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Agfa developers (G101c and G3231c) can they be used for non-lith film?


niklas_persson

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<p>Hi,<br /><br />I just acquired a LOT of boxes containing Agfa C101c and G3231c developer. The limited information I could find indicates that they are for lith film? Some information says "rapid processing" is this the same as lith film?<br /><br />What effect would the developer have on for example TMAX 100 in 4x5 sheets? I somehow go into my mind that you would get more grain and higher contrast, but other then that developing regular B&W film in lith developer would not be that terrible? Perhaps even desirable if one wishes for high-contrast negatives? (I am by the way shooting in low-contrast conditions, overcast skies outdoor - hey it's 6 days a week of gray sky, what can you do but embrace it? And I'm scanning the film in a drum scanner, so I do not require it to produce good dark room prints but rather to scan nicely)<br /><br />I contacted Agfa by mail (no answer yet), does anyone have a clue as to what the development time might be for TMAX 100 in those developers?<br /><br />I'm very thankful for any information!<br /><br />All the best,<br />Niklas</p>
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<p>Well I have been playing with Arista Litho A&B developer with films mostly PolyPanF and it will work but expect some strange results as in grain from an ISO 50 film but expanded ISO. these were shot at ISO 400 with ISO 50 film.... 6 minutes.</p>

<p>http://www.flickr.com/photos/jokerphotography/sets/72157622548458034/</p>

<p>http://www.flickr.com/photos/jokerphotography/sets/72157622413899741/</p>

<p><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3481/3990670441_a92c59e21a_b.jpg" alt="" width="674" height="1024" /> <br /> http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3481/3990670441_baba605650_o.jpg<br /> larger size.</p>

<p> </p>

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<p>These developers are high contrast, graphic arts, machine process, RAPID ACCESS FILM DEVELOPERS. They will probably not give you the results you are looking to get. You will find over development to be the bane of your existance and you will spend a great deal of money on film to come to the conclusion that this was a mistake.</p>
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<p>If anyone else is looking for information I'll just post this response I got from Agfa:</p>

<blockquote>

<p>G101 is a developer from our graphic department and is designed to develop line films. The recommended temperature (for lithographic films) is 35°C and the developing time should be approx. 25 seconds. <br />The G3231c is a microfilm developer. Standard conditions : temperature 38°C and developing time 12". <br /><br />It should be possible to develop films as Tmax in G101 and G3231 but indeed the contrast will be higher and the film will be a bit more grainy. <br /><br />We did never test these combinations but I recommend to make a test with a (much) lower temperature (f.e. 20°C) and a developing time of a few minutes.</p>

</blockquote>

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  • 4 years later...

<p>hi,</p>

<p>for what it's worth,<br>

couple of years late, but have been using the g3231c with technical pan at 100iso, diluted 1+63 for 6,5min @ 20dgrs. centigrade and getting pretty nice results...more testing needed, but definitely the right direction...<br>

(I got 25 1-liter bottles from a friend, and figured: microfilm needs fine grain and high contrast, so lets dilute and try it out...used rodinal dilution and times as a starting point)<br>

25 liters of this stuff will last me a lifetime...still have to test tmax and ilford films...</p>

<p>cheers,<br>

erik</p>

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  • 3 years later...
<p>hi,</p>

<p>for what it's worth,<br>

couple of years late, but have been using the g3231c with technical pan at 100iso, diluted 1+63 for 6,5min @ 20dgrs. centigrade and getting pretty nice results...more testing needed, but definitely the right direction...<br>

(I got 25 1-liter bottles from a friend, and figured: microfilm needs fine grain and high contrast, so lets dilute and try it out...used rodinal dilution and times as a starting point)<br>

25 liters of this stuff will last me a lifetime...still have to test tmax and ilford films...</p>

<p>cheers,<br>

erik</p>

I'mk glad you stuck with it Erik and it bugs me a bit the nay-sayers in earlier comments--you are wasting your time/film...why bother --that sort of thing. For anyone else stumbling upon this thread I picked up a 5 liter jug of the g101c for $20 USD and use 5ml for a roll of film in a 250ml single reel tank. The quick math on this is 1000 rolls of development out of that jug at a cost of .02 cents per roll. Dev times run 10-15 mins per roll depending on brand/speed. Yes originally it's designed for rapid access high temp/hi speed litho stuff but we dilute and use room temp and longer times. It's no mystery that this stuff is hydroquinone & sodium sulfite. Dont be afraid to experiment if the price is right but at the same token don't risk your friends wedding shots on questionable juice.--thats just common sense Photography is all about experimentation.

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Is it similar to D-19, the usual Kodak developer for high contrast films?

 

Also, HC-110 will develop a lot of rolls for a low cost in concentrate per roll. It might be USD 30/liter, and at 1:31, 7.5ml/roll.

Yes more than $0.02/roll, but then again, I don't plan to develop 1000 rolls in the near, or not so near, future.

-- glen

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Is it similar to D-19, the usual Kodak developer for high contrast films?

 

Also, HC-110 will develop a lot of rolls for a low cost in concentrate per roll. It might be USD 30/liter, and at 1:31, 7.5ml/roll.

Yes more than $0.02/roll, but then again, I don't plan to develop 1000 rolls in the near, or not so near, future.

 

 

Recently I came upon a posting for a no sulfite developer using baking soda, lye drain opener, vitamin c and phenidone. The quantity of phenidone is so small that you use .4 grams (yes .4) to 50ml of alcohol. To make 250ml of stock solution you extract .65ml of that concentrate with the other chems and then you dilute it 1+3 for film!! By my calculations I'll get 37,000 rolls of film out of that 50 grams of Phenidone at a cost of .00005 cents per roll for that chemical. I think I have some phenidone I can share with friends

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