Classic Film/Developer Combos

[Teuthida]

After a lifetime of shooting TriX and developing it in D76, the last few years have seen me experimenting with other Film/developer combos. Specifically, I love:
HP5 @ 800 is in DDX 1:4
PAN F @ 50 iso in Perceptol
TriX @ 500 iso in Microphen

I'd love to hear other's favorites and the specific reasons you prefer a given combination.

 

[johannielscom]

RolleiRetro100 (In fact rebranded Agfa APX100) in Rodinal 1:100 stand.

Just looks good to me. Naturally classical looks.

 

[al1966]

Lower speed films <200 in Adox APH09 which I gather is more or less the original Rodinal formula. I have tried and liked Polypan, FP4+, Agfa APX, Foma 100 & 200, Rollei RPX100, Plus X, Lucky and Ilford P3. I don't mind Lucky in 35mm but 120 drives me nuts. I use 1+40 and have started to agitate more than recommended to increase contrast. For 400+ films I tend to use D76 in 1 litre packs, a lot of the time it goes dead.

 

[Bingley]

My current favorite combos:

- Plus X @ 320 in Diafine. Diafine is often dissed as a so-so developer, but it shines with Plus X.
- TMax 400 @ 250 or 400 in Rodinal 1:50. Great tonality, without excessive grain.
- Tri-X @ 250 or 400 in HC 110 dil. h. Great tonality, without excessive grain.

I have recently shot some TMax 100 @ 50 and developed in HC 110 dil. h. Results are promising for creamy tones.

 

[Gerry M]

My current favorite combos:

- Plus X @ 320 in Diafine. Diafine is often dissed as a so-so developer, but it shines with Plus X.
- TMax 400 @ 250 or 400 in Rodinal 1:50. Great tonality, without excessive grain.
- Tri-X @ 250 or 400 in HC 110 dil. h. Great tonality, without excessive grain.

I have recently shot some TMax 100 @ 50 and developed in HC 110 dil. h. Results are promising for creamy tones.

Steve,
Do you mind sharing the developing time with Tri-X and HC 110? I ask because I just cooked a roll with that combo. Looked like over done bacon. 🙁

 

[Bingley]

Sure, Gerry:

These days I mostly shoot Tri-X (or Arista Premium 400) at iso 250, and develop in HC 110 dil. h for 11:30 mins. at 20C. I don't agitate a lot: thirty seconds initial, with 3 inversions every three minutes. I've also had good results using Charjohncarter's method of developing Tri-X (exposed at iso 250) in HC 110 dil. h with 2.5 ml. of Rodinal; when using this method I develop for 11:45 mins., at 20C.

Two other combos for Tri-X that I've had good results with:
-- iso 400 developed in HC 110 dil. e for 8:00 minutes.

-- iso 400 developed in Rodinal 1:60 for 12 minutes (great tones, although more noticeable grain).

 

[Gerry M]

Thanks, Steve. I'll give those a try.

 

[timor]

I have recently shot some TMax 100 @ 50 and developed in HC 110 dil. h. Results are promising for creamy tones.

Agree with that. Just remaind me what dillution H, I am using simple 1+49.

 

[Bingley]

Dilution h is one-half the strength of dilution b. So, for 600 ml of developer (for two reels in a Patterson tank), I mix 9.4 ml of syrup and fill the graduate up to the 600 ml line with water, and develop TMax 100 exposed at 50 for 16 minutes.

 

[jan normandale]

Steve, you developed Tmax 100 / HC110 dil H for 15 minutes. I'm seeing some examples done at 12 minutes and I'd like to see some of your 15 minute development images. I'm thinking of playing around with the times.

thx Jan

 

[znapper]

Steve,
Do you mind sharing the developing time with Tri-X and HC 110? I ask because I just cooked a roll with that combo. Looked like over done bacon. 🙁

Another alternative is:
Tri-X at EI 400
Kodak HC-110 dilution B for 6 minutes 30 seconds (20 degrees)

1 minute initial slow, continuous, inversions, then 1 slow inversion every 2 minutes.

Came out dandy over here, scans well, prints well (condenser enlarger).

 

[maddoc]

Another alternative is:
Tri-X at EI 400
Kodak HC-110 dilution B for 6 minutes 30 seconds (20 degrees)

1 minute initial slow, continuous, inversions, then 1 slow inversion every 2 minutes.

Came out dandy over here, scans well, prints well (condenser enlarger).

6 minutes 30 seconds at 20 C ? Isn`t that a little bit long ? (dev chart recommends 4.5 minutes ...)

 

[Bingley]

Steve, you developed Tmax 100 / HC110 dil H for 15 minutes. I'm seeing some examples done at 12 minutes and I'd like to see some of your 15 minute development images. I'm thinking of playing around with the times.

thx Jan

Here's one example, Jan. Keep in mind that I'm pulling TMax 100 one stop, and then developing in HC 110 dil. h for 16 minutes; minimal agitation:


Morning, Peeler Lake by bingley0522, on Flickr

 

[Bingley]

Here's one more example. Other examples are over on my flickr, particularly in the "Into the Mountains" set.


Granite Pillows by bingley0522, on Flickr

 

[Bingley]

Another alternative is:
Tri-X at EI 400
Kodak HC-110 dilution B for 6 minutes 30 seconds (20 degrees)

1 minute initial slow, continuous, inversions, then 1 slow inversion every 2 minutes.

Came out dandy over here, scans well, prints well (condenser enlarger).

I don't shoot Tri-X at box speed much any more. I either pull it a stop (as described above) or shoot it at 800 and develop in Diafine. However, I do shoot TMax 400 at box speed and develop in HC 110 dil. h for 10 mins, with good results. I think the time for Tri-X at 400 would be about the same.

 

[Bingley]

I don't want to hog this thread, but I did find one other example of TMax 100 dev'd in HC 110 dil. h for 16 mins (exposed at iso 50), which nicely illustrates this film/developer combination:


Untitled by bingley0522, on Flickr

 

[charjohncarter]

I do Tmax100 very much like you: HC-110h with a little Rodinal thrown in. I get complete tonal range (and highlight separation), even with 35mm. Lots are not after that, but if you want it try it, do it. This is Tmax100, but I will show something similar with Trix:

TriX, 35mm with a little Rodinal:

Both are harsh lighting scenes and you can get shadows and highlight control, but you have to do it like DF Cardwell says (that's not me): this is 35mm.

 

[Bingley]

John is the Master. I learned TMax in HC 110 dil. h from him. He does it better. Beautiful shots ^^^.

 

[jan normandale]

thks Steve and John, I've been using Dil B and G but not H... I've run some at 12 minutes I'll see how it goes. Next I'll run some at 15. If you're rating the TMax at 50 and developing longer I shouldn't be too far off if I rate it at 100 and then develop at 15 minutes.

Strangely the Massive Dev Chart shows no Dilution H with TMax 100

 

[Mablo]

My favorite is the classic combination of APX100 and Rodinal. Instead of 1+50 I've lately started to use 1+25 dilution. Much better in my opinion. I hope the new Silvermax is like APX100. I don't really need any other film.

This is APX100@200 in Rodinal 1+25: