Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/06/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hi Rich: Agfapan, both 25 and 100 developed in Rodinal 1:50, are the mainstays of my B&W work. I use both M and R systems with these films. Absolutely wonderful results for my printing objectives and tastes. I second Mark's comment about the wonderful separations and an almost creamy appearance on the fiber based papers I use. I print only up to 11x14, but find no visual grain and incredible sharpness at that size. Too me the acid test is the appearance of large areas of zone 5 or 6 tonality. Does it have life? Are the subtle tonal transitions silky smooth and without visible grain? To my eye the answer is positive. A few thoughts you may find helpful. (1) I think it is very important to print using Leica optics to retain in the finished print the quality of the taking lens; (2) I like Agfa 25 developed up to N+2 and the 100 to N+1 (the 100 gets a little grainy beyond that for my tastes - both easily take selenium toning to add an extra zone of contrast beyond that). (3) I rate the 25 at 12 and the 100 at 64 for my optical system and development technique. (4) I favor a 1:50 Rodinal dilution. It gives the results mentioned above without excessively long development times. Having tried 1:100 I find the times too long without benefits I can see in the prints to. However I do test this thesis twice a year to see if my evaluation has changed, but so far not in the last 5 years. If you need more info, contact me privately at ticino@earthlink.net. Bob