertible Porsche to Cannes film festival. 

This is basically C-41, with the same temperatures and development times. C-41 was commercialized with different abbreviations by the manufacturers — CN-16 by Fuji, AP-70 by AGFA or CNK-4 by Konica [Wikipedia page for C-41 process]. Sounds like Big Mac, Whopper and Big Kahuna burger?

C-41 was the Kodak’s color negative processing version, introduced in the 70’s to replace the older C-22. 

My set had bleach/fix combined bath, which basically does the two steps together.

Here is the leaflet page for the process steps:

And here is the complete leaflet, if you are interested in all details.

Funny enough, there was no single mark on the packing of the kit about the expiration date. There was nothing that actually looked like a date. If AGFA product designers have not put a date, there shall be a reason for this. And while I was elaborating on that thought, I put several old color negative films in the baths.

I have plenty of expired rolls in my fridge, but decided to use some from the 80’s and 90’s, and definitely an AGFA.

AGFA Color XRG 200

AGFA Color XRG 200 in AP70

I haven’t had the chance to shoot this film when fresh and it is difficult to judge color rendition or grain. Developed with the standard times and temperatures.

Kodak Professional II Type S

When I google this film, the results show Vericolor film. However, mine had no Vericolor sign on the box. 

Kodak Professional II Type S in AP 70

I got muted colors with “strolling” greens. That look reminds me of Kodak 5247 motion picture color negative.

Kodak Farbwelt 200

When developed in C-41 in a professional lab, this film renders more yellow and magenta. With my processing I may go saying green is a green is a green is a green.

Kodak Farbwelt 200 in AP 70

If you are interested in some old photographic processes you may like to visit photomemorabilia.co.uk web site — a lot of useful information and history of old processes and films. Here is their page on early Agfa.