Adox MCC 110
Freestyle Photographic Supplies, in partnership with Fotoimpex, Germany, proudly announces the imminent arrival a long-awaited photographic paper. That paper is the new ADOX Premium MCC 110 variable-contrast fiber-based paper. Designed to be the replacement for the late Agfa Classic 111 paper, ADOX Premium MCC 110 uses the same emulsion as the original Agfa, but on a neutral white paper base instead of the old warm base. Other than the whiter base, everything else about MCC 110 is exactly the same as Agfa Classic; the hundreds of tests done in the laboratory and in darkrooms around the world confirm this. Thus, we firmly believe that fans of Agfa Classic will embrace ADOX Premium MCC 110 as its proper replacement.
Testimonials
I am very pleased with my initial results working with the new Adox MCC paper. It has the best D-max of the three papers I tested it against, including the last of my Agfa MCC. The rich blacks and clean whites remind me of the original Oriental Seagull. When air dried to semi-gloss the surface is more lustrous than any paper I have worked with in years.
-Steve Anchell
After doing some preliminary testing of the Adox MCC110 I can confidently say that it's a paper that will allow me to make any print I've ever made, including ones that I have not been able to make for roughly 18 years, due to the various contrast limitations of other papers. Thus, the Adox MCC110 will quickly become my prime paper for my printing needs. Obviously I need to do further testing to discover all the minor details, but I've learned enough to know it's a fine paper." -Bruce Barnbaum
Testimonials
The new Adox paper is terrific. It has a very glossy surface and when air dried it is about halfway between a normal air dried glossy paper and one that has been ferrotyped. The paper is very easy to work with, it handles more like RC paper than fiber. It lies flat wet or dry and is very strong and stiff.
But the best aspects are the way it works under the enlarger. The paper has a huge contrast range and the speed of the paper is just right. My normal exposure range runs 8 to 20 seconds at the optimum ƒ stop of ƒ8 or ƒ11. Perfect.
I have saved the best for last. This paper has the best local contrast I have ever seen. This may not sound like much to a beginner who only looks at the overall contrast, but local contrast is the most important technical aspect of B&W photography. Local contrast gives the punch and sparkle to a print. It allows printing detail right on the edge of pure paper white and also deep shadow detail. Without good local contrast, prints will look grayed and lead the printer to excessive contrast in an attempt to make the print visually interesting. Lots of local contrast gives the printer elbow room to work within and makes a fine print that sings easy to create.
I chose a difficult negative that I have printed before. I made a test print and on the second sheet, nailed an almost perfect print. A little dodge and burn on the third sheet and I was finished! Pretty amazing.
-Gordon Hutchings
ADOX MCC 110 Premium has finally surfaced, through all the recent changes in the B/W printing paper market, as a preferred choice for fine art photography. It starts off with a bright white base and neutral color that produces amazingly clean brilliant tonalities.
When one creates a desirable separation in the mid-tones, it still leaves shadows open and highlights with appropriate detail. Selenium toning is very effective and easily managed with no split-toning or similar color problems.
-Richard Garrod
Anne and I, along with other photographers in a number of countries, had an opportunity to test this paper a while back. It was remarkable how similar in quality the paper was to the old Multicontrast Classic. One change from the original... Agfa Multicontrast Classic was coated on a "natural white," as opposed to a bright white base. That base was made especially for Agfa and is not available at this time. The new Adox paper has the same emulsion as the previous paper, but is now on a brighter white base. I have no problems with the brighter white base - though I really did like natural white base as a contrast to the bright whites of Polymax. Most photographers who evaluated the prototype test batch preferred the whiter base.
The paper seems to respond well to bleaching. Agfa type emulsions have often been more susceptible to staining with bleaching, but just be careful and keep an eye out for bleaching artifacts. It's good to see another quality silver halide fiber base paper available for those who still love the traditional (or as I understand it's now referred to as "classical") darkroom! This is a particularly refreshing announcement in light of the recent news of some traditional photographic products being discontinued, most notably Kodak's recent announcement that Kodachrome film is going away. Happy printing!
-John Sexton
From my very first test print, this new paper won me over! Finally a high quality paper that has all the characteristics that I look for in my work. MCC 110 impressed me with its amazing range of contrast from extremely soft to very hard. My first print made with this new paper is an image which is normally very difficult to print, yet with MCC 110 I was able to go from test print to final print in less time than any other paper before, and the results were remarkable. The brilliant, luminous whites that this paper renders are very controllable making it very easy to maintain subtle detail. The midtones show amazing separation, yielding very silvery-quality values. The shadows are capable of revealing the most delicate detail while still being able to produce a crisp, rich black. On top of all that, MCC 110 bleaches very nicely and tones in selenium to a good neutral or slightly beyond, making it capable of yielding a slightly warm selenium color if desired.
Even the physical characteristics of this paper are excellent. The surface air dries to a nice, smooth sheen - not too glossy and not too dull. The white paper base is perfect - not too warm and not too cold. I'll be using this premium paper from now on for all of my fine print work.
-Lynn Radeka
I have printed on ADOX MCC 110 and have found it to be a wonderful new addition to our ever shrinking arsenal of fine photographic papers. The clarity and depth of the surface and the wonderful tonal ranges put it high on my list.
-Kim Weston