Kodacolor-X processed as black and white

[PeterSpencer]

I bought a bakelite Ensign Fulvue box camera, last version labelled Ross Ensign, recently. It had a Kodacolor-X film in it so on Sunday I decided to process it and after a bit of research I found a Rodinal recipe so I developed the film with Fomadon R09, dilution 1/50, 13mins at 20C minutesLo and behold! The two best frames are here.

Unfortunately I was using a single System Four Paterson reel set to 120 in a three reel tank so I calculated the minimum volume of developer using pi r-squared times reel height (r = tank inside radius). I used a calculator and must have got the calculation wrong coming up with a rounded up volume of 300ml. Too little, should have been 500ml. So one side of the film wasn't developed (or fixed), good job the subjects are central in the frames. Incidentally, 300ml would be the correct volume for a 35mm film.

 

[StephenM]

My Paterson tanks have the required volume embossed on them. In the case of what I think is the latest design, it's on the base (I just checked). From memory, my Major II tanks (1950s) had it on the lid.

 

[PeterSpencer]

The reel came from an older single film tank, the tank base had a figure of 300ml for developer. Perhaps that was at the back of my mind all the time. Unfortunately the older tank wouldn't take the reel expanded for 120 so I used the big tank instead. The spare reels, of which I have two, come in a box without any indication of how much developer might be required.