films develop advise

[batmax]

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Hello !

 

after start to print my bw negs by myself I want also start to do fine film develop.

I use tri-x film anf ilford hp5 and I ask if there is some advise ( which chemichals use, ect)

to know .

 

I can say that I like the print with a bit of garain and with a wide gray scale.

That's all !

 

thanks

[topoxforddoc]

Batmax,

 

You'll get lots of suggestions, I'm sure. For me, I use Kodak XTOL as my main developer for HP5 and TriX. I am able to push HP5 (which I prefer) to 1600 easily in XTOL and to 3200 with acceptable results.

 

Best wishes,

[Pangur Ban]

There's lots of useful information on the Ilford website - http://www.ilfordphoto.com. Look under the Applications section for how to process black and white, and the Products for the films and chemicals.

 

There are lots of alternatives to Ilford of course.

[andybarton]

There's also the Massive Development Chart at Digitaltruth Photo

 

I develop Tri-X (rated at 320) in HC110B for 6 1/2 minutes at 20 deg C and I think the results are pretty good.

[Xmas]

Rodinal simplifies storage, no best before date, if you put the stopper back.

 

Noel

[stunsworth]

For me, I use Kodak XTOL as my main developer for HP5 and TriX. I am able to push HP5 (which I prefer) to 1600 easily in XTOL and to 3200 with acceptable results.

 

I'm more or less out of the film world these days, but when I was shooting a lot of B&W film I used Xtol all the time. Very economical, and kind to the environment if that's important.

 

For the rest of the chemistry - stop bath, fixer - I just used whatever was available.

[Michael-IIIf]

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Rodinal simplifies storage, no best before date, if you put the stopper back.

 

Noel

 

Is this really the case?

 

I've been using Ilfosol - it's all I can get locally - which I assumed has a similar structure as Rodinal; both of them being one shot developers. Ilfosol certainly doesn't keep once the bottle has been opened, I think they recommend a maximum time of two months.

 

I must look at ordering some Rodinal online. I haven't used it since the early '80s

 

Michael

[andybarton]

HC110 lasts for ages, even diluted. I make a 5 litre can at a time and it's useable for months.

[stunsworth]

Rodinal does indeed keep for years undiluted, but it has a reputation for emphasising grain.

[Steve Ash]

I use Xtol. For storage and to keep it out of contact with air I bought a bunch of 250ml glass bottles from the pharmacy. I use the filling of one bottle two process two films. This way the bottles are never partly used.

 

Regards

Steve

[Michael-IIIf]

Rodinal does indeed keep for years undiluted, but it has a reputation for emphasising grain.

 

I must try it again. I develop film so seldomly these days that it seems I need to replace the chemicals every time.

[Xmas]

Is this really the case?

 

I've been using Ilfosol - it's all I can get locally - which I assumed has a similar structure as Rodinal; both of them being one shot developers. Ilfosol certainly doesn't keep once the bottle has been opened, I think they recommend a maximum time of two months.

 

I must look at ordering some Rodinal online. I haven't used it since the early '80s

 

Michael

hi Michael

 

Yea

 

My 1/2 full bottle from '77 was still ok in '04 down to last dregs. I believe other people have had longer intervals. I think the solution has a solid residue of preservative which is slowly used up over the decades.

 

Noel

P.S. yes not a fine grain developer, Delta 100 or panF