What ei for Neopan 400 (Legacy Pro) ?

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Hi,

After figuring out that XP-2 Super is optimal around e.i.200-250, i would like to ask my fellow RFFers about Neopan 400.

What ei. should I shoot for ?

I find my snaps look better around box speed of 400 to 600 for this film, this could be due to my overdevelopment.

raytoei
 
I use Neopan 400 and LegacyPro 400 in Rodinal a lot and don't find it grainy at all. I mainly use Rodinal 1:25, 6min at EI 400 or 320 and get consistent results.

4408763427_f1a1fcf49f_b.jpg

4408763427
 
Legacy Pro was never available in 120. it's only 120 Neopan 400 that is discontinued. The 135 will continue to be available.

At least that's what Fuji in Tokyo told me.

Marty
 
I use Legacy Pro at everything from 320-1600 with great results... all with Rodinal 1:100 stand dev:

ISO1600


ISO800


ISO320
 
Neopan 400 in 120 is currently discontinued as far as I know. LegacyPro doesn't exist in 120 (at least in EU) so I guess Neopan 400 and LegacyPro 400 in 135 continue to run normally at least for now.

Btw. I don't think they are 100% identical products. Emulsion is the same as far as I can tell but the film base feels different L-Pro being more thick and not as flexible.
 
Disaster_Area, lovely tones. My attempts with stand with Neopan 400 resulted in hugh grains due to the high room temperature here in the tropics. I have better luck with xp-2 in stand though.
 
I strongly recommend a developer like D76 1+1 or Xtol 1+1 or 1+2, or DDX with this film. My EIs are:

Leica M: 250 in contrasty light, 320 in average light with soft shadows and 400 when dead flat. 200 when severely hard edged lighting. This is for Xtol 1+2. Same for DDX.

Mamiya 7, rate 1/3 stop faster in all cases.

Rodinal does not come close to bringing out the best overall look IMHO. I miz rodinal with Xtol for 120 when I want a bit more bite, but honestly, try Xtol or D76/ID 11 as your first port of call. Its my main film and find it gives beautiful results. Same speed as TriX in my tests... almost the same as D400 (tho the ilford is a hair faster - perhaps 1/3 stop)

This film offers traditional tones (with a slight slant towards teh modern) very fine grain and peerless tonality for its type. Dev in Rodinal and you lose its main attribute: far finer grain than TriX or HP5+ at the same speed. It also resolves much higher than those two too.
 
This film offers traditional tones (with a slight slant towards teh modern) very fine grain and peerless tonality for its type. Dev in Rodinal and you lose its main attribute: far finer grain than TriX or HP5+ at the same speed. It also resolves much higher than those two too.

I would have thought that the finer grain would be a reason to use Rodinal with it, as Rodinal doesn't soften grain.
 
Rodinal? Half ISO, maybe.

But how are you metering? True (1 degree or less) spot will often demand a stop more than TTL.

Cheers,

R.
 
I am back from Japan and shot about 30 rolls of Neopan 400 Presto and Legacy Pro. Developed it in either Rodinal 1:50 for 11.5 min or HC 110 1:60 for 12.5 min (agitation 2-3 times/60 sec. with 5 reel tanks). I also tried 5 rolls with D23 for 7 min.
Grain is visible, but not too bad with the Rodinal. The HC 110 gives better shadow details - grain is similar. The D23 (home-made) looks very smooth - but a bit "mushy" with the Sodium Sulphite. Would print well though as the grain is smoother.
Check on our Flickr for about 75 samples (for now - still have 17 rolls to scan!).
 
Everybody:

Thanks very much for your comments. I just mixed a 5 Litre Xtol today, and will test it on a roll of Legacy Pro. I am going to make several assumptions based on what I read here as well as the PDF file that Benjamin posted:

* Shoot at ei 400
* Mix at 1+1 in a Paterson Tank System 4. This means 145ml of Working Solution + 145ml of water, making it 290ml for developing 1 roll.
* Develop for 9.75mins at 20C as per Massive Dev Chart site.

thanks
 
I would have thought that the finer grain would be a reason to use Rodinal with it, as Rodinal doesn't soften grain.

In my experience, Rodinal makes the grain considerably larger and more visible compared to D76/Xtol, DDX or just about any standard type developer and while reduced agitation controls grain, the result is still larger grain by a fair margin.

Rodinal may not soften grain, but it sure doesn't hide it either. To be fair, I do not think D76 1+1 or Xtol 1+2 (or 1+3) softens grain either. Try D100 in Xtol 1+2 and blow it up huge. When you eventually see the grain it is sharp as hell, just waaaaaaysmaler than it is with Rodinal. Same goes for TriX, Neopan, Foma 100 etc.

I would not personally use fine grain and Rodinal in the same sentence, unless talking an ultra slow film and even then, in relative terms, almost any other developer would produce finer grain, but considering what you can see on print, the Rodinal may still be to all intents and purposes 'grain free'.

Roger is spot on regarding my experiences. Most of my Rodinal film speeds are half box speed, whereas dilute Xtol and DDX are box speed minus 1/3 stop in most cases so abot 2/3 stop difference. Dilute D76 (1+1) would be somewhere in the middle.

I use quite a bit of rodinal, alongside dilute Xtol and frequently mixed, because it can add more bite, more visible grain and a straighter lie in the highlights, when I want that look. I don't have a single combo in which Rodinal produces finer or less visible grain than any of my other devs.
 
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