MACO™ Electron Microscope Films

Replacements for Kodak^® SO-163 and 4489 electron microscope films

Characteristics and Application:
MACO™ Electron Microscope Films are photographic materials that have been optimized for scientific applications in electron microscopy. The particular advantages are:

A high degree of flexibility
High speed
Excellent signal-to-noise ratio (or ultra-fine grain), and
Optimum detail resolution.
Big cost savings

The base material is mechanically, chemically, and dimensionally stable, and robust polyester. It is virtually impossible to tear it by hand. Among other things, this ensures outstanding archival stability (expected life: 500 years). The thickness of the Kodak and MACO films are the same at 7 mils (175 µm)

European users report that the MACO™ EM Film is plug-in replaceable for the well-established Agfa Scientia^® 23D56. And US laboratories that were beta testers reported that it is plug-in compatible or nearly so with Kodak^® SO-163. In general, any changes in exposure conditions or development or other processing times are essentially the same as for Agfa Scientia^® 23D56 and Kodak^® SO-163. The only difference we and others have noted is that the MACO EM film (and not the ES film) when developed, fixed and dried, exhibits a slight whitish haze. We would rather this haze was not present but in any case, when prints are made from these negatives, the presence of the haze seems to be largely cosmetic in nature and does not detract from anyone's results.

For anyone using Kodak^® 4489, and wanting to get a similar result, MACO ES film should be selected. Some users have claimed it is plug-in compatible but we believe most will find that some tweaking of the exposure times will be in order. But one can get with the ES film the same kind of high resolution result obtainable with Kodak^® 4489. The thickness of the two films is the same at 7 mils (175 痠). And unlike MACO EM film, the ES film does not exhibit any whitish haze and develops absolutely clear. And since the silver content is comparable to that of Kodak 4489, the depletion rate of the fixer will also be comparable to that of 4489.

Use of drying agents:
The use of Photo-FLO 200 Solution to eliminate drying marks and water steaks will work the same way on the MACO as on the Kodak films.

Available formats:
Presently, the MACO™ Electron Microscope Films are available in the standard EM size formats, namely 3.25x4" and 6.5 x 9 cm. Other sizes are available but minimum quantities will apply.

For better handling, the individual sheets of MACO™ Electron Microscope Film are packaged with separation (paper) sheets, which reduces greatly the problems that would otherwise be caused by static charges (exposure through sparks) and ensures that individual sheets will not stick together when taken out of the package.

Each sheet bears a notch, which is situated at the top right corner when looking at the emulsion side of the film.

Digital camera users: A note of caution:
Customers purchasing digital cameras often times think that the use of film, such as for selected area electron diffraction studies would still be an option using film, should be warned that at least some manufacturers of digital cameras advise not mixing "film with digital". Their logic is that particulates from film can fall onto the digital camera and cause a rapid reduction in performance and eventual failure. We have heard this only from the side of a manufacturer, not that of an actual end user. We don't like talking ourselves out of potential business but at the same time, we want to warn prospective customers with digital camera of this particular concern.

Other useful information about MACO™ Electron Microscope Films:

For MACO EM film:
Technical Data: Overview
Storage of Exposed and Unexposed Films
Exposure, Speed, and Contrast
Processing and Chemistry Issues
Exposure curve: Log Density vs. Exposure

For MACO ES film:
Technical Data: Overview
Storage of Exposed and Unexposed Films
Exposure, Speed, and Contrast
Processing and Chemistry Issues
Exposure curve: Log Density vs. Exposure

MACO™ ES Electron Microscope Film (For resolution)

Boxes of 100 sheets

3 1/4" x 4" (8.3 x 10.2 cm)

# of Boxes	SPI #	Each	Each, 10+	In Stock
One box	09829-MB	$ 102.29	$ 92.06	Yes
Case of 20 boxes	09829-CA	1841.21	1657.09	Yes

Boxes of 100 sheets

6.5 x 9 cm

# of Boxes	SPI #	Each	Each, 10+	In Stock
One box	09830-MB	$ 102.29	$ 92.06	Yes
Case of 20 boxes	09830-CA	1841.21	1657.09	No

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