Adox CHS 100 II in Atomal

[Koolzakukumba]

I've been trying this combination out but wasn't knocked out by it. I've written about it here:
http://www.theonlinedarkroom.com/2014/01/adox-chs-100-ii-in-atomal.html

There are some photographers who love Atomal but I found that it was nothing special, just a nice capable brew. It's supposed to be very fine grain but I didn't think it was any finer than D76 stock and not as sharp.

I've only shot one film, though, and would prefer to use it some more before reaching a conclusion. I really like CHS 100 II, though. I can see me using a lot more of this in future, probably in Spur's Acurol-N


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[sevad]

Thanks for another nice review. Your blog is becoming a good resource for analog topics. The tones in your photographs look very nice so maybe Atomol has other qualities that you have not considered?

 

[Photo_Smith]

Hi Bruce that looks pretty good to me. You're right about Atomal it is just an average MQ developer with I think from memory a little Pyrocatechin.
Also Agfa made a developer called Atomal FF which was very fine grain like Perceptol and reduced the speed by a stop.
Agfa have a habit of confusing photographers they did the same with Rodinal and Rodinal Special too similar name very different developers...

 

[RichyD]

I'm waiting for CHSII to become available in 120, don't know why the delay. I ended up using Atomal A49 for two films I was using most, HP5 and Rollei 80s.

With HP5 I found it gave a finer grain and with R80s it controlled the highlights. Oh, I also got great results with Ilford Delta 3200 again reducing the grain. All with a dilution of 1+1. However, the lastest batches of developer I have used seem to result in a spike in the highlights then rather flat.

 

[kiss-o-matic]

How would you rate Atomol vs. DDX? I have a bunch of Delta 3200 but I've not been shooting at night. I actually got some Atomol here specifically to bring down the grain in Retro 400s.

Consequently I've got a roll of CHS II that I've yet to develop... going on like 2 months now. Which to choose!

EDIT: Soft grain or not, the shots in the blog are really nice. 😉

 

[Koolzakukumba]

How would you rate Atomol vs. DDX? I have a bunch of Delta 3200 but I've not been shooting at night. I actually got some Atomol here specifically to bring down the grain in Retro 400s.

Consequently I've got a roll of CHS II that I've yet to develop... going on like 2 months now. Which to choose!

EDIT: Soft grain or not, the shots in the blog are really nice. 😉

I'm afraid I can't say as I've never used DDX. Atomal will do the grain-reducing job you bought it for. It's a perfectly good developer but I like a bit more bite to my 35mm negs than Atomal provides. The best I've used in that respect, aside from the really slow, high contrast 35mm films, is Ilford Delta 100 in Spur Acurol-N. That's a really nice combination - see below:

http://www.theonlinedarkroom.com/2013/05/developer-test-spur-acurol-n.html

 

[Photo_Smith]

How would you rate Atomol vs. DDX?

I'm not sure because I don't use Atomal 🙂 but I know that DDX is a true speed increasing developer at least 2/3 stop with most films it also 'polishes' grain the give a less defined grain structure.
It is supposed to be formulated for the Delta film range, and is very similar to Microphen.
DDX/Microphen is good for keeping shadow detail and gives the same grain smoothing, it doesn't have the bite of Rodinal or an acutance developer
It will however increase effective film speed.

Fuji 6x7, Ilford Delta 100, DDX

 

[Koolzakukumba]

The greys in that shot are very nice, Mark. I've never used DDX. So many developers, so little time. 🙂

I don't know if you've tried Spur's Acurol-N but it's very nice with Delta 100 and Tmax 100. I've written about it here:

http://www.theonlinedarkroom.com/2014/01/bring-back-smog.html

and here's an example of Tmax in Acurol-N:

 

[Photo_Smith]

Hi Bruce
DDX and Microphen are pretty much the same, high speed with some smoothing of grain.
I've only ever used the Spur developers with Copex I think it was Nanospeed? My brain may be failing me, so don't take that as Gospel.
Acurol N is interesting, long life, high dilution developers are always going to make me curious to the properties.

Your test was interesting mainly because of the use of Delta (epitaxial grain) film and though you rated at 100 those tests I've seen with cubic films downrate-do you think it maintains shadow detail?

I'm also noting that you say it gives sharp grain with a compensating effect, so would be similar to Rodinal in that case if so what are the differences between the two? (pictorially speaking)

Just one more question the foggy shot above was that on Delta?

 

[baachitraka]

This was my first developer, tested with HP5+ and Delta 3200 but I did not had any other developer to compare at that time. But for sharpness I may recommend 1+1 or 1+2 dilutions.

Later I switched to Barry Thornton Two Bath and quite happy with it.