Best developer for HP5

[zabo69]

Hi,

I am using HC-110 1+32 to develop HP5, in your opinion what is the best combo for this film?

regards,
Avelino

 

[Keith]

I've tried D76, Xtol, HC110 and Rodinal so far ... and I like Rodinal the best by a fair margin. 🙂

 

[rodt16s]

Depends..
My fav is Perceptol 1+2 with HP5@250, but I wouldn't use this for HP5@800
SPUR HRX3 is is also good

 

[Photo_Smith]

HP5 is good in most developers, its a flexible film. I like it in Rodinal in 120 and Microphen or Ilfotec in 35mm.

I'd say Rodinal works well.

 

[wintoid]

Interesting. Depends on the size of the negative. On 35mm, personally I didn't like Rodinal for HP5, but it's fine in medium format.

For 35mm my choice is probably XTOL 1+2 or DDX.

 

[D.O'K.]

If you like very good contrast and tonality with minimised grain (but at the expense of some loss of speed) Perceptol is really excellent with HP5.

Although not a favourite developer I've also had good results from Ilfosol 3--quite nice tonality and shadow detail, but perhaps a bit "flat" for some.

I tried it in Rodinal once, but didn't like the heavy grain.

Regards,
D.

 

[zabo69]

thanks for all the answers .

 

[Keith]

I've not had issues with too much grain with Rodinal provided I keep agitation to a minimum. Basically one very gentle inversion per minute. I found HP5+ to be very flat with Xtol at box speed but quite nice when pushing it to 1600.

 

[guoshuo]

I've souped tens of Hp5+ in d76 and hc110. I found the grains are apparently smaller using d76 stock or 1+1 than hc110 b or h. If I were you and prefer sharp image, I would choose d76.
By the way, Trix gives sharp images in both d76 or hc110. So I end up with Trix.

 

[aoresteen]

Hi,

I am using HC-110 1+32 to develop HP5, in your opinion what is the best combo for this film?

regards,
Avelino

Don't change - you have the best! I've used HC-110 since 1976 with HP-5.

In a pinch I've used D-76 when I didn't have any HC-110 available.

 

[k__43]

I've used Rodinal (massive grain) and XTOL, which I can only advice for high contrast subjects .. it really has a flat curve, it's not so nice for normal and low contrast scenes.

 

[john_s]

A lot depends on how much contrast you have to deal with in the scene, and how much speed you need. In 120 size, Pyrocat (HD and others) is superb for outdoor shots and portraiture in reasonable light. In 35mm, I like something like Microphen or DDX because I use it when I need some speed (400 I mean, not pushing).

 

[presspass]

If you don't mind making your own, TD-201 is an excellent two-bath developer for HP5+. There's also D-23, which is semi-compensating. Either one gives full 400 ISO and D-23 can be used to push to 1600. The recipes are easy and are in either apug or the Film Developers' Cookbook.

 

[Mablo]

I'm using HP5+ 35mm in Rodinal 1+50 for 11mins @ EI 400. I agitate slowly 30 seconds then invert just once per every full minute. I usually leave the tank standing for the last 3-4 minutes. I get full scale of really nice, rich tones. Grain is actually very nice in print. Scanning gives you more accentuated grain but that can be easily taken care of in post processing.

 

[Shab]

In 120 format I use Rodinal and HC110.

* When I use it at ISO400 or less, I use Rodinal R09...
* When I use it at ISO800 and ISO1600 then I use HC110 in "B" dilution.

Some examples:

ISO1600:

RF645 + 45mm + Yellow Filter

SQ-B + PS150mm

ISO800:

RF645 + 45mm + Yellow filter

Regards!

 

[MISH]

I use Rodinal 1-50 and after the first 30 sec of agitation I agitate it 4 times every thirty sec. The film for this print was dev at 1-25 , and still no excessive grain. I entered this print in a local museums juried show, it won a cash award and is now part of the museum's permanent collection so I must have done something right. ?(sorry about the crappy scan...... I just scanned a 5x7 print on my copier, no post adjustments)

 

[Alpsman]

I'm using Promicrol & agitate 4 times every minute.

 

[konicaman]

Always used D76/ID-11 but have lately found that FD-10 is excellent, especially for scanning.

 

[telenous]

D76 1+1 at nominal speed up to EI 800 and DDX 1+4 for EI 1600 have worked the best for me. I like a lot the examples I see here in Rodinal, but for whatever reason I've never succeeded in making this combination work for me.

.

 

[borret]

I have tried HP5+ with all kinds of developers: D-76, Microphen, Rodinal, DD-X, HC-110, and more. I now use Barry Thornton's two-bath developer. It is my favorite by far.