Fjpod

I recently got back into the hobby. I had kept some old agfa rc vc paper in their original black bags and factory boxes in a large plastic storage container for 20+ years. Kept it in my basement where it is about 60 to 65 Fahrenheit in the winter, and maybe can go up to 75 in the summer, although we do send some A/C down there.

 

The paper developed with a grey cast over it including the borders. The images were perfectly sharp though. I haven't thrown it out because on one photo I printed it actually added to the result.

So, I was looking for some pyro, but it seems to come in so many flavors. Really only available from Photographers Formulary. Any suggestions? HDC, huh?

You can not control the density in Diafine. The only parameter you can adapt is the iso rate (E.I.). Diafine 2-bath will lower the total contrast like any 2-bath developer and indeed it is a speed enhancing type developer. iso 800-1250 will give you overall the best result with Tri-X 400. Any speed enhancing developer will create more grain but the question is do YOU like the result in the film format which you are using?

 

Fine grain developers: Perceptol, Microdol-X however you will have speed loss so you have to expose on E.i. 200 with Tri-X 400. Xtol will give you box speed with relative fine grain. However the 5 ltr. stock is a lot and you can not keep Xtol very long in a storage.

Ever tried any staining type (=pyro) developer: Pyrocat-HDC. Fine grain, box speed and when dissolved in Glycol a long storage time.

So it sounds like give and take. I might do better using d76 undiluted to get smaller grain without losing contrast or speed. Just trying to have some fun... And get consistent results. Thanks.

Old thread, I know. I'm certainly not an expert but I've always used Coke bottles and nothing ever happened. Squeeze the air out and you are good to go. I think better than a half full brown bottle. All of my chemicals are stored in a dark cabinet, on the cool side.

I find that when trimming off the leader on the film it helps after you cut across to round off the cornes just a touch. Makes getting the film into the reel a lot easier. Also make sure your is bone dry...not a drop of water anywhere.

So many of these threads are inactive...but I thought I might latch on to this one. Anyone feel free to respond. I am getting back into the hobby, shooting mostly 135 and some 120. For the past two months I have been using some Tmax 400 and Tri-X 400. I tend to shoot at box speed. I have been developing with D76 or ID11, ( 1+1 usually) and tend to get too much grain when I do portrait type enlargements to 8 x 10. I was thinking of trying Diafine, but I see so many references to using it only as a pusher type developer, in which case, isn't that increasing the grain anyway? Should I try it at box speed? Or should I try x-tol? Thanks.