Atomal 49/Atomal F - Is this the "New" Atomal FF?

[ozphoto]

Thought I'd pay the Adox site a visit after quite a while, and was surprised to see Atomal F advertised.

I have used Atomal FF since I started B&W photography and absolutely loved the results I got on all film types.

One lucky APUGer grabbed the last batch I had (I'm not using it quite so fast since moving to BKK), and I was resigned to never seeing it again.

Is this the same as Atomal FF? (I did note only the one F in its name.)

Anybody tested it and able to report their findings/results?

If it's as good as the original, I'd be happy to part with some $$ to snap some up. ​

 

[piu58]

Mirco form Fotoimpex sells chemicals produced in Calbe using the Adox label. Mircor wrote (in German)

"Jahrelang haben wir ATOMAL F als A49 verkauft.... Zu seinem 75igsten Geburtstag haben wir ATOMAL seinen ursprünglichen Namen zurückgegeben. Good bye A49, hello ATOMAL 49 !"

(For many years we sold Atomal F as A49.... To its 75th birthday we gave the devloper it's name back. Good bye A49, hello ATOMAL 49 !)

Atomal 49 ist the former A49, which has some connections to the old Atomal F from the sixties. Ulbricht sold the Agfa label in 1964 to Agfa Leverkusen, so that all chemicals need to be renamed. Atomal changed to A49, Rodinal to R09 and so on.
In the seventies or early eightieth the developer was reformulated. The developing substance hydroxyethylaminophenol (HEAP) was replaced by diethylphenylendiamine. This formula is still used in the new Atomal FF.

 

[ozphoto]

Thanks Uwe.

So it's the "new" version of the "old" version of Atomal FF! Great. Makes me very happy to know I can get my hands on some of this again - I really missed having it around over the past few years!

Looking forward to getting my hands on some to try out first hand!

 

[TriXfan]

So now you've got me interested Ozphoto -- exactly what do you find so great about Atomal FF -- including films, developing times, etc, that you like in it ?

 

[Gerald C Koch]

In the seventies or early eightieth the developer was reformulated. The developing substance hydroxyethylaminophenol (HEAP) was replaced by diethylphenylendiamine. This formula is still used in the new Atomal FF.

I think this statement says everything. If you liked the original Agfa Atomal you may not be satisfied with the new formulation.

 

[Ian Grant]

I thought the old versions of Calbe A49 used PPD as the developing agent.

No Atomal and MAy & Baker Promicrol both used N-(beta-hydroxyethyl)-o-aminophenol sulphate this was used industrially in the Eastern block for manufacturing something else (non photographic) and that stopped in the 90's. It's no longer economic as a developing agent.

As well as being a developer Atomal was also Agfa's trade name for the developing agent N-(beta-hydroxyethyl)-o-aminophenol sulphate

Atomal F and Calbe A49now use a PPD derivative CD-3, I have the formula somewhere. All the Calbe formulae were Agfa/Orwo so follow the Agfa numbering which was 9 for Rodinal and 49 for Atomal, neither have been officially published.

Ian

 

[ozphoto]

So now you've got me interested Ozphoto -- exactly what do you find so great about Atomal FF -- including films, developing times, etc, that you like in it ?

It's consistency regardless of the film I shot; I could guarantee a lovely tonal range, good grain structure and overall ease of printing.

And replenishing it was a huge money saver - a 5L mix lasted me for(almost)ever. I just kept copious notes of the number of films I developed and the type, and added replenisher accordingly. (From memory 12ml per 35mm and 14ml per 120.)

Developing times were not so different from D76, and as I shot almost exclusively Agfapan, once I had the times right, developing from roll to roll was a breeze.

But, I also shot Kodak, Ilford and Fuji during those days as well from 100ISO - 3200ISO and the development times were very similar, as were the results.

Incredibly, I even pushed 100ISO to 3200ISO and ok - it was pretty grainy, and higher in contrast, but it provided some great night sports shots that I otherwise would have had to pass on. (Got some great tennis shots from some of those 80s legends, since retired.)

I had pushed 400 - 800 on a several occasions prior to my 100-3200 jaunt, so I knew it could do the job, I just didn't know if those negs would be suitable in the end. It was a test of sorts - if it worked, great, if not no harm, no foul; but the results showed I *could* push it if I ever needed to, (although it would obviously be better if I grabbed some TMax 3200) and get myself out of a tight spot.

I've used D76 since Atomal's demise, and whilst I get good results, they aren't quite the same as what I was getting from my beloved Atomal.

I would like to try out some other developers as well, just to see what results I can garner with the mix of film/developer I choose. . . . .

 

[baachitraka]

Can you able to provide dev times for ILFord Delta 100 and ILFord Pan F with stock, 1+1 and 1+2 concentration of Atomal 49?

It's consistency regardless of the film I shot; I could guarantee a lovely tonal range, good grain structure and overall ease of printing.

And replenishing it was a huge money saver - a 5L mix lasted me for(almost)ever. I just kept copious notes of the number of films I developed and the type, and added replenisher accordingly. (From memory 12ml per 35mm and 14ml per 120.)

Developing times were not so different from D76, and as I shot almost exclusively Agfapan, once I had the times right, developing from roll to roll was a breeze.

But, I also shot Kodak, Ilford and Fuji during those days as well from 100ISO - 3200ISO and the development times were very similar, as were the results.

Incredibly, I even pushed 100ISO to 3200ISO and ok - it was pretty grainy, and higher in contrast, but it provided some great night sports shots that I otherwise would have had to pass on. (Got some great tennis shots from some of those 80s legends, since retired.)

I had pushed 400 - 800 on a several occasions prior to my 100-3200 jaunt, so I knew it could do the job, I just didn't know if those negs would be suitable in the end. It was a test of sorts - if it worked, great, if not no harm, no foul; but the results showed I *could* push it if I ever needed to, (although it would obviously be better if I grabbed some TMax 3200) and get myself out of a tight spot.

I've used D76 since Atomal's demise, and whilst I get good results, they aren't quite the same as what I was getting from my beloved Atomal.

I would like to try out some other developers as well, just to see what results I can garner with the mix of film/developer I choose. . . . .

 

[Relayer]

Atomal F and Calbe A49now use a PPD derivative CD-3

ATM49 use CD-1, not CD-3
http://www.adox.de/MSDS_ATM49(ENGL).pdf

 

[Роберт]

http://www.calbe-chemie.de/prod/pdf/11009 A 49 Entwickler (D).pdf

 

[ozphoto]

Pulling up this old thread to see if anyone knows where I can buy some Atomal 49 here in Australia?

As it's classified as a hazardous material I'm restricted in who can deliver from overseas - and it seems only Fedex, DHL etc are my only choice, which makes it pretty cost-prohibitive.

I was able to get some of Adox's Rodinol a few years back, through my local store, but that has since closed - there's obviously someone who imports it, but I'm not sure who??

 

[removedacct1]

Pulling up this old thread to see if anyone knows where I can buy some Atomal 49 here in Australia?

As it's classified as a hazardous material I'm restricted in who can deliver from overseas - and it seems only Fedex, DHL etc are my only choice, which makes it pretty cost-prohibitive.

I was able to get some of Adox's Rodinol a few years back, through my local store, but that has since closed - there's obviously someone who imports it, but I'm not sure who??

I don't know if Bergger's chemistry is more readily obtained where you are or not, but their BER49 is the same developer as Atomal 49. I use BER49 and like it a lot.

 

[ozphoto]

Thanks, Paul. I'll have a look at suppliers here in Oz - have seen their film, but not their chemicals.
Fingers crossed I'll have some luck.

 

[gorbas]

If anybody has craving or desire to try Original Agfa Atomal from one of the last batches, please let me know. I have 5 or 6 - bags of powder to make 1L.

 

[Martin Rickards]

No Atomal and MAy & Baker Promicrol both used N-(beta-hydroxyethyl)-o-aminophenol sulphate this was used industrially in the Eastern block for manufacturing something else (non photographic) and that stopped in the 90's. It's no longer economic as a developing agent.

As well as being a developer Atomal was also Agfa's trade name for the developing agent N-(beta-hydroxyethyl)-o-aminophenol sulphate

Atomal F and Calbe A49now use a PPD derivative CD-3, I have the formula somewhere. All the Calbe formulae were Agfa/Orwo so follow the Agfa numbering which was 9 for Rodinal and 49 for Atomal, neither have been officially published.

Ian

I routinely used Promicrol with FP4 rated at 200 ASA back in the 70s and loved the results. Its other developing agent was glycin.

 

[ozphoto]

If anybody has craving or desire to try Original Agfa Atomal from one of the last batches, please let me know. I have 5 or 6 - bags of powder to make 1L.
View attachment 230351

Lovely!!! I'm going to drown my sorrows in a beer (or four) and remember the "good ol' days".

 

[awty]

Thanks, Paul. I'll have a look at suppliers here in Oz - have seen their film, but not their chemicals.
Fingers crossed I'll have some luck.

Gold street studios lists Berg 49.