HU: Fine grain developer comparison

[peter_n]

The December issue of Black & White Photography arrived yesterday and there's an interesting article on fine grain developers in it. Author Mike Crawford compared Adox ADX, Kodak Microdol X, Calbe A49, Tetenal Ultrafin Plus, and Maco LP-Cube XS (also sold as Rollei Slow Speed) using Ilford Delta 100 film.

Overall he liked the Maco product but if you are interested in any of these developers the article is worth a look.

The author also mentions that Adox is replacing Efke as a brand name (and on the JandC web site they note that if you order Efke film you are now as likely to get Adox branded film as Efke), so that is apparently finally happening. Looks like Adox is keeping the same film numbering system; KB50, KB100 etc so there will be no confusion there.

 

[Ralf]

No perceptol? Or is it just a formula copy of the Kodak Microdol X??

 

[peter_n]

Hi Ralph. There is a comment in the article (p. 64) that "Perceptol was not available at the time of writing". Reading between the lines, the inference is that Microdol X = Perceptol.

 

[titrisol]

I'm kind of surprised Xtol, DDX and the paterson's were not tested.

I used Microdol-X a long time ago, and besides losing 1/2 to 1 stop in film speed the prints had a mushy look to them, so I never got to like it.
Xtol givs much finer grain with better shrapness than Microdol IMHO.

Re: ADOX
35mm = small frame or KleinBild, thus KBXXX
120 is roll, thus RXXX

 

[Benjamin Marks]

It is interesting. I used to think that fine grain was everything, but I've been shooting a lot of Neopan 400 which is neither the least expensive or finest-grain ISO 400 film (in that department, I've had good luck with Ilford Delta 400). The Neopan has a look that I really like. Now I tend to control graininess mostly by the format that I choose. I have some 35mm Pan F (50), about 10 rolls of APX 25 and some TMAX 100 in the freezer . . . but that Neopan keeps calling me back. I also have never been able to say goodbye completely to Tri-X and still shoot about one 100' roll per year . . .

Ben

 

[keeds]

ADOX CHS 25 with ADOX ADX

ADOX CHS 25 with ADOX ADX

I've tried this combination (ADOX CHS 25 with ADOX ADX) for one film (35mm) only so far. Tiny grain is only visible in large areas of same tone at 8x10 enlargement. Am going to try it with FP4+ and HP5+. I got the idea from the B&W review.

I've upload a 100% crop of CHS25 in ADX and a comparison of HP5+ in Aculux2. Different scenes, different light, different development, different printing............. so not much to compare, but hey I had 5 minutes to kill!

 

[peter_n]

Ben I really like Neopan 400 too. I get mine developed in Xtol. Great combination! But I like the other Fuji B&W films too, Acros and NP1600.