evan_parker Posted May 22, 2003 Share Posted May 22, 2003 I've narrowed down my developer to Rodinal, with D-76 as a finer- grained backup. Now, I've just got to select one or two films to become familiar with (i.e. buying a 100' roll). I've tried Tri-X and HP5+ in Rodinal, and it seems to me like Tri-X gave me the better tones, although my testing has not been extensive enough to determine if this was simply due to subject matter. I have not tried APX400, but some people on a photographic mailing list I subscribe to swear by it! Now, I need your opinions, dudes and dudettes. Knowing that I like grain, shoot in 35mm and develop with Rodinal, what would you suggest? Does anyone have any experiences they would like to share using any of these combinations? I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks very much! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott_eaton Posted May 23, 2003 Share Posted May 23, 2003 Tri-X with Rodinal at 1:50 is pretty nice, and in my opinion delivers every scrap of tonality from this film. Tri-X pro I think delivers a bit better acutance over the standard version, but it tends to slow down in Rodinal to about EI 250. I much prefer the Ilford films to be processed in D76, HC110, or other similiar developers. At which conclusion Tri-X/Rodinal and HP5/D76 both have their advantages and particular 'look' with neither being better than the other. You have a choice of the 'gritty edge' and enhanced texture of Tri-X in Rodinal, or the more 'laid back' and glowing midtone attitude of HP5/D76. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adrian_tuazon Posted May 23, 2003 Share Posted May 23, 2003 Agfa APX 100 works really well with Rodinal. Try this: Agfa 100 in Rodinal 1:50 for 13 mins at 20 degrees C. Or if that is too long try it in Rodinal 1:25 for 8 mins. I prefer Tri X rated at 200 in D76. I don't use Tri X in Rodinal as I don't like the appearance of the grain greater than a 5x7 enlargement. Apparently, I've been told, although not yet tried, that Fuji Acros 100 rated at 50 works beautifully with Rodinal 1:50 dev around 11 mins 20 degrees C. If you try this, let me know how you go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adrian_tuazon Posted May 23, 2003 Share Posted May 23, 2003 Sorry, I forgot to mention that Fuji Acros is very fine grained so that film may not be a good choice for you as you mentioned you "like grain". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_waller Posted May 23, 2003 Share Posted May 23, 2003 Tri-X and Rodinal is a classic combination, used I believe by the Belgian photographer, Frank Peeters. That's the one I would recommend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lex_jenkins Posted May 23, 2003 Share Posted May 23, 2003 I'm partial to Tri-X. Sure, other films can do certain things a little better but I don't know of any comparable film that has the flexibility of Tri-X. HP5+ may have a little better capability for shadow detail, tonality and other niceties; TMY may push a bit better; etc. If you buy a bulk roll and get tired of Rodinal all it takes to get a completely different look is to try another developer and exposure index. There aren't many films capable of delivering acceptable results from EI 100-1600 depending on the effect you're after. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg_smith4 Posted May 23, 2003 Share Posted May 23, 2003 If you like HP5/TX in Rodinal, have you tried PMK Pyro? Similar tones to Rodinal (great high lights), but finer grained. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graphicjoe Posted May 23, 2003 Share Posted May 23, 2003 APX100. Rodinal 1:50. 17 min at 20 degrees. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_anon Posted May 23, 2003 Share Posted May 23, 2003 Fuji Neopan 400 in Rodinal 1:25 or 1:50. Second choice is APX 400. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frank.schifano Posted May 24, 2003 Share Posted May 24, 2003 I can't tell you anything about Agfa B&W films since I can't remember if I've ever used them. I have shot lots and lots of HP5+ and Tri-X and for me the hands down winner is Tri-X. Develop it in Rodinal at 1+50 or ID-11/D-76 at 1+1 and you'll love it. HP5+ is nice, but a little less forgiving of exposure and development errors. Try one roll of each in these two developers and see which ones you like best. just be sure to make all the exposures of the same subjects in the same light so you'll have a valid basis for comparison. Shooting randomly will tell you nothing. Controlled variables are necessary for any sort of testing or else you'll have invalid data. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matthew_stanton2 Posted May 25, 2003 Share Posted May 25, 2003 Something to consider when choosing your film/dev combination is what paper you intend to print on. I find that hp5 plus rated @ 200 processed in ID- 11 1:1 perfectly matches the curves of ilford multigrade fb paper. Hp5 plus hasn't much of a shoulder but the ilford paper does and this seems to help balance the qualities of the film. I do not, however, like to print Hp5+ negs on Agfa multicontrast fb because it seems to render the tones with less subtlety. I believe that this is because the paper has less shoulder and makes highlights harder to print. OTOH tri-x looks much better to me on the agfa paper because Tri-x has more of a shoulder which suits the greater highlight contrast that agfa paper provides. just my 2 cents worth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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