Dilution H with HC-110

I just tried Dilution H with HP5. 8ml of HC-110 in 500ml water for 10 minutes with one

35mm roll.

 

The Negs look great.

 

Any issues I need to be aware of? What about multiple rolls (or sheets) of Film? I have a 3

roll tank (1200ml) and a 5 roll tank (1500ml) 4x5 Dip & Dunk (2L) and a CombiPlan 4x5

(1.5L) Should I be ok with Dilution H with those?

 

Have you noticed any difference in image quality with Dilution H as opposed to B....or am I

just saving Developer and making my Timing less critical (both are good things).

 

jmp

I should add...looking at the Negs unscientifically anyway...I am seeing excellent Shadow

Detail, controlled Highlights and nice sharp edges which I guess is what I am supposed to

see when using Higher Dilutions with reduced Agitation.

 

jmp

That setup works for me. Only difference is that I've settled on 9 minutes for Neopan 400, both 35mm and 120.

That's the same dilution and time I've been using Tri-X at 400. Works great. Very similar to D-76/ID-11, takes up less space, suits my infrequent film developing sessions.

This evening, I put up a page on my web site that has a chart which shows how much syrup and water you need for HC-110 dilutions A through H, in working solution quantities from 100ml to 1000ml at 50ml intervals. The page also has links to other HC-110 resources.<p>You can see it <a href="http://mysite.verizon.net/fowler/photo/hc110.htm" target="_blank">here</a>.

I used HC110 with Tri-X for years. I moved to 4x5 a few years back, and a Jobo CPP2 (3010 tank) for volume and consistency.

 

I found that the constant agitation with a Jobo made even HC110-H hard to control with Tri-X. Even at five minutes (20C, 30rpm) my zone VIII density was too high.

 

I switched to XTOL 1:3 which solved my density problems. I found the two developers to be more similar than different - grain size is nearly the same with XTOL being a bit smaller and "crisper" while HC110 gave a bit better local contrast. Basically, I wouldn't give you a dime for the difference.

 

XTOL did have two advantages - a higher EI (2/3 stop for me) and I could control it better with the JOBO.

 

Otherwise, I'd still be using HC110-H today. So... there are no issues you should be aware of, other than what I mention above which likely doesn't really effect you. You should be OK with dilution H with all your applications.

 

There is some improvement in image quality going from B to H, IMHO. I found a bit better speed (shadow detail) and a bit better sharpness in H over B. Of course, YMMV. But I think you'll be fine with H.

John - Regarding your use of the Combi T tank, I develop 4x5 TXP 320 in very dilute HC110 solution to extend the developement time and to reduce agitation (in essence to approach the benefits of "stand" development). If you are interested, I will e-mail you my full procedure.

 

Robert McColloch

Really, the only potential "gotcha" in diluting HC-110 weaker than B is to ensure that you always have 3 ml of USA syrup, or 12 ml stock solution, for every 80 square inches of film (135-36, 120, or 8x10 equivalent). Never a problem with single loaded rolls, even 35 mm and 220, with Dilution H; you'll need almost 4 ml to make enough of that dilution to cover 35 mm in a stainless tank, so unless you load two rolls back to back on the same reel (possible, but not easy or very sensible unless you have to get your film done quickly, and don't have enough tank capacity -- and then you'll probably use Dilution B for the speed and be fine on capacity even with double loading). Dilution F (1:79 from USA syrup, 1:19 from stock solution) is the weakest that will develop 35 mm without additional solution above the minimum to cover 35 mm. I prefer Dilution G, but that does require me to use 360 ml to develop a single 35 mm film...

I would like to know if the grain is the same as dilB or if it gets more grainy with higher dilutions.

Stuart, I compared my old Tri-X negs developed at Dilution B with my recent Tri-X negs in Dilution H and could see no significant differences in grain, contrast, fog or anything else.

 

Dilution H is easier to work with because it's less time critical, so pour and fill times with tank development are less a factor.

Thanks I have been wondering for a while but didn't really want to start finding development times agains onlt to find larger grain. I have been very happy with the dil B results so far it seems that HC110 works well with APX 100 and 400 as well as TriX and Hp5 all I need to do now is check out Fp4 and I could have a summer without D76.