What is the best developer for Agfa APX 400

Hello everybody!

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IB�m a big user of AGFA APX 400 film for three main reasons: 1) ItB�s cheap;half the price of other films, so I can shoot twice as many. 2) ItB�s a beautiful film. 3)I like fast films such as the 400 because I can hand hold the camera and donB�t have to use the tripod all the time as is the case with slower films.

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When developing my films I like a combination of sharpness, good gradation and as little grain as possible. This is not always an easy combination to achieve. I have tried Rodinal at dilutions of 1:50 and find it to have too much grain but the contrast was beautiful. I have also tried Xtol at dilutions of 1:1, 1:2 and 1:3 with relatively satisfying results but lacking contrast with the times given by Kodak. IB�m starting to be afraid to use Xtol because a lot of people are complaining of inconsistant results even when used as B�one shotB� only. IB�ve had some problems with caked Xtol chemicals (1 LT ), but never used them and returned them for exchange.

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What are the major differences in the negative when using Xtol 1:1 vs 1:2 vs 1:3? Which is best?

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I keep reading that Xtol is a great revelator and wouldnB�t mind sticking to it. Is there something better out there or can someone suggest the best way to use Xtol?

In general, the greater the dilution, the slower the development

action, and in turn the finer the grain.

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I have been very pleased with Xtol at 1+3 dilutions. I have also

been even more pleased with a dilution of Xtol with a dash of Rodinal

added. For Tri-X I expose at E.I. 200 and develop for 9 minutes at

24 degrees C. with the following fomula: 100 mL Xtol, 400 mL water,

4 mL Rodinal.

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I would suggest you try this Xtol/Rodinal blend with APX 400 and see

if it gives you the contrast you want. I have used this fomula with

not only Tri-X, but also T-Max 400 as well as Ilford Delta 100 and

Delta 400. However, you will have to experiment to get the ideal

time for APX400... start maybe around 10 minutes at 24 degrees.

I don't have an answer for your main question (What is the best

developer for Agfa APX 400?),but just wanted to correct what Sam said

about the effect of dillution above.<P>

The higher the dillution,the slower the developer action of

course,but this doesn't result in finer grain.On the

contrary.especially with developers like Xtol and D-76,it will give

you slightly increased grain.This is because dillution reduces the

solvency of these developers, and extended development time does not

fully compensate for it.<P>

In your exemple,the advantages of dilluted Xtol are

better,gradation,better shadow detail,slightly more sharpness.The

penalty is slightly more grain,which is quite negligible at

1:1.That's why 1:1 is the favorite of many.For maximum shadow

detail,1:3 is best.<P>

I had 1 or 2 caked Xtol packages,but otherwise i did not have a

consistency problem.

Hi Richard, I like Agfapan 400 (EI 320)in Rodinal 1+50 and cut down

on the apparent grain with GENTLE agitation. After initially banging

the developing tank several times to eliminate bubbles, tilt the tank

about 45 degrees SLOWLY about once per second or one and a half

seconds. DO NOT INVERT. This should give less apparent grain than

Tri-X in D76 1+1, or TMax 400 in TMax. Also, I find the grain

pattern unobtrusive in character.

Hello!

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I will soon try Agfapan films with the older Agfa developer recipes

like Agfa 8 and 14. Developer 8 is Glycin based, and 14 is a solvent

Metol developer. I will post the results on this forum.

I get great results with Xtol but the manufacturer's recommend times

(Kodak and any other company) are intended to be a starting point

only. You have to adjust development time to get the results you

desire, using your equipment and techniques.

Greetings,

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Just a comment on XTOL. Regardless of dilution, make sure you're

using 200mL of stock developer per roll.

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Regards,