Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/05/16
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hello Arthur, I would advise you to reduce the development time to reduce the contrast and if you are using a developer which can be used in different dilutions, I would use the weakest one (eg. 1+50 in stead of 1+25). Ilford Pan F plus is a very nice film and I see no reason to change it. Maybe you are using a developer which is too contrasty, that is why I stoped using Rodinal special which gave me too contraty negatives for a condenser enlarger. I am using Rodinal 1+50 in which I am developing my APX100 during 14-15 minutes in stead of the advised 17 minutes. This may not be the most 'trendy' combination but it gives results which I like a lot and that is what matters after all. It is important to my opinion to restrict yourself to a few films which you learn to develop according to your own : camera, developer, enlarger, paper, taste and also according to the situation you are photographing in. The information given by the producers of film and chemicals are a good starting point but don't confuse that with the holy truth. Changing products all the time, avoided me learning during several years. A very interesting book on this is Ansel Adams : The negative. Oh and don't forget, don't save on film. 10 rols of film will cost you only a fraction of the cost of a piece of equipment and will improve your results a lot more. Greeting Frederik Boone