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Thread: The search for Azo

  1. #1

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    The search for Azo

    After reading several posts on Azo, I decided to give it a try. I just got off t he phone with Freestyle. They only have Azo in grade 2 for 8x10 , unless I want to buy 500 sheets of grade 3, and they don't know when they'll be getting more. And it will take about 10 days to get here. Who has it in stock NOW? I ordered 50 sheets of grade 2 and maybe with Edwal ultra black developer this w ill give me the results I need. Most of my negatives are more suited for higher grades of contrast.

  2. #2
    Whatever David A. Goldfarb's Avatar
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    The search for Azo

    Alas, I think Kodak is only selling grade 3 8x10 in 500 sheet boxes now. Grade 2 8x10 is still available in 100 sheet boxes. I think grades 1 and 4 are no longer available at all in any size. Freestyle is most likely to have it in stock, but I've bought it off the shelf from B&H occasionally. Call to see if they have it. It might not be on the website.

    You might find that the long tonal scale of Azo changes your expectations about the grade of contrast you need.

  3. #3

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    The search for Azo

    I also tried Calumet and all they have is grade 2 in 100 sheets and grade 3 in 500 sheets. I'll try the grade 2.

  4. #4

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    The search for Azo

    I know Kodak changes things almost daily and could care less what its customers want or think, but are you sure the saleperson at Freestyle knew what he/she was talking about? I just took delivery of a 100 sheet box of grade 3 from Freestyle no more than three weeks ago. B & H has for some time been limiting sales of grade 3 to 500 sheet boxes but if Freestyle is now doing that it's only been within the last few weeks.
    Brian Ellis
    Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you do criticize them you'll be
    a mile away and you'll have their shoes.

  5. #5
    Whatever David A. Goldfarb's Avatar
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    The search for Azo

    If there is some interest among two or three people in buying a box of 500 sheets of Azo grade 3 in 8x10 and splitting it, I'd be willing to organize it. I quite like grade 2, but I'd like to have some grade 3 on hand, and would like to try it first before committing to purchasing a 500-sheet box myself. I'm in New York, so I could pick it up directly from B&H (saving shipping but incurring sales tax), though they say on the website there is at least a 2-week wait. A 500-sheet box is a bit under $300, so the cost would be about $60/hundred sheets plus whatever it costs to box and ship it. In any case, we could see who wants to do this, and then figure out what the most cost-effective method is.

    My email is dgoldfarb@barnard.edu.

    Meanwhile, Bruce, have you considered trying for contrastier negatives? I find that 8 minutes in Kodak Rapid Selenium Toner, 68-degrees F., 1:3, gives me about a one-stop expansion with TMX.

  6. #6

    The search for Azo

    I also ordered a 100 sheet box of grade 3 Azo on the 9th from Freestyle and it is suppose to arrive tomorrow. The stock # was 142- 0983. Now I am eager to see what shows up at the front door.

  7. #7

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    The search for Azo

    I may be interested in going in on a share of 500 sheets of No. 3. But first I want to try the No. 2 and see if it even comes close to the glowing reports. My hope is that I can eliminate most of the burning and dodging, procedures that I detest. After all, I spent oodles of time choosing a scene for an image, composing, approving of the light as I saw it and then I have to intervene and try to manipulate a life back into an image. Gadzooks, I might as well go digital! So yes, if my Azo experience is good, I would like to get some No. 3 paper. I should know in a few days.

  8. #8
    Whatever David A. Goldfarb's Avatar
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    The search for Azo

    My combo for Azo is Agfa Neutol WA 1:11 for 2 minutes and 3 minutes in Kodak Rapid Selenium Toner 1:15 to enhance DMax while keeping a warm-neutral tone. Go over 3 minutes in selenium and it turns an attractive shade of purple brown, if you like that sort of thing (I do only occasionally).

  9. #9

    The search for Azo

    I hope all of you are planning on making contact prints with this Azo paper since the speed of it is extremely slow. The only time I have ever used this type of paper was with a very old contact printer that was almost as bright as the sun. Don't expect to make enlargements on this paper unless you have an enlarger that uses an arc lamp. The paper I used (some 15 yrs. ago) had the most beautiful tonality to it and a beatiful black. Only problem was, I could only use it to make contact prints (from 4x5"). Of course if you are shooting bigger film, and just want to contact print it, you should be o.k. with it. Also, I just heard from a fellow photographer that Kodak is going to discontinue Azo soon. This may just be a rumor, not sure. Good Luck

  10. #10

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    The search for Azo

    For my two cents worth of opinion, I think 4X5 contact prints are beautiful, especially if mounted on 11X14 boards with lots of white space around them.

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