Agfa Multicontrast Premium Black and White Paper

Agfa Multicontrast Premium Black and White Paper 

DESCRIPTION

The universal RC black-and-white photographic paper. High image quality for every method of exposure: Be it analogue or digital (laser).

USER REVIEWS

Showing 1-7 of 7  
[Jan 06, 2004]
homer3003
Professional

Strength:

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

Weakness:

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

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.

Customer Service

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

Similar Products Used:

Ilford Multigrade, Kodak (20 years ago)

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
[Oct 07, 2002]
zaxxon4
Intermediate

Strength:

Sharp details, and a clean gray tones.

Weakness:

I can't think of any.

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).

Similar Products Used:

Ilford (same specs), Forte (same specs)

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Aug 06, 2002]
Sergey
Intermediate

Strength:

Exelent blacks Non sticky glossy cover

Weakness:

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

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.

Customer Service

Good. (replied to my Email regarding filters)

Similar Products Used:

Ilford MG 4 Kodak Polycontrast 3

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jul 19, 2002]
Tom
Intermediate

Strength:

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.

Weakness:

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

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).

Customer Service

Not tried

Similar Products Used:

Ilford MGIV, Deluxe, Warmtone and Cooltone.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
4
[Nov 06, 2000]
simon schaap
Intermediate

Strength:

- beautiful tonal range
- tones very well
- reasonably priced here in the Netherlands (bought in boxes of 50 sheets)

Weakness:

surface gets easily damaged

This paper in its glossy incarnation looks much better than the Ilford equivalent. Furthermore, it responds very well to toning with Kodak Rapid Selenium Toner (strongly recommended!). I develop in Ilford developer.

Customer Service

never needed them

Similar Products Used:

Ilford and Kodak products

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Dec 10, 2000]
M J Magee
Expert

Strength:

RC Paper, The whitest whites, Pure blacks, Great middle tones, Archival

Weakness:

none

The best Cold Tone RC B&W paper made, try it, you will love it(I like cold tone papers not warm tone).

Customer Service

??????????

Similar Products Used:

All or them

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jan 08, 2001]
Bob Todrick
Expert

Strength:

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.

Weakness:

Possible bronzing (but they all do)

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.

Customer Service

Very good - see below.

Similar Products Used:

Most

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
Showing 1-7 of 7  

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