Adox CHS100 in Rodinal, 1:50

[pvenables]

Hi

Have developed a roll of CHS100 in Rodinal recently, 1:50. If I manage to attach the picture correctly, the attachment is a snap of my daughter Gracie. Hopefully it will give a flavour of what the end result is like : quite large grain, sharp, and tonally beautiful. For 6" x 4" prints from 35mm, it's great : but with bigger prints, the grain is a little excessive.

Could anyone recommend an easy-to-use-developer which gives finer grain with this film ?. I've developed it in DD-X with somewhat less grainy results. Don't get me wrong, I like the grain...but would rather have an alternative developer in mind to use if I have the "wrong" flm in the camera for the picture I want to shoot.

Paul

 

[pvenables]

I didn't Thomas - what advantages pictorially are there to using it at 1:25 ?. I developed at 1:50 because Acros turned out so wonderful that way.

I really do like the look, though - I must try the film in 120, wouldn't have to keep the prints small then...

Paul

 

[JJW]

Try this...

Try this...

Developing with 1:25 dilution would increase the contrast and the grain.

You can "pull" the film... rating it at EI 50 and cutting developing time by 20% for starters. It will decrease the contrast, however.

 

[P C Headland]

1+100 should give finer grain - try around 18 minutes. Five inversions at the start of each minute for three minutes, then one inversion every three minutes thereafter.

Alternatively, the film works very nicely in PC-TEA (a very economical, easy to make, long lasting homebrew developer)

 

[mr_phillip]

I've never shot the CHS100, but I use CHS50 & 25 a lot in Tetenal Neofin Blue (Blau). It's a version of the old Beutler formula that was specifically tailored to get the best from the CHS emulsions. In my experience the combination has low grain, great tones and good sharpness.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

I use CHS 100 to get that 'vintage' look when photographing WW2 Living History scenes.

I've only used CHS 50 once before, with an old Kodak No.2 box brownie, but I messed up the exposures because I didn't know the F-stops and shutterspeed. They all turned out underexposed. (Results with TMAX 400 were a lot better with that camera).

After seeing your shot with a lower speed ADOX film, Mr_Phillip, I'm thinking of ordering some more to use with my other cameras.

 

[Trius]

I agree w/ 1:100 as a better choice, and the less agitation the better.

 

[mr_phillip]

After seeing your shot with a lower speed ADOX film, Mr_Phillip, I'm thinking of ordering some more to use with my other cameras.

Thanks, the CHS films are a beautiful way to get a good vintage look. If you've got the light and the option of a decent fast-ish lens I'd definitely recommend the 25 – it's a gorgeous film, especially in Neofin Bl.