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Mahoneyd187

Mahoneyd187

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Danny
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Hey all

So far I've only used Ilfosol 3, any recommendations on what to try next?

I was thinking maybe HC110? Or Rodinal?

Thanks :)

Dan
 
A package with Diafine is making its way towards me as we speak, apparently you can get a usable EI of 400-1250/1600 with Tri-X, should make it great for medium format where the lenses are a bit slower. I'll post my impressions when I run a few rolls through it. I've only used ID-11 the results were fine.
 
For slower films I would try Rodinal if you want sharpness but a slight increase in grain, its on my list of chems to get (along with either Microphen or Adox Atomal 49 for faster films, not decided which yet) when I finally get around to being able to do my own deving (i.e all the undeveloped B&W in the freezer!) when I go back home from uni.

On a side note, if you can get your hands on it you might want to try out some Kodak Technical Pan film one day as it was very well known for portraits because of the sheer amount of detail it can resolve (grainless 20"x16" prints) as well as its distinctive 'look'.

The trade off is that it is only ISO 25 (I'm shooting some at the moment and with an orange filter are getting 1 sec at f8! so flash is needed), requires deving in a special low contrast developer (technidol) to get a usable tonal range except white and back (it was originally designed for high contrast scientific use) and it (and technidol) have been discontinued for about 7 years but it turns up on ebay fairly frequently (although not that much in 120, mostly in 135) sometimes for quite low prices and keeps for years in the freezer but lasts for years outside as well.
 
I use rodinal for my slower films, up to ISO 200, being as danny is shooting medium format, ive found that the slight accentuation of grain on slower films to be pretty much negligible. i have some neofin blue on the way from AG photographic so will be able to comment on that when i get it
 
robhooley167 said:
I use rodinal for my slower films, up to ISO 200, being as danny is shooting medium format, ive found that the slight accentuation of grain on slower films to be pretty much negligible. i have some neofin blue on the way from AG photographic so will be able to comment on that when i get it
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Based on what I've read I'd be more than happy to go with Rodinal for slower films as you say. How about fast films at 400 and 800 iso? What gets your votes then? I don't mind having 2 or more developers to hand for different purposes, it'll all get used either way that's for sure
 
I've developed a lot of T-Max 400 in T-Max Dev and, somewhat predictably, they are perfect together. The results from Tri-X + T-Max Dev were also respectable, although sharpness was probably better with T-Max+T-Max Dev combo.
 
as Rob said, Rodinal is good for low speed films. I only shoot up to ISO 100 films anyway, so rodinal works a treat for me.

I've used ID-11 before, and found it to be pretty "meh". Didnt like Microphen much, as it accentuated grain far too much for my liking. Indeed though my understanding is that it's a good developer for pushing.
 
i really dont shoot much fast film so im not really in a position to comment, ive used DD-X and it works fairly well with the ilford delta films it is designed for. i was recommended LC-29, ilfosol and aculux 3 for faster films but i havent used them
 
I pushed hp5 to 800 and liked the results with Ilfosol, though on the other hand I've been shooting delta 100 lately at box speed and it's surprisingly grainy with Ilfosol, even on 6x7 format. I'm not loving delta 100 very much I way prefer acros.

Aculux 3 sounds promising, I may buy some of that and some rodinal, see how I get on.

Freecom how are you finding the grain with tmax developer? My understanding is that it's quite an aggressive developer and pushes well?

I'm pretty sure I won't be going any higher than 800iso though so maybe Ilfosol is sufficient for any pushing I do.

Anybody tried D-76?

Thanks for your input all
 
With T-Max 400 it's exceptionally clean (IMO, of course) but T-Max 400 has almost legendary lack of grain anyway. I certainly don't percept any major increase in grain between T-Max 400 and Acros 100.

I prefer liquid developers so I haven't tried D-76. HC-110 is often well regarded.
 
I did like tmax 400, it was the first ever film I shot on the RZ, though I didn't home dev it.

Have you developed acros in tmax developer then? And/or any other medium/slow films? Sounds like it may be a good "all round" option if used with the right films. I've read elsewhere there are better suited developers when using the likes of Tri-x.

Ah sod it it's fun experimenting anyways :) I'll just try them all. Starting with rodinal I reckon
 
I personally don't like Acros developed in T-Max Dev - compared to results that I've seen with Acros developed in other solutions, I think it doesn't get the best out of it. In fact, it's so good with ISO400 film that I hardly shoot ISO100 now as a result.
 
I quite like Acros 100 in perceptol 1+3 - but then I've always liked Smoooooooooth negs ;)
 
XTOL, no contest, it does everything better than ID11/D76 and a lot of other developers.
 
Well I have used Ilford Delta films with ID-11 and like the results mainly Delta 400 rated at 200.

I have used Rodinal on ISO400 films and done stand developemnt whihc worked very well and manged to got a big tonal range out of the negs.
 
freecom2 said:
I personally don't like Acros developed in T-Max Dev - compared to results that I've seen with Acros developed in other solutions, I think it doesn't get the best out of it. In fact, it's so good with ISO400 film that I hardly shoot ISO100 now as a result.
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Hmm that's interesting to hear actually, I did end up with sharper negatives from the Tmax400 developed elsewhere, when compared to my own home developing of acros with ilfosol. Have you devved trix in tmax developer by any chance?

TheBigYin said:
I quite like Acros 100 in perceptol 1+3 - but then I've always liked Smoooooooooth negs ;)
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Smooth as a smooth thing with extra time spent on it making it smoooooooth. I like :thumbs: lol

Edtog said:
XTOL, no contest, it does everything better than ID11/D76 and a lot of other developers.
Click to expand...

That's another possible then, I will look into xtol. It's a powder right...can I use it at stock strength as a one shot? Or how is best to use it?

Knikki said:
Well I have used Ilford Delta films with ID-11 and like the results mainly Delta 400 rated at 200.

I have used Rodinal on ISO400 films and done stand developemnt whihc worked very well and manged to got a big tonal range out of the negs.
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Never stand developed in my life, and know very little about it. Can you stand develop 120 in a paterson tank?
 
Mahoneyd187 said:
Never stand developed in my life, and know very little about it. Can you stand develop 120 in a paterson tank?
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Yep thats what I use.

Google will throw a fair bit of information up about stand development and various developers but basically it is:

1:100 of Rodinal

Stick in tank and gently agaitate for the first 30 seconds then leave.

Some then agaitate for 5 turns at 30 mins some don't.

Leave for another 30minutes fix, dry then print or scan.

It can give you images like:

5556597163_6b734b84a8.jpg
 
I didn't mind Tri-X in T-Max Dev, but I didn't like the results as much as using T-Max. It lacked the gritty feel that I thought Tri-X classically exhibited, although this is of course medium format and a relatively new version of Tri-X these days.
 
RE XTOL- It's best used as stock and reused as dip/dunk replenish system, apparently it matures like a fine wine.

For the rest of us, diluted 1+1 is fine, and yes it comes as powder, but is really easy to store and mix.
 
The only potential issue with xtol that I can imagine is that it's only available in 5L sachets it would seem. I really dont wanna have to mix up that much
 
I tried TMAX 400 in Ilfosol 3 the other day. Between the poorly exposed images and this mix it didn't come out too well. There seems to be less latitude with this combination for underexposed images, with a hell of a lot of grain. HP5+ works better for me. Even in the well exposed images the grain seemed more pronounced than with HP5+. Perhaps when I run out of Ilfosol I will revisit TMAX with TMAX developer.

For slower films I am just starting to use Rodinal and I rather like it. The legacy pro 100's I developed came out very nicely indeed.
 
I took some intentionally "underexposed" shots with delta 100 last weekend, developed them in the ilfosol and was quite shocked at how grainy it ended up. I'm debating whether it's been my scanning technique though and whether it's mostly noise, I suspect a wet print would be much better.

After re-scanning some of my stuff last night using different techniques I've come to the conclusion that Ilfosol really is actually quite good, much better than I thought to be honest. Have a look at my other thread on vuescan scanning techniques.

I re-did some Tri-x and ilfosol scans last night and I'm extremely impressed, barely any noticable grain...one of the benefits of shooting MF too I guess.

I'll be buying Rodinal next, followed by HC110 :)
 
Mahoneyd187 said:
The only potential issue with xtol that I can imagine is that it's only available in 5L sachets it would seem. I really dont wanna have to mix up that much
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I made up a 2x solution, which worked fine. Just exclude oxygen and use distilled water to make the stock and it will have a long shelf-life.
 
I used ID11 1/1 for many years with ti-x with great results, and Microfen for "pushing" it's going to depend a bit on the film your using and how you shoot, finding the right time dilution for the film and contrast your after.
 
I'm gonna give xtol a bash next :)

Any ideas on what's best to mix up the 5litres in? A bucket or something? Lol
 
What was the issue with D-76 and Acros? I've just ordered some D-76 from AG Photographic and have Acros, Neopan400 and FP4 films to develop. I think the Acros has got some photos of Mrs M on that I'd quite like to print so I don't want to balls them up using an incompatible developer.
 
Kev M said:
What was the issue with D-76 and Acros? I've just ordered some D-76 from AG Photographic and have Acros, Neopan400 and FP4 films to develop. I think the Acros has got some photos of Mrs M on that I'd quite like to print so I don't want to balls them up using an incompatible developer.
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Hmmm, no idea there Kev I thought pretty much everything could be devved in D-76. I use the DevChart App, same as massive dev chart, and it quotes Acros times in stock, 1+1, and 1+3 dilutions of D-76

Edit-

Shot at 100 ISO

Stock - 7m:15s
1+1 - 10m:30s
1+3 - 17m:00s
 
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Mahoneyd187 said:
I'm gonna give xtol a bash next :)

Any ideas on what's best to mix up the 5litres in? A bucket or something? Lol
Click to expand...
I dissolved everything in 2.5 litres and store it as a 2x stock. I used lab equipment, but I guess a bucket would do. Just don't stir too much air into the mixture.
 
Mahoneyd187 said:
Hmmm, no idea there Kev I thought pretty much everything could be devved in D-76. I use the DevChart App, same as massive dev chart, and it quotes Acros times in stock, 1+1, and 1+3 dilutions of D-76

Edit-

Shot at 100 ISO

Stock - 7m:15s
1+1 - 10m:30s
1+3 - 17m:00s
Click to expand...

My bad Danny,

I'd assumed the Kodak T-Max developer was another name for D-76 which someone had said didn't go too well with Acros. I was wrong.

Unfortunately my chemicals still haven't turned up so I won't be finding out how it works tonight:bang::bang::bang:
 
Kev M said:
My bad Danny,

I'd assumed the Kodak T-Max developer was another name for D-76 which someone had said didn't go too well with Acros. I was wrong.

Unfortunately my chemicals still haven't turned up so I won't be finding out how it works tonight:bang::bang::bang:
Click to expand...

So are you going to be using tmax dev or D-76 may I ask?

Always interesting to know other people's results :) :thumbs:
 
D-76. I was going to use ID-11 and decant the stock into bottles until I was ready to use it. But D-76 is apparently the same as ID-11 and about 1/4 of the price. When it's that cheap I'll throw away anything that isn't used.
 
Kev M said:
D-76. I was going to use ID-11 and decant the stock into bottles until I was ready to use it. But D-76 is apparently the same as ID-11 and about 1/4 of the price. When it's that cheap I'll throw away anything that isn't used.
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Are you developing any portraits/model shots in it any time soon? Would love to see
 
There will be a few portraits of the wife from our holiday but nothing special. I might make you wait to see them until I can scan the prints (if there are any worth making) because I hate scanning negatives with a passion.
 
Kev M said:
There will be a few portraits of the wife from our holiday but nothing special. I might make you wait to see them until I can scan the prints (if there are any worth making) because I hate scanning negatives with a passion.
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Wish I had the space/equipment/knowledge to wet print dammit
 
Ignore my previous statement re: Xtol...I just bought a fair bit of D-76.

Going to keep my developer and films constant for the foreseeable future to get to grips with what I'm doing and so I can calibrate my own equipment and workflow.

For slow film I'm using Delta 100 at 50 and 100, medium I'm going with Tri-X 200-1600.

Looking forward to shooting endless frames, of exactly the same thing, over and over again, woohoo! lol
 
Kev M said:
I'd assumed the Kodak T-Max developer was another name for D-76 which someone had said didn't go too well with Acros. I was wrong.
Click to expand...

I assume that was in reference to my post, it wasn't incompatibility as such, just that I didn't personally like the Acros in T-Max Dev. It just didn't have the qualities that T-Max (and to a certain extent, Tri-X) exhibited when dev'd with it.
 
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