Film specifications#
- Manufacturer
- Agfa
- Film
- Agfapan Vario-XL Professional
- Speed
- 125
- Process
- AP 70 / C-41
- Formats
- 135
- Base
- Triacetate
- Made in
- Germany
- Status
- Discontinued
Character & history#
Chromogenic black and white film that can be developed in C-41 color process. Could be exposed from ASA 125 up to ASA 1600.
Description adapted from Wikipedia’s “List of discontinued photographic films” (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Exposure guide at ISO 125#
Sunny 16 for this film: f/16 at 1/125 s in bright sun. Negative film tolerates 2–3 stops of overexposure; slide film needs accuracy within about ⅓–½ stop.
| Light | f/2 | f/4 | f/8 | f/16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EV 16 · Snow / beach, bright sun | — | — | 1/1250 s | 1/320 s |
| EV 15 · Bright sun | — | 1/2500 s | 1/640 s | 1/160 s |
| EV 14 · Hazy sun | — | 1/1250 s | 1/320 s | 1/80 s |
| EV 13 · Cloudy-bright | 1/2500 s | 1/640 s | 1/160 s | 1/40 s |
| EV 12 · Overcast / open shade | 1/1250 s | 1/320 s | 1/80 s | 1/20 s |
| EV 10 · Sunset | 1/320 s | 1/80 s | 1/20 s | 1/5 s |
| EV 8 · Bright interior | 1/80 s | 1/20 s | 1/5 s | 0.8 s |
| EV 5 · Home interior at night | 1/10 s | 0.4 s | 1.6 s | 6 s |
| EV 3 · City street at night | 0.4 s | 1.6 s | 6 s | 25 s |
Push & pull options#
Tell your lab how many stops you pushed or pulled so development is adjusted for the whole roll.
| Adjustment | Rate the film at | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Pull 1 stop | EI 62 | Lower contrast, finer grain |
| Push 1 stop | EI 250 | More contrast and grain |
| Push 2 stops | EI 500 | Strong contrast, coarse grain, blocked shadows |
| Push 3 stops | EI 1,000 | Strong contrast, coarse grain, blocked shadows |
Long exposures#
Most films suffer reciprocity failure beyond about 1 second: they need more exposure than the meter says. As a rule of thumb add ⅓–1 stop for 1–10 s and 1–2 stops beyond 10 s for older emulsions; modern T-grain films (and Fuji Acros) need much less. Check the manufacturer's datasheet.
Similar films#
Other black-and-white negative film around ISO 125.
- Ilford FP4 Plus ISO 125
- SFL T-25 ISO 125
- SFL T-42 ISO 125
- ADOX CHS 100 II ISO 100
- AgfaPhoto APX 100 ISO 100
- Argenti Pan-X ISO 100
- Film Photography Project BW 100 ISO 100
- Film Photography Project Derev Pan 100 ISO 100
- Film Photography Project Emulsion X ISO 100
- Film Photography Project Let It Snow ISO 100
- Film Photography Project Svema Foto 100 ISO 100
- Film Photography Project Tasma NK-2 ISO 100
- Film Photography Project WolfMan ISO 100
- Film Photography Project X-Ray Film ISO 100
- Film Washi 'F' ISO 100
- Film Washi 'K' ISO 100
- Film Washi 'P' ISO 100
- Film Washi 'V' ISO 100
More Agfa films#
Frequently asked questions#
What ISO is Agfa Agfapan Vario-XL Professional?
125 — set your meter to ISO 125 for box speed.
Is Agfa Agfapan Vario-XL Professional still made?
No, it has been discontinued (?–c1989).
How do I develop Agfa Agfapan Vario-XL Professional?
AP 70 / C-41 process. Standard colour-negative chemistry available at almost every lab and in home kits (Tetenal/Cinestill Cs41).
Is Agfa Agfapan Vario-XL Professional available in 35mm?
Yes — formats: 135.
Sources & licences#
- Wikipedia: List of discontinued photographic films — CC BY-SA 4.0
Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources