Contact Printing: Azo vs. Bergger?

[Stephen Vaughan]

Considering ordering some Azo contact paper from Michael A.Smith in the USA, but also heard that Bergger recently introduced a paper designed specifically for contact printing called 'Contact II'.

Has anyone tried it out? If so, how does it compare to Azo?

Thanks! Stephen Vaugh

[Sal Santamaura]

The current issue of Photo Techniques (US) has an article on all the Bergger papers, including Contact 2, written by Carl Weese. Carl sometimes contributes to this forum.

[Jeff Buckels]

The issue of Photo Techniques Sal is talking about is the Sept.-Oct. issue, which won't be on the stands for a few days (in Albuquerque anyhow). I asked Carl Weese about this. -jb

[Sal Santamaura]

Thanks for the clarification Jeff. The issue arrived in my (West coast) mailbox early last week; it hadn't occurred to me that they're dated ahead and not on newstands yet.

[chris kargoris]

Michael says it's no good Stephen and not a true silver chloride paper. FWIW their 200 film is no good either, grainy as heck!

[Michael A.Smith]

The Bergger contact 2 paper is not a true contact printing paper. It is not a silver chloride paper. It has a little bromide and iodide (which is a halogen found in films), and is fast, fast, fast--at least compared to Azo. It may be slow compared to other enlarging paper. I think there is a great mistake in the marketing of this paper--it should be marketed as an enlarging paper. Paula and I did test it and it was so different from Azo in all respects (including a recommended 5-minute developing time) that we could not honestly compare it. It is probably a beautiful paper, but it is not a substitute for Azo.

Michael A. Smith