Agfa Multicontrast Premium Reviews

Rating
Reviewed by: homer3003
(Professional)

Review Date
January 6, 2004

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Review 1 of 7

Price Paid: $0.00 from B&H, Adorama

Summary:

Agfa MC Premium offers a slightly cool-neutral tone when developed in Agfa Multcontrast developer. In Neutol, images will be more neutral; in Neutol WA, only slightly warm. My overall experience with this paper has been more than satisfactory and has offered better results than Ilford's standard variable contrast RC paper. One note about this paper: it scratches very easily when wet -- you'll need to use extreme care when handling your prints with thongs or when squeegeeing. In addition, you should also use Sistan (an image stabilizer) to help prolong print life.

Strengths:

- Relatively easy to print - Good quality control - Less expensive than comparable Ilford or Kodak products

Weaknesses:

- Does not tone well (common to all RC papers) - Easily damaged during processing

Similar Products Used:

Ilford Multigrade, Kodak (20 years ago)

Customer Service:

Bah!! Not needed. All the tech data is available on Agfa's website.

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Rating
Reviewed by: zaxxon4
(Intermediate)

Review Date
October 7, 2002

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Review 2 of 7

Price Paid: $10.00 from B&H

Summary:

I'd have to agree that this is the best paper. It has nice tone, and prints crisp (it's rigid enough to lay flat in its holder).

Strengths:

Sharp details, and a clean gray tones.

Weaknesses:

I can't think of any.

Similar Products Used:

Ilford (same specs), Forte (same specs)

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Rating
Reviewed by: Sergey
(Intermediate)

Review Date
August 6, 2002

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Review 3 of 7

Price Paid: $0.00

Summary:

This paper is beautiful. You can get as good blacks as you can ever get on this RC paper. Midtone gradation is exelent. Short developing times in Agfa chemicals and very consistant. I don't know why but is seems that old films emulsion such as HP 5+ prints much better on this paper. You could actually see that "sparkle" effect when you use old film emulsion negatives with this paper. I used MG 4 Ilford and its pale in comparision to this RC paper. Very good paper, try it if you used MG Ilford you will be surprized by difference.

Strengths:

Exelent blacks Non sticky glossy cover

Weaknesses:

Somewhat theen You may never find real Agfa contrast filters, they stopped producing them. Got to use Ilford of Kodak filters

Similar Products Used:

Ilford MG 4 Kodak Polycontrast 3

Customer Service:

Good. (replied to my Email regarding filters)

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Rating
Reviewed by: Tom
(Intermediate)

Review Date
July 19, 2002

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
4 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Review 4 of 7

Price Paid: $11.00 from Mail order

Summary:

Well worth trying if you want a neutral tone and the image is not printing well on Ilford MGIV. I find Ilford warmtone fantastic, but MGIV can be a little harsh. I have also had considerable problems with the shadows blocking up when the midtones are 'right' on MGIV. Agfa Premium sorted this out straight away, and on balance, I far prefer the look of the Agfa Paper for all of the half dozen or so images I have printed on it using the same developer (Ilford Multigrade).

Strengths:

Great mid tones without hard blocking of the shadows. Dry down also appears to fairly minimal. Looks great for the street scenes printed so far.

Weaknesses:

None identified as yet, though a little mroe expensive than the Ilford MGIV.

Similar Products Used:

Ilford MGIV, Deluxe, Warmtone and Cooltone.

Customer Service:

Not tried

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Rating
Reviewed by: Bob Todrick
(Expert)

Review Date
January 8, 2001

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Review 5 of 7

Summary:

As I've stated above, a great paper for use with conventional films where F/B is not needed. But I'd buy it for one other reason as well. When the bronzing issue first sufaced a number of years back, Agfa Canada was very straightforward and helpful coming up with remedies. Selenium and there own product (Sistan) were advised to help solve the problem.
What I got from both Ilford and Kodak was the old "you're not fixing properly!".....odd considering I've been in the darkroom for 20 years.....I think I know how to fix a print. Even now that there have been numerous magazine article, Agfa seems to be the only manufacturerer willing to admit the problem.
This speaks volumes to me.

Strengths:

Great contrast range and tonality, specifically with conventional (non T-grain) films. Different papers are made to match the contrast ranges of conventional v.s. T-grain films, I've found the combo of this paper with Tri-X to be very good.

Weaknesses:

Possible bronzing (but they all do)

Similar Products Used:

Most

Customer Service:

Very good - see below.

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