Ilford HP5+ in Kodak HC-110?€!

Timur · 2010-05-21T21:43:08+00:00

Hallo, ich bin von dem Tri-X aus Kostengründen auf den HP5+ umgestiegen. Nun musste ich mit Erschrecken feststellen, dass der HP5+ in Rodinal mit Monsterkor...

Timur

Hello, I’ve switched from Tri-X to HP5+ to save money. I was shocked to discover that HP5+ develops to a grainy finish in Rodinal – I don’t mind a bit of grain, but this is a bit too much for me. I came across http://www.covingtoninnovations.com/hc110/german.html via Google and have already experimented a bit, but I’m not really happy with the results yet. My question or request: Does anyone have development times and the perfect agitation rhythm for Ilford HP5+ at ISO 200, 400, 800, 1600 and, if possible, 3600? Of course, I know that my results might vary slightly, but a rough guide would be very much appreciated. Many thanks Timur. P.S.: I’m enlarging with an Opemus 6, i.e. a condenser enlarger.

CPD

Hello, Have you seen these sites? http://www.stefanheymann.de/foto/entwickler/hc-110.htm http://www.covingtoninnovations.com/hc110/german.html By the way, I don’t think your negatives will become much more finely grainy with HC-110. I’ve now started developing in Rodinal 1:50 at low temperatures (which isn’t difficult given the current weather). I won’t be able to give you any feedback on that until after Whitsun, though. If I were you, I’d go for D-76 1+1 (which I’ve had good results with) or XTol. HC-110 was originally developed for press photographers – where fine grain isn’t such a priority – and was then quickly adopted by people like Adams because of its versatility. They worked with larger formats, though. You, I assume, with 35mm. As for film prices: the current Ilford prices aren’t exactly cheap either. In some cases, they’re more expensive than the Kodaks. If the euro continues to fall in value – which I have not the slightest doubt it will – we’ll have to brace ourselves for a real hit anyway. Best regards CP

sputnik

Sorry for posting here without any advice for you, but your switch is a real mystery to me, given that, as I suspected, you’re a 35mm photographer. Why not just have a look at the current prices here on the forum? 35mm film: TriX 3.92; HP5 4.99!!! For medium format, Kodak has recently become just a tiny bit more expensive. So get a move on! Best regards, S.

Timur

Hello, Thanks for the replies. Regarding the prices... I have a large quantity of HP5+ (35mm, expiry date 2010) for less than €1

VolkerSchulz

If you want deliberate, artistic photos, the combination of 35mm film, HP5 and Rodinal is ideal; however, you won’t achieve truly fine grain results with this combination, regardless of whether you use 20°C or 16°C. I also enjoy using HP5 a great deal in 35mm and medium format. As a developer, I use D76 or ID 11 at a dilution of 1+1, as well as Emofin. In D76 1+1/320 ASA/11'45" min. at 20°C/rotation with pre-warming Emofin 500 ASA 4+4 mins at 20°C/rotation or Emofin/800 ASA/5'30" + 5'30 mins/20°C/rotation (theatre photography) I don’t think you’ll get any shadow detail, let alone highlight detail, at 1600 ASA or 3200 ASA with high contrast, regardless of the developer used. In Rodinal, the HP5 has a maximum of 250 ASA, in my opinion. Best regards Volker

Gast

For 35mm film, D-76/ID-11 and Xtol are certainly the first choice. That said, Xtol (1:1) produces a finer grain and makes better use of the film’s speed. Tri-X-Pan at: 400 ASA in Xtol 1:1 at 20°C, agitation: 9 minutes 1600: 13 mins 15 secs 3200: 15 mins 30 secs For medium format, Tri-X and HP5 in HC-110 are the dream combination! Good Xtol page by Jörg Bergs: http://www.joerg-bergs.de/de/home/technik/xtol.html

CPD

I’ve had another look at some prints developed with ISO 400 and HC-110. The grain is much finer than with Rodinal at ISO 200. Yesterday, I developed an ISO 400 film in HC-110 for 6.5 minutes (instead of 5 minutes) in a 1:31 solution. The negatives look very good. I’ll make a few test prints later and am very curious to see what the grain looks like.

Hello Timur, Will you let us know how it goes? I have the following theory: - High dilution: sharpness with coarse grain. Probably finer than with Rodinal, but not by much. - Low dilution: mushy grain, but fine. What definitely speaks in favour of HC-110 is its ease of use. That’s something I also really appreciate about Rodinal. Ultimately, it all depends on your motivation and, above all, is a matter of personal taste. Personally, for example, I don’t mind pronounced grain – though it shouldn’t turn into a grainy mess, of course. However, I hardly do any black-and-white processing anymore, so the ‘grain problem’ is put into perspective anyway. Best regards

VolkerSchulz

For 35mm film, D-76/ID-11 and Xtol are certainly the first choice. That said, Xtol (1:1) produces a slightly finer grain and makes better use of the film’s speed. Tri-X-Pan at: 400 ASA in Xtol 1:1 at 20°C, agitation: 9 minutes 1600: 13 mins 15 secs 3200: 15 mins 30 secs /xtol.html[/url]

At what gamma? Best regards Volker

Gast

gamma 0.56

VolkerSchulz

gamma 0.56

What do you mean? Gamma 0.56 for both 400 ASA/9 mins and 1600 ASA/13 mins 15 sec, as well as for 3200 ASA/15 mins 30 sec????? As far as I know, the gamma increases as the development time is extended. Perhaps you could explain your figures a little. Best regards Volker

Timur

I’ve now found a new development time for HP5+ 35mm film at ISO 400. In HC-110, dilution B (1+31), 20°C, 6 minutes 30 seconds, Rodinal agitation (agitate continuously for the first minute, then once every 30 seconds). For me, the negatives turn out much better than those shown at www.covingtoninnovations.com. The grain is very nice (not as pronounced as in Rodinal at ISO 200, but still visible) and the negatives are ideal for enlarging on a condenser – gradients between 2–3 on Agfa MCP. Does anyone else perhaps have times for other ISO ratings? At higher ISO, the grain naturally becomes larger and the gradient steeper. At ISO 1600 – 20°C, 11 mins, HC-110, dilution B 1+31, agitating continuously for the first minute then agitating 3 times every minute – I’ve already achieved quite good results. Could I do with a few tips on how to improve this? Tilt less, or something similar? Many thanks and best regards, Timur

Hello, I’ve switched from Tri-X to HP5+ for cost reasons. Now I’ve been horrified to discover that HP5+ produces monster grain in Rodinal – I’ve nothing against nice grain, but this is just too much for me. I came across http://www.covingtoninnovations.com/hc110/german.html via Google and have already experimented a bit, but I’m not really happy with the results yet. My question or request: Does anyone have development times and the perfect agitation rhythm for Ilford HP5+ at ISO 200, 400, 800, 1600 and, if possible, 3600? Of course, I know that my results might differ slightly, but a little guidance would be very much appreciated. Many thanks Timur. P.S.: I’m enlarging with an Opemus 6, i.e. a condenser enlarger.

Gast

gamma 0.56
What do you mean? Gamma 0.56 for both 400 ASA/9 mins and 1600 ASA/13 mins 15 sec, as well as for 3200 ASA/15 mins 30 sec????? As far as I know, the gamma increases as the development time is extended. Perhaps you could explain your figures a little. Best regards Volker

400 ASA gamma 0.58 1600 ASA gamma 0.75 3200 ASA gamma 0.85 Regards Wolfgang