Acvice on the best developer for agfapan apx400

[nrb]

A lot of threads exist where various comments and caveats state the relative or absolute inadequacy of developers for this particular film. Interestingly I couldn´t find any where somebody could refer the adequacy of some developer for that same film, Agfapan APX400. Maybe I haven't read enough. Or maybe someone in this forum has a quick answer for this question ready on the tip of his/her pen.
Fact is that I bought a lot of APX400 and couldn't figure out myself yet what the ideal match for this film is.
Thanks in advance,
Nuno

 

[Freakscene]

Xtol 1+1, or if you need to process a LOT of APX400, replenished full-strength Xtol.

APX400, replenished Xtol. Summicron 50/2.

 

[nrb]

Thank you very much. I'll try it.

 

[marduk]

I've asked a similar question some time ago. Check this thread: http://www.flickr.com/groups/ishootfilm/discuss/72157622345182580/
I haven't got around to trying the advice myself yet, though.

 

[maddoc]

Agfa APX400 ? The best developer for this film should be Agfa's Rodinal

 

[dcsang]

Hmmm... I was always told that APX400 is "really" about ISO 200 - so normally I shoot it at 200 and process it at that same ISO with Rodinal (which seems to last forever - I'm still using a batch that I bought years ago when Agfa first went out of business and it's working just fine).

I'm sure Xtol would work just fine as well

Cheers,
Dave

 

[pkreyenhop]

I like classic combinations like bacon and eggs / APX with Rodinal (exposed at ISO 320 and Rodinal 1+50).

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I like it in Rodinal 1+50 at EI-320 as well. The first one was 35mm the second one was medium format

 

[cblkdog]

I'll go with Rodinal at 1:100 and EI200

 

[cblkdog]

BTW its my favorite after many years of playing around. TriX in D76 1-1 is next in line.

 

[Mablo]

In general I like Rodinal but I'm not a big fan of it with APX 400 as it decreases the film speed one full stop and easily increases grain to a level that I'm not comfortable with anymore.

XTOL/D-76 are both fine IMHO. You get full speed (EI 400) and much less grain. My secret recipe is to shoot APX 400 at EI 400 and develop it in D-76 stock, 24C (75F) for 6min 30sec. This recipe gives you a hint of the rich tonality and "glow" that one can get with APX 100.

 

[micromontenegro]

Of course, the classic combo is APX/Rodinal. But I like a lot the way it reacts to Tetenal Ultrafin.

 

[batterytypehah!]

The first roll I ever developed was APX400 in D-76 1:1 (20 deg C, 11 minutes), earlier this year.

Poor scan, worse darkroom skills. You can do better than this. Exposed pretty well, though -- it was an evil automatic SLR.

Auto levels in PS, no crop, not sharpened.

 

[LeicaFoReVer]

I used ID11 ilford and it was just cool. It is my favorite too. I cant find it anymore.

 

[nrb]

Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Thank you for your kind support.

 

[Freakscene]

Whatever developer you use you need to expose APX400 at EI 200-250 for normal results. Rodinal lowers the midtones a lot with APX400, a look that I don't like; the resulting grain is coarser and this decreases sharpness.

Marty