seba
Hi,
After a bit of trial and error, I’ve finally started testing my favourite film, HP5+ (based on visual assessment, DMax/paper due to base fog). I developed it in ID11 1+1, 10:11:30:13 mins, 20°C, using an Ilford tilt-and-turn tank. I then printed test strips on the enlarger (using a Durst M605/condenser on FOMA V3, #2, N113, 90s) and, at 10 minutes, there was still 250 ASA left. However, I’d really like to have ‘genuine’ 400 ASA, hence my questions:
1.) Is there a way to increase the speed with the existing setup? Different developer, temperature, etc.? I’m not really keen on using a stock solution, though ;-)
2.) If that doesn’t help, perhaps a different developer is called for – I was thinking of something in the league of Spur SLD, Microphen, Promicrol. A bit more grain wouldn’t bother me. Since the film isn’t exactly a resolution marvel anyway, the grain can happily be visible if it increases the image’s sharpness. In my limited experience, I found the ID11 almost a bit “spongy”. I’ve dug out a few old HP5/Microphen negatives that I developed back then – without much of a clue – following the instructions on the packet. The contrast and exposure were obviously off, but I actually thought the grain and sharpness were quite good – that’s the direction I’m aiming for. However, having used the powdered stuff, I’m currently leaning more towards highly concentrated liquid developers, as they’re easier to control the temperature of.
If anyone has any thoughts on this, including on the developers – I’d be grateful for any tips. At some point I’d like to wrap up the testing (at least for a while).
See you later
cfb_de
Hi Seba,
You’ve successfully discovered that the label on the packet and the actual speed don’t have much to do with each other :-) The HP5+ really only delivers 250 ISO, max. 320.
However, you can push it quite easily and, up to around 640 ISO, you’ll only lose a little detail in the shadows.
I develop the film either in HRX-II (at 250 ISO) or, for everything else (up to 800 ISO push), in Rodinal. HRX-II according to the instructions, Rodinal 1+50 for 11 to 17 minutes, depending on the desired push from 400 to 800 ISO.
Best regards,
Franz
seba
Thanks, Franz!
You’ve successfully discovered that the label on the packet and the actual speed don’t have much to do with each other :-)
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I was prepared for that :)
I’ll add Rodinal to the shortlist; plenty of people swear by it. If I compare the specs, Spur SLD is my favourite, as it’s supposedly 640 ASA (including the marketing bonus) and has a pleasantly short development time (6 mins at 1+9). If anyone has any info on that, that’d be great!
Does the dilution actually have a significant effect on the negative apart from the development times, or is that pretty much negligible?
cu seba
cfb_de
Hi Seba,
When Heribert Schain (the man behind *Die Spur* ;-) specifies speeds and development times, they’re spot on. He and Wolfgang Moersch are probably the most precise testers, with the most reliable data sheets.
You can use their figures without hesitation and needn’t worry about any ‘marketing hype’.
In my Rodinal experiments, I have definitely observed an effect of dilution: as dilution increases, the compensating power rises (logically, because +/- a few seconds over a longer time then make relatively less difference), the grain becomes finer and the development time shifts into more pleasant time ranges. What’s more, at 1+50, an HP5+ and an APX100 both fit in the tank at the same time :-)
Best regards,
Franz
seba
As the dilution increases, the compensatory capacity increases (logically, because a difference of a few seconds makes relatively less of a difference over a longer period); the grain becomes finer and the development time shifts into more convenient time frames.
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Hi Franz,
I’m actually quite interested in this: does that mean that the grain becomes smaller at higher dilutions but remains pronounced, or that the grain becomes softer and the shafts therefore suffer _somewhat_ as well? I’m well aware that this can happen at the very limit of what’s perceptible; I’m more concerned with the general trends, so I can better assess the effect. I’m mainly interested in sharply accentuated grain.
Thanks,
cu seba
cfb_de
Hi Seba,
That’s exactly the Rodinal paradox: the grain becomes finer, the contrast increases, but the sharpness (i.e. the accentuation of the grain) is retained.
This is not the case with other developers (e.g. it doesn’t work at all with Ultrafin liquid: there, the grain becomes even larger and, as a result, muddier).
However, you can only really see this clearly in a direct comparison of two 30x40 prints from KB.
Best regards,
Franz
Andreas_23
I develop the film either in HRX-II (at 250 ISO) or, for everything else (up to 800 ISO push), in Rodinal. HRX-II according to the instructions, Rodinal 1+50 for 11 to 17 minutes, depending on the desired push from 400 to 800 ISO.
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Hello,
In
the HP5 data sheet (page 3), Ilford also ‘officially’ specifies a development time of 11 minutes for Rodinal 1+50 when the (camera) setting is 400 ISO.
Best regards,
Andreas
seba
I’ll give Rodinal and SLD a go and see how steep the film curve is and what the speed is like. Thanks for the info!
See you, Seba
