# Efke > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Efke > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Efke.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Efke > Source revision: 1345122980 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Croatian photography supplies brand Efke Maker Fotokemika Speed 25/15°, 50/18°, 100/21°, 200/24°, 400/27° Type B&W ,photographic paper, Infrared film, color film and reversal film Process Gelatin-silver, C-41 process and E-6 process Format 35 mm, 120, 127, sheet film (various sizes) **Efke** is the brand name of [photographic films](/source/Photographic_film), [papers](/source/Photographic_paper), and chemicals that were manufactured by *Fotokemika Zagreb d.d.*, a company located in [Samobor](/source/Samobor), [Croatia](/source/Croatia). ## Products description EFKE KB21 Black & white film The Efke films are [black-and-white](/source/Black-and-white) films with high [silver](/source/Silver) content and as a result give a large [exposure](/source/Exposure_(photography)) latitude and high quality grayscale reproduction when compared with modern films. The Efke 25, 50 and 100 products were made using the [ADOX](/source/ADOX) formulas that were first introduced in the 1950s. Efke also made an infrared film sold as Efke IR820, a color film branded as "efkecolor" in ISO speeds of 100/400 (1986–1992), spektar 100/200/400 (~1992-2009)[1] and HG100 (~1996-?) as well as a 100 ISO [color reversal film](/source/Color_reversal_film) called "efkechrome" (1982–1999).[2] Color Efke films are very rare and information is almost impossible to find due to the color film being discontinued rather quickly compared to Efke's other product lines. The black and white Efke films are more forgiving of exposure variations than modern tabular crystal films. The nature of the product also allows large, grain free, enlargements to be made from negatives. Efke black and white films were coated in one layer, unlike most other films which are coated in multiple layers. This makes the film thinner and the emulsion more easily damaged, especially when still wet after development. A hardening [fixer](/source/Photographic_fixer) can be used to help protect the emulsion. The film base is also thinner and more transparent, making inspection of the negative easier. However it can also make the film curl more easily. Efke was the only manufacturer making [127 format film](/source/127_film) between 1995, when [Kodak](/source/Kodak) discontinued the format, and 2006, when a Canadian company also began making 127.[3] Efke's Infrared Film, sold under the brand name Efke IR820 was the only infrared film manufactured that has good IR sensitivity beyond 750 nm extending out to 820 nm. In the past other films such as Kodak's HIE offered this but have recently been discontinued and are no longer made. ## Closing This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2026) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Fotokemika ceased all production on 30 August 2012.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] As a result of the [breakup of Yugoslavia](/source/Breakup_of_Yugoslavia) in the 1990s and the subsequent privatization process of the company, its equipment and Real Estate were sold to western companies and many of its workers laid off during the 90s and 2000s, which ultimately led the company to its bankruptcy. For a short while after its closing the company existed as a distributor of medical films and materials made by other manufacturers. ## Legacy There have been efforts[4] to save the Fotokemika heritage. In late 2020 Croatian photographer *Silvester Kolbas* organized an exhibition about efke, the company *Fotokemika Zagreb d.d* and its heritage at the [Museum of Technology "Nikola Tesla", Zagreb](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Museum_of_Technology_%22Nikola_Tesla%22,_Zagreb&action=edit&redlink=1), called "Fotokemika"[5] showcasing old equipment and products, that were left behind in the abandoned factory facilities of *Fotokemika Zagreb d.d*, as well as photos taken with expired efke black and white film. ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["mention of efkecolor spektar films being on sale in germany 2009"](http://www.hobbyphoto-forum.de/t6105f8-Guenstige-Diafilme-bei-dm-1.html). Retrieved 13 January 2023. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["list including availability of efkecolor and efkechrome films"](https://www.fotointern.ch/wp-uploads/2016/03/Tabelle_Hausmarkenfilm_200316.pdf) (PDF). fotointern.ch. Retrieved 8 October 2022. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["127 film in the Frugal Photographer catalog"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130304150012/http://www.frugalphotographer.com/cat127.htm). *The Frugal Photographer*. Frugal Photographer. Archived from [the original](http://www.frugalphotographer.com/cat127.htm) on 4 March 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2013. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Fotokemika project"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130423225337/http://believeinfilm.com/article/fotokemika-project). believeinfilm.com. Archived from [the original](http://believeinfilm.com/article/fotokemika-project) on 23 April 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2013. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Silvester Kolbas "Fotokemika" izložba"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSCD7uzi0qs). *Youtube*. 25 January 2021. Retrieved 9 October 2022. ## External links - Unofficial Fotokemika Website: [http://www.fotokemika.hr/](http://www.fotokemika.hr/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240621122510/http://fotokemika.hr/) 2024-06-21 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) (this site remains incomplete and has not been updated since 2007) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Efke](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Efke) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Efke?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.