Film with longest straight-line curve for extreme pulling

[WAn]

Can anybody advice the film suitable for extreme pulling, that has very long straight-line part of characteristic curve? I realize that speed and contrast both drop while pulling � both effects are desired; the acceptable speed should be somewhere in 6-25 ISO, the contrast (gamma) somewhere in 0.35-0.45. The subject brightness range is ca. 9 stops from important shadows to important highlights; to have 1-2 extra stops as a safety margin before noticeable shoulder would be great.

 

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I have access to most Kodak/Ilford/Agfa films, excluding TechPan and discontinued APX25. In any case I'll do my own testing, (the first candidates are Ilford Pan 50, D100, FP-4+) but I'll appreciate if somebody gives me some guidelines.

 

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The grain doesn't matter.

 

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Thank you!

Andrey.

[ed b.]

This is something I have not done myself. I know that Bruce Barnbaum

uses Tri-X sheet film developed in highly diluted HC-110 to obtain as

much as an N-6 contraction. I also know a photographer in California

who does the same thing with T-Max 400 and highly dilute T-Max

developer.

[ed b.]

See the discussion "Mortensen and gradation" in the archive for

Processing Film.

[WAn]

Thanks, Ed.

It is curious that nominal speed of both this films is 400. The

succes probably should be attributed to very long curve of the films:

I've read somewhere (at your web site?) that HP5+ in diluted Rodinal

offers up to 14 Zones. Interesting, can films with slower nominal

speed give the long line also?

[ed b.]

Not being an expert on film contraction, I can't answer your question

about using slow films. Perhaps someone else will offer a response.

You might consider a staining developer such as the pyrocatechin

formula Ansel Adams gives in his book THE NEGATIVE (which is said to

handle a 14-stop range).

[richard_ilomaki]

Andrey:

 

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I have found that T MAX 400 sheet rated at 200 or a bit less, then

developed in split D-23 for 9 minutes in Sol'n A at 20 deg, then 3

Min in Soln B gives me excellent negs for Pd/Pt printing on Palladio

paper. Try 11 min in A for perhaps another zone of shadows.

 

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This give a VERY wide range and can print nicely on VC/MC paper with

a #1 or 0 filter.

[john_hicks]

HP5+ in D-76H 1:3 at the usual 1:1 time gives roughly N-4, EI 160-200 or so, with a straight curve shape.

[pete_andrews]

The developer is as important, if not more so, than the film in

getting an extended range. I'm surprised that no-one has mentioned

Tmax developer (not the RS version).<br>I don't like it for normal

use, personally, but Kodak's data sheets show that it gives a very

extended straight line characteristic with Tmax 100 film. The

published curves show an almost 10 stop range with no sign of a

shoulder, even at high gammas.

[john_hicks]

> developer is as important, if not more so, than the film in

getting an extended range

 

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That's a very important point. Some developers which produce a bit of a shoulder in normal usage can just block up (curve goes flat) at a rather low density when they're used for a short time or high dilution for a strong contraction. While the result is a much lower density on the high end, it's a no-contrast detailless density.

[WAn]

Gentlemen, thanks for everybody who replied.