Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/08/17

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Subject: [Leica] Re: Pyro from off list kinda long
From: George Huczek <ghuczek@sk.sympatico.ca>
Date: Tue, 17 Aug 1999 14:04:46 -0600

At 11:40 AM 17/08/99 -0700, you wrote:
>Giorgio Ferrari wrote:
>[cut]
>So he would be the one to ask. abrown@ncsi.net
>I replyed to him:
>
>I recall it saying in the Anchell/Troop book that the Pyro world does not
>involve full film speed.

   Usually, but not always ...
I'm back on the list after a wonderful summer.  Shot lots of stock and did
some commercial work.  (That's a vacation from the run-of-the-mill work
world for me.  I'm somewhat envious of those of you who get to do that full
time, but I have gotten used to a salary.)  I'm picking this up in the
middle of this thread, so perhaps I might have missed something, so my
apologies if my comments have already been addressed.
   I am currently working quite a bit with PMK pyro, and have been able to
keep its speed up by adding a pinch of amidol to the working strength
developer just prior to processing.  (A pinch on the end of a scoopula.)
Amidol oxidizes very rapidly, so it has to be added immediately before
processing, and not to the stock.  HP5+ gives me 400, FP4+ is at 125 and
agfa APX 25 (all shot in 120 if it matters) come out well rated at 25.  No
speed loss, with all of the other pyro character.
   I think I remember reading somewhere that Edward Weston used to add
dissolved amidol to his ABC pyro as well, just before tray processing sheet
film.  It really does help to keep the film speed up.




 _
[o] -GH