HC-110 vs Perceptol for Tri-X 400 and Plus-X 125

[alexz]

I just stepped into the wonderful world of B&W with manual procesing, so far developed my first roll of Tri-X 400 in HC-110 (dill B for 6.5 min @ 20 degrees). In general, I'm quite satisfied by the results and going to bake few more rolls TriX in this soup to get grips with the combination, but I got a free pack of Perceptol and I was told it aims to somewhat supressed grain.
I'd like your opinion as regarding with I'm going to earn and what to loose with Perceptol vs HC-110 ?
What would you prefer one vs. another based on your own experience and why ?

Thanks.

 

[charjohncarter]

I don't know about Perceptol, but, as we discussed in an earlier thread, we are about in agreement on Tri-X, although I shoot at 200 or 250. My time at 68 degrees for HC-110b would be 6.5 minutes. Some of the other experts will have to talk on Perceptol, but I bet you won't see any difference in grain from HC-110. Just a guess, I don't want to start a developer war. The woman that I have gotten my starting numbers from recommends Tri-X at 200, Perceptol diluted (stock),68 degrees; Plus-X at 64 Perceptol diluted (stock), 68 degrees.

 

[John Bragg]

I last used Percertol over 10 years ago,but from my experience with it, you will get amazingly fine grain but at the expense of at least a stop of speed. Also it is a solvent developer and as such 1:1 or 1:3 will give slightly more defined grain and better sharpness. It is good and many swear by it. Definitely worth trying.

 

[alexz]

OK, thanks.
Charjohncarter - do you mean you shoot Tri-X at 200/250 and develop dill. B@ 68 deg. for 6.5 minutes ?? AFAIK, I was remembring from my thread where you advised that time for Tri-X exposed at its nominal (400), am I wrong ? Interesting, but 6.5 min. apparently worked fine for me with Tri-X shot at 400....

John, what do you mean "at the expense of at least a stop of speed" ? Does that mean in order to use it effectively, Tri-X 400 must be exposed to 200 ?
Also, that "slightly more defined grain and better sharpness" relatively to HC-110 ?

 

[John Bragg]

It does indeed mean that Tri-X is effectively 200 speed in Perceptol. The better sharpness in higher dilutions is compared to using Perceptol stock. It lessens the effect of the sulphite solvent.
My personal preference is for the ease of use with HC-110 dilution H. It gives me all I seek in a developer. Good speed, regular sharp grain and lovely tonality. Fine grain developers usualy exact a penality in terms of apparent sharpness and accutance by dissolving the sharp edges of normal grain thus giving the impression of finer grain. I have tried this approach and for all normal applications I prefer a developer that gives regular grain and thus a better real sharpness overall. For me that is HC-110.

Regards, John.

 

[charjohncarter]

alexz, I don't shoot Tri-X at 400 (at least, not for a long time). I shoot it at either 200 or 250, and that depends on the scene. But my time, for simplicity is 6.5 (actually, closer to 7 minutes) (but I like a dark negative for my post processing) WHEN shooting at 400 (which I haven't done for a long time, as I've said). Now, it is 5.0 minutes at 200 or 250. I'm sorry for the confusion. I also develop using HC-110H which is double the time of B. But it is just easier to keep it in B for you. 68 degrees is understood. I, also, agitate 30 seconds to start and then 3 inversions per minutes.