Andreas_23
Hello!
I’m new to darkroom work and would be grateful for any advice from the experts here.
I’d like to develop an Ilford HP5 Plus, which I’ve exposed at 400 ISO, using Tetenal Ultrafin liquid.
Tetenal states on the bottle that the development time for the HP5 Plus is 4.5 minutes at 1+10 and 8 minutes at 1+20 (20 degrees, Beta = 0.55).
In the HP5 Plus data sheet, Ilford specifies a development time of 7.5 minutes at 1+10 and 16 minutes at 1+20 for development in Tetenal Ultrafin liquid (processing in tins at 20 degrees).
Now, it may well be that, particularly at the lower dilution, an extra minute or so doesn’t make much difference, but here the figures differ by 100%!
Since I don’t get a second chance during film development: who can I trust, the film manufacturer or the developer manufacturer? (You, of course).
Best regards,
Andreas
Gast
Andreas,
Certainly not us – we’re just pretending we know what we’re talking about and we’re all just trying to make ourselves look important.
It’s important to note that the Tetenal specifications vary depending on different beta values, and they also apply to different processing regimes.
The Ilford specifications, on the other hand, refer to yet another processing regime and a gamma of 0.62.
The specifications Beta 0.55 and gamma 0.62 are virtually equivalent, but are based on different methodologies.
You can use either one if you follow the instructions EXACTLY as stated.
If you have an enlarger with a condenser, the lower beta value is correct; if you have a colour-mixing head or multigrade head on your enlarger, the higher one is correct.
Roland
PS: As I’m not familiar with this combination, I can’t offer you any practical advice.
MirkoBoeddecker
Andreas,
You’ve forgotten the agitation cycle!
The TT times apply to the TT agitation cycle (every 3 seconds) and the Ilford times to the Ilford agitation cycle (every minute).
Best regards,
Mirko
cfb_de
Right then. Back in the day, my HP5+ also swam around@400, using Ultrafin liquid. That was before I tried better solutions.
- 20°C
- 25ml concentrate to 475ml water (1+19/1:20)
- Give it a vigorous shake every 3 seconds
- 11 mins (*immediately* afterwards you can drop a second HP5+ into the same bath for 15.5 mins)
The grain was a disaster. And I like grain, but too much is too much. In comparison, Rodinal 1+25 is a fine-grain developer. But it did deliver the 400 ASA.
Best regards,
Franz
Gast
While we’re on the subject, can the HP 5+ also be developed using Rodinal at a dilution of 1:50? How do the results compare to those achieved with Rodinal at 1:25?
piu58
While we’re on the subject, can HP 5+ also be developed with Rodinal at a 1:50 dilution? How do the results compare to Rodinal at 1:25?
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Of course it can. For some reason, Agfa doesn’t specify the times. I’ve achieved picture-perfect grey value curves using a 1:50 dilution.
Gast
Thanks for your reply, Uwe. Just to check: are you happy with the grain, or is it coarser than with a 1:25 ratio?
Best regards,
Peter
cfb_de
Hello Peter,
The grain is finer than with a 1+25 ratio. That’s precisely the Rodinal paradox. I develop HP5+ 120 film almost exclusively in Rodinal 1+50.
Best regards,
Franz
Andreas_23
The grain was a disaster. And I do like grain, but too much is too much. In contrast, Rodinal 1+25 is a fine-grain developer.
Hi Franz,
That’s interesting. I’ve developed my (few) films exclusively in Rodinal so far, and I bought Ultrafin especially for the HP5+ because I read elsewhere on the forum (unfortunately I can’t remember where) that it would turn out terribly grainy in Rodinal.
I could have saved myself the expense then.
Best regards,
Andreas
FrankJBeckmann
Hi Andreas,
Ultrafin isn’t generally known for producing a particularly fine grain. With HP5+, Ultrafin probably only really works if you use a rapid 3-second agitation rhythm. My first films that I developed myself were also HP5+ in Rodinal. In terms of tonal range, I liked the HP5+ straight away, but the grain was really quite coarse. However, there are a few tricks for achieving surprisingly fine grain with HP5+.
You mustn’t skimp on the light during development of HP5+. If you expose the film as if it were 200 ISO, it becomes significantly more fine-grained. For this, I would recommend Tanol as the developer. I have never seen HP5+ produce such fine grain and sharpness with any other developer. Tanol also has the advantage that the concentrate lasts for years, making it ideal if you only develop film rarely.
Gast
Right then. Back in the day, I used to develop my HP5+ @400s in Ultrafin liquid too, before I tried out better solutions.
- 20°C
- 25ml concentrate to 475ml water (1+19/1:20)
- Swish vigorously every 3 seconds
- 11 mins
Hi Franz,
I did exactly the same and am very happy with the result. Lovely, fine grey gradations. The grain is visible, but not a problem for my taste (at 13 x 18).
Thanks again!
Andreas
