HC-110 vs Rodinal for Tri-X and HP5+

[gwilburn]

<p>I like developer concentrates and used to use FG7 for Tri-X and

HP5+. Lately have been using Rodinal and like it, though the grain is

fairly significant. I'm thinking of experimenting with HC-110 at 1:63

dilution (based on this <a

href="http://teachnet.edb.utexas.edu/~leica/hc110.html">Internet

article</a>). Do any of you have head-to-head comparitive experience

between these two developers for Tri-X and HP5+? Should I try it or

just stick to Rodinal? (Please don't answer use D-76 :)</p>

[ann_clancy3]

THis is another one of those personal preferences. I do not like Rodinal with faster films. We use HC110 for all student work and a lot of my own with both TriX and HP5+ (old version of trix). we are using dilution "B" with great results, altho trix times in our lab is 6 minutes not 7 1/2 per Kodak. We do have Rodinal on hand and it is used with Agfa 25/100 speeds film (yes some of us still have 25 hanging around in the fridge.)

[john_welton]

Gene, I personally don't like TX in Rodinol. Give PMK a try for both, quite fine results, the stain masks the grain to some extent (Rodinal brings out every last chunk of grain!).

 

John, Charleston SC

[lex_jenkins]

I always preferred HC110 for Tri-X. The contrast, tonality and sharpness suited my tastes. Grain never seemed a problem when the two were combined within reason - at 800 it was grainy, at 200 it was not.

 

However Tri-X and HP5+ really are different films despite being old style emulsions. They don't resemble each other much to me and I like them both.

 

So far I haven't tried HP5+ in HC110. It's great in Rodinal up to 800, where it actually delivers finer grain than HP5+ at 400 in Ilfosol-S.

[gwilburn]

Thanks for the speedy replies. I'm going to buy a bottle of HC110 syrup and do some experimenting but was curious what to expect vis-a-vis Rodinal. I like a developer with long shelf life and no mixing and both products give me that. HC110 is probably not a "fine-grain" developer but after Rodinal, it may look like one :)

[chris_waller]

I have a feeling that Frank Peeters used Tri-X in Rodinal. It gives a very prominent but a very crisp grain. I have used it but only where the subject matter suggests it. I have devved HP5 in Rodinal but I downrate it to 160 ASA and dev at 1:50, 20 C for 9 minutes. Grain is quite moderate.

[gwilburn]

<p>For anyone interested, I just came across a link to an excellent

<a href="http://www.covingtoninnovations.com/hc110/">HC-110 Developer Resource Page</a> maintained by Michael A. Covington. He's even included info (inconclusive) on the latest Tri-X development times controversy. Worth bookmarking!</p>

[bill_hopkins__jr]

For years my favorite was Tri-x rated at asa 200 and developed in Rodinal 1/100. Gives beautiful range of tones, fine grain and very sharp images. Try it some time....I believe you will really like it!! Times were 12 to 15 minutes at 68 deg. More times and dilutions on Massive Dev. Chart.

[gwilburn]

Thanks Bill. I've done Tri-X at 200 in Rodinal (1:50) and it does look very good. However much I like Tri-X at 200 pictorially, I always seem to need an additional f-stop when shooting so I prefer a developer that brings out as close to a true 400 as possible. Maybe I'll just use a tripod instead :)

[scott_eaton]

I'm really starting to favor HC-110 combined with Delta and HP5 over Tri-X. I get full speed and better grain.

 

Normally is use dilution B (1:31), but the 1:62 dilution sounds interesting. I'll have to give it a try.