Since Adox makes several papers, lets be more specific: Adox MCC 110 is the same as Agfa MCC 111 except for the paper base which is now full white instead of natural white, and a slight increase in speed. Its made based on Agfa's MCC recipe on former Agfa machines with the help of former Agfa employees. The paper base change was not Adox' decision, the old paper base was just no longer available. Actually, when Agfa Photo went bankrupt, the remaining uncoated paper stock was bought by Foma, so in terms of paper base color Foma's FB 111 was/is for a while the closest to the old MCC.
Arne,
Thanks for this post! I have always liked the Foma FB 111 and now I know why. This paper, along with the Adox MC 110, are my two standard papers.
For years my standard was Ilford FB Warmtone and I still have a big supply as it is a fantastic paper and tones beautifully in Selenium 1+10.
Also, I was recently playing around with a box of Oriental VC FB which is not a paper I ever thought much of, but to my surprise it turned out to be really nice. The base is a bright white, it tones very well and has a nice surface when dry. On top of that, the price is not bad at all.
Apologies Merg, I missed your earlier question about the paper base.
It changed sometime in the past 3-4 years, I can't tell you an exact date. However I went to the large UK trade show, Focus on Imaging, about 5 or 6 years ago just after Agfa ceased paper production and looked at all the options for a replacement for MCC, I remember a long discussion on the Ilford stand about the creamy white paper base which I didn't like at all.
The old base was a very distinct creamy white, I was told that the paper manufacturer stopped making it so Ilford had to switch to the whiter base they used for other papers.
Ian
John, over the years I have used five now discontinued chloride papers: Haloid (Haloid Co.), Contactone (Agfa/Gevaert), Illustrator's Azo (Kodak), Azo (Kodak) and Lustrex (GAF). Haloid and Contactone would be at the top. However, any of these papers, with special attention to choice of developer could yield fine results.
If I can get Ilford Galerie G2, that is all I need. With a little chemical trickery the contrast can be easily varied, so I see no need for a multicontrast paper.
And the tone scale of a graded paper is - supreme. MG papers don't come anywhere close, in my opinion.
Bookmarks