Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/06/27
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Alastair and Walker, I've settled on two developers: Xtol and Rodinal. I only use Rodinal in one case: Agfa APX films (in medium format). I've never had the time to nail down times for those films with Xtol and the Rodinal times that Agfa publishes have worked just fine. I've used APX because Fuji Neopan 400 disappeared from the shelves in Scandinavia. I've been in touch with Fuji lately and they have a few hundred rolls coming in July. I've put myself down for 100. I prefer Neopan and was getting what I wanted with Xtol. I've tried various dilutions of Xtol but have settled on 1:1. I don't like going under 100ml per roll of 35 mm and 1:2 gives me about 80ml / 160ml. I use Xtol for two reasons: 1) It's less toxic and I can dump it down the drain with a good conscience and 2) it's easier to mix than D76. I'm not very religious about it. It just works fine for me. A 5 liter batch is comfortable. It's enough that I don't have to mix up new batches every couple of weeks but it's not so much that I have to worry about storing it. I use it up fast enough. The way I agitate makes me feel better with just enough developer to cover the reels with film. I have the same number of empty reels on top. When I invert, the developer drains off of the film entirely and then the film is covered with fresh solution when I "revert". I do this twice every 30 seconds. I've been using Delta 400 after managing to get the shop to take back my stock of "Tri-X" (TX400). They didn't have Neopan so I settled for anything, anything other than the new TX400 (I don't feel comfortable calling it Tri-X. It's not.) It might just be a combination with my scanner that is not to my satisfaction. Others get very good results. I couldn't figure out how with my own set-up. It's pretty hard to mess things up with Neopan. It is about the most forgiving film I've run across. I don't know how well it pushes. I've never done that. I've used Neopan 1600 instead. I've seen some results others get with TMAX 400 that I really like. It's been years since I shot any. I have a digital SLR but we've never become good friends. I think it's because I prefer black and white. I use digital when it pays. I think a small compact digital (Canon A70 or G5) would be loads of fun, but I'd have to slip it in. I got one half-way in the house (bought it for my daughter) but she uses it so much I never get a chance to. She's doing her own PAW. Best, Daniel On Sun, 27 Jun 2004, Alastair Firkin wrote: > I can't really tell you about scanning too much, but I use HC110 in > 1:63 dilution at 24 degrees, for between 8 and 10 minutes, and I have > had wonderful stable results. I do use Rodinal as well, but the grain > seems more apparent with it. I would like to hear about film developer > combinations from others as well. > On 24/06/2004, at 11:31 AM, Walker Smith wrote: > > > Following a lay-off of some years, I'm returning to an old love...... > > photography. I like B&W films and would prefer to scan the negatives > > (my scanner will do 2400 dpi) as opposed to setting up a "wet" > > darkroom that I don't have the space for at this time. I'm somewhat > > behind the power curve as new films have been introduced that I have > > little knowledge of. The couple of rolls of HP-5 that I've tried have > > not scanned well and the grain is all too apparent when developed in > > D-76 1:1. I've been thinking of trying Agfa or Ilford (bulk rolls..... > > I load my own) in the 50 - 125 range and Rodinal. Quality is more > > important than raw speed, although I'll use 400 speed film when > > necessary. What do others on the list use and how well do the > > negatives scan? I'm open to suggestions. > > > > Walker Smith > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Leica Users Group. > > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > > > > Alastair > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >