Neopan 1600 : Rodinal : Stand : Next Step?

[bwcolor]

I shot at ISO 1200 and stand developed after first minute of agitation for 55 minutes in 2.5ml Rodinal per 35mm roll.

I would like a bit more density in the negatives. Should I increase time, or concentration. I guess that what I'm really asking is if the Rodinal is exhausted at 55 minutes. If so, I need a higher concentration.

Thank?

 

[Trius]

Not knowing how much solution volume your tank requires, it's not possible to say. Beyond that, overall density is more related to exposure than developing. If your scene was of normal contrast and the negs show good contrast (density aside), your exposure probably needs tweaking.

FWIW, Neopan 1600 seems to me to be more of a 1000 speed film. But if you have good shadow detail and lack higher values, then yes, increase concentration.

BTW, Neopan seems to like D-76 a lot. I have some D-76 mixed just for Neopan 1600, even though Rodinal is my preferred developer. See Alkis' Neopan work on flickr.

 

[bwcolor]

I was shooting Tri-X and Neopan 1600, both at ISO 1200 through an Ikon ZM and Contax G. I shot the same subjects with the two films. Most shots were moderate to low contrast and I was comparing the density of the Tri-X to the Neopan. I've been assuming that I am developing to exhaustion and so I've been shooting for a standard ml/roll with 1-2 rolls in 16oz and 3-4 in 32oz stainless tanks. The Tri-X was 3ml/roll for 85minutes and the Neopan 2.5ml for 55 minutes. Temperature has been in the 70-72 degree range.

Exposure seemed to agree between cameras and I occasionally used a Sekonic on incident to triple check. It appears that I'm needing a bit more shadow detail when compared to the Tri-X, but UPS just delivered my scanners, so all is by eyeball and without the aid of experience. I realize that I don't want extremely dense negative for scanning.

 

[john_s]

It seems to me that some people utilize developer exhaustion (total, not just in highlights) as a way of controlling contrast/ degree of development. I'm not sure if that results in weak shadow detail, but it certainly limits contrast.

In this case, you have said that you'd like more density. I'm not sure if your contrast is ok. Maybe your developer is totally exhausted at the end of 55min. I would try the same concentration for the same time, but using 2x as much Rodinal in 2x the amount of water (making concentration the same). That way you would be able to judge if the developer in your first trial was totally used up.

Having said that, Trius is spot on in suspecting borderline exposure. Neopan1600 is an ISO=640 film that pushes a bit reasonably well. Even in max speed developers like Microphen, exposure at 1600 is not likely to give much shadow detail.

 

[Trius]

If you are getting good results from TX @ 1200, then the Neopan might be redundant, unless there are some characteristics of the Fuji that you prefer.

 

[bwcolor]

Thanks for the direction and explanation.

I put through another roll using the same 16oz tank, but with 3.0ml vs 2.5ml and 60 min vs. 55min and the contrast picked up nicely and density looks much the same as the Tri-X. Negs are wet, but I think that I've got some good negs.

Thanks Again..