Sea stack

Flamborough Head and Bridlington with Agfapan 25

By Mark Ellerby

22 September, 2026

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Photos & Projects

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Agfa Film Agfapan 25 Pentax ME Super
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Featured image above: Sea stack at Flamborough Head

I was given some vintage (25+ years ago expiry dates) black and white films which had been fridge-stored. Amongst these was a single roll of Agfapan 25. It wasn’t one of the first I tried, because the low ISO put me off a bit, thinking it might be difficult to get sharp images handheld. However during the summer months, the light is generally bright even on dull-ish days, and it’s only 2 stops slower than an ISO 100 film, so I thought I’d give it a try.

I used my Pentax ME Super, with a recently acquired Pentax SMC 35mm f/3.5 lens. I had read positive reviews about this lens on Pentax Forums (.com) so I was pleased to have found one for sale at £100.

Often I will go visit the Yorkshire Coast on my days off work, and Flamborough Head and Bridlington are favourites; not least because Bridlington has an extensive selection of excellent Fish `N’ Chip emporia.

Here are the pictures. With this roll, I wasn’t tempted to boost the contrast or push and pull it will Levels to make them pop. I like the smooth delicate tonality of the images and the amount of detail rendered I find really impressive. In short, they are lovely just as they are.

I would love to use this film again, but I only had one roll. As I keep trying to tell myself after recently experiencing a lost love: don’t be sad that it ended, just be glad it happened.

Dyptich
Unexpected dyptich at the end of a roll when I tried to get 37th picture and they couldn’t scan it all
Bridlington Harbour, lobster pots etc.
Lobster pots at Bridlington Harbour
Bridlington Harbour fisherman's workspace
Detail of fisherman’s workplace window
Flamborough Head
Another one of Flamborough Head
Low tide at Flamborough Head
Exposed rocks at low tide
Flowers
Flowers on the cliff path
Old tractor
Inside an old tractor at North Landing
Landing strip
North Landing boat winch road
People eating
People eating from cafe at North Landing
Boats at North Landing
Boats at North Landing
Boats at North Landing
More (pictures of) boats
Tin roof, rusted.
Hut at North Landing
Winching wheel
I think this must have been used for winching boats up the hill
Burgers
Burger and Grill place
North Landing
The road down to North Landing

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About The Author

By Mark Ellerby
I like to get out and about and take pictures. I enjoy using a few different cameras, film and digital.
Read More Articles From Mark Ellerby

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Comments

Miguel Mendez on Flamborough Head and Bridlington with Agfapan 25

Comment posted: 22/09/2026

Hermosas fotos , un saludo desde Nuenos Aires. @miganmendez.
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Mark Ellerby replied:

Comment posted: 22/09/2026

Thankyou I'm pleased you like them. Greetings from South Yorkshire!

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Geoff Chaplin on Flamborough Head and Bridlington with Agfapan 25

Comment posted: 22/09/2026

Lovely shots and tones - you're right, perfect just as they are! I do prefer slow films to fast but generally use 100+/- asa stock. The Aviphot 80 film is well worth a try - marketed as Rollei RPX 25, Retro 80, and Adox HR-50; very fine grain.
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Mark Ellerby replied:

Comment posted: 22/09/2026

Thanks Geoff. I will try those you recommend. Actually I have 2 rolls of the Adox bought recently.

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Simon Foale on Flamborough Head and Bridlington with Agfapan 25

Comment posted: 22/09/2026

Great compositions and beautiful tones.
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Mark Ellerby replied:

Comment posted: 22/09/2026

Thanks Simon.

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Roger on Flamborough Head and Bridlington with Agfapan 25

Comment posted: 22/09/2026

I like the images ant the range of tones, which remind me of the tones I used to get many years ago in the darkroom with Pan F. I’ve tried to repeat that recently but failed, which increases my admiration.
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Mark Ellerby replied:

Comment posted: 22/09/2026

Thanks Roger. I used AG Photo lab to process and scan these. I recommend them.

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Roger replied:

Comment posted: 22/09/2026

Maybe my problem is doing my own development, though I ought to be able to get that right.

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Mark Ellerby replied:

Comment posted: 22/09/2026

I don't do my own dev anymore but I imagine Rodinal would be good for this because the grain is so fine it won't look intrusive. I don't know about the data for this film though as it's so old. Maybe the Massive Dev Chart might help..

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Jeffery Luhn on Flamborough Head and Bridlington with Agfapan 25

Comment posted: 22/09/2026

Mark,
These are quite nice! The tonal range delivered with the slow film and proper development is impressive. So are your compositions. I love the look of that location. There's only one partial frame with a delivery van that infers these shots weren't taken 50 years ago. They have a timeless feel. Sadly, Agfapan 25 and Kodak Panatomic X are no longer made. Ilford FP4, which is the slowest film I use these days, is better than Ilford HP5, but nothing like Panatomic X. Your photos have inspired me to search for some comparisons of currently available slow films.
Thanks,
Jeffery
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Mark Ellerby replied:

Comment posted: 22/09/2026

Thanks Jeffrey. I was impressed with the fine detail revealed by this film, and it suited the subject and the weather that day. There are other slow film available; see Geoff's comment above.

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CHRISTOF RAMPITSCH on Flamborough Head and Bridlington with Agfapan 25

Comment posted: 22/09/2026

Agfapan 25 is the film I miss the most - more than PlusX, Kodachrome 64 and many others - the demise of Agfapan 25 is a real tragedy! I used to use it all the time in the 1990s, usually shooting at 12 ASA and developing it in Rodinal. Some of your images (the lobster boxes and the window) have a very definite Rodinal look to them! I was pretty excited when Rollei released a 25-speed film, but it's nowhere near as good. At least you got to experience it once - and you definitely made excellent use of it!
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Mark Ellerby replied:

Comment posted: 22/09/2026

Thanks Christof. I feel lucky to have used it. My next one to try is Adox HR50.

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Alexander Seidler on Flamborough Head and Bridlington with Agfapan 25

Comment posted: 23/09/2026

Beautiful, Mark !
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Mark Ellerby replied:

Comment posted: 23/09/2026

Thank you Alexander

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RichardH on Flamborough Head and Bridlington with Agfapan 25

Comment posted: 23/09/2026

Mark: I am enjoying these seaside images. Your framing is delightful, inviting us to settle in for a while with the fishing crews and the day trippers. I think you may have some similar success with Adox HR50. Adox has tamed some of the contrast of the Aviphot emulsion. I achieved some good results with HR50 by exposing for the highlights: underexposing in high contrast scenes.
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Mark Ellerby replied:

Comment posted: 23/09/2026

Thankyou Richard. I'm looking forward to trying the Adox and I'll write a post about it.

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David Pauley on Flamborough Head and Bridlington with Agfapan 25

Comment posted: 24/09/2026

Hi Mark, thanks for the thoroughly enjoyable piece and lovely photos. I'm surprised you were able to get such elegant results from a long-expired films (my one experience was a bit more mixed). As others have said your compositions draw one in. It's nice to see a part of the world I might otherwise never have heard of.
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Mark Ellerby replied:

Comment posted: 24/09/2026

I'm glad you like my compositions David. The film was owned by someone I know who promised it had been fridge stored since new. That's the key I think. Also ive heard that slow films last longer.

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Christian Hogue on Flamborough Head and Bridlington with Agfapan 25

Comment posted: 25/09/2026

Some great hunting done there and a nice change from high con gritty shots..
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Mark Ellerby replied:

Comment posted: 25/09/2026

Thanks. The punchy gritty look can get a bit tiresome sometimes, and it wouldn't have suited the subject on the day I don't think.

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