I've seen some brief references to Fuji Acros 100 ASA B+W film on the Net. Here in Australia I haven't seen this film for sale, but Barry Thornton on his web site gives a very positive opinion of a Fuji film that was new to him, Neopan SS 100. This latter film is available here. Are they the same film under a different name?

-- john stockdale (jjss@bigpond.net.au), June 21, 2001

Answers

Acros and Neopan SS are different films. Acros is the new Fuji emulsion that is supposed to be as good or better than T-Max 100, though I have had at least one report that it does not live up to this hype. It is currently available from B&H Photo/Video in New York.

-- Ed Buffaloe (edb@unblinkingeye.com), June 21, 2001.

As if this isn't screwy enough, the labeling is "Fuji Neopan 100 Acros."

This is _not_ the old SS....which may be a perfectly fine film.

-- John Hicks (jbh@magicnet.net), June 21, 2001.

I've used Fuji Neopan SS 100. It's a very nice traditional-type film, and cheap, too, at $1.99/36exp roll (B&H). I find it similar to FP4+, although I give a slight nod to Ilford in terms of grain and sharpness. SS 100's tonal scale is beautiful in PMK, but then so is FP4+.

I've yet to try Acros 100. I see Ed mentioned that it is now available at B&H, as of 06/21/01. It was not available 06/19/01, when I last checked.

Rumor has it that Acros' ISO is more like 50 than 100. The Fuji customer relations rep told me its grain rating is 7, vs. 8 for TMX. But if it lacks true (or close) 100 speed, I, for one, will continue to use TechPan in Formulary's TD-3, which gives me great tonal scale and amazing sharpness, with an ISO of 50.

-- Ted Kaufman (writercrmp@aol.com), June 23, 2001.