Neopan 400 in DD-X

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dyao

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what are your tips for this combo? I tried souping Neopan 400 in D-76 1:1 last week, it was pretty good but I thought the contrast was way too high. I read on some previous threads that DD-X should give much creamier and better midtones with Neopan.

so what do you recommend, especially in terms of agitation? would HC-110 also be good? I would really like to try XTOL but it's not available where I live. thanks
 
I use HC-110 with Neopan 400 @ 5 mi 20c. They look great I thnk.
4734170305_8753fac9a8_b.jpg
 
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neopan 400 @ 400 1+4 for 6.5 - 7 minutes. agitate for first 30 seconds, then 10 sec per minute after that has been pretty good to me!

4961383037_be2b038cf2.jpg

M2, 90mm summicron e55. I bumped up the contrast in PS

neopan 400 @ 1600 in 1+4 DD-X can also yield great results.

4961067513_0c705e4757.jpg

M2, 50mm summicron collapsible
Geologic (of Blue Scholars) + my M8. 13 minutes dev time, same agitation method.
 
Rodinal 1+50 or lately D-76 1+1. Both are good enough. This one is with D-76, taken with Canon 50mm/1.2.

4942705424_0a032224b0_z.jpg
 
dyao said:
what are your tips for this combo? <snip>
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1) download the DDX fact sheet from the Ilford web site
2) read it
3) follow the suggested protocol as it says
4) later, tweak as you begin to understand how it works.

Ilford put a lot of research into that document. It is not just something they guessed at or by plagiarized an old Kodak set of tables.

I always start with the manufacturers suggestions. Much better than what old Tom said works for him with his particular metering style, developer mixed with his local water, his thermometer and his special way of agitation.
 
Blimey Bob, there you go talking common sense again! How are we ever going to convince people this is magic, if you keep doin' that?
 
Thanks Bob... I didn't realize Ilford had included development times with non-Ilford films in the datasheet. I don't remember the Kodak datasheets having such info. I'll always check in the future.
 
dyao said:
Thanks Bob... I didn't realize Ilford had included development times with non-Ilford films in the datasheet. I don't remember the Kodak datasheets having such info. I'll always check in the future.
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Or as an alternative you can usually get an independent starting point from the Massive Development Chart at:

http://www.digitaltruth.com/devchart.php?doc=timetemp

I started there for developing Legacy Pro 400 (which is Neopan 400) in DD-X. DD-X 1+4 for 7 minutes at 20C is working well for me at the moment.
 
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I use the Digital Dev Chart too, but it doesn't list # of agitations of length of.

also I see that the Ilford datasheet is missing data on Neopan 400 at EI 1600 - I guess they must not recommend it?
 
dyao said:
I use the Digital Dev Chart too, but it doesn't list # of agitations of length of.

also I see that the Ilford datasheet is missing data on Neopan 400 at EI 1600 - I guess they must not recommend it?
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I agitate continuously for the first minute and then 10 seconds every minute.

The Massive Dev Chart says Neopan 400 @ EI 1600 for 13 or 14 minutes depending on film size. I don't understand why film size would have an influence. I can't vouch for those times because I haven't tried it yet.
 
There is nothing wrong with ID11 or D76 with this film and if the contrast is too high it is user error i.e. to much development. Thats all there is to it. DDX will give some more speed and poss a touch more grain.
 
This should be an automatic reply for every film development query:

Bob Michaels said:
1) download the insert film name here fact sheet from the insert manufacturers name here web site
2) read it
3) follow the suggested protocol as it says
4) later, tweak as you begin to understand how it works.
Click to expand...

Perfection once again Bob. (pardon my editing)
 
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I tend to use HC 110 for Neopan 400 and Neopan Presto 400. I take 25ml of the raw syrup and dilute with 1500 ml of water (Paterson 5 reel tanks) and run it for 11 - 11.30 min with 10 sec of agitation/60 sec. Same combo works with tri X too and XX rated at 320.
 
dyao said:
what are your tips for this combo? I tried souping Neopan 400 in D-76 1:1 last week, it was pretty good but I thought the contrast was way too high. I read on some previous threads that DD-X should give much creamier and better midtones with Neopan.

so what do you recommend, especially in terms of agitation? would HC-110 also be good? I would really like to try XTOL but it's not available where I live. thanks
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I think that if the contrast is already too high in D-76, then using D-DX might make things worse instead of better. Anchell and Troop show a development time for Neopan 400 in D-76 1:1 of 9.5 minutes. Reading off the DD-X bottle, I see Ilford calls for 7 minutes, for the same ISO of 400, and the same temperature of 20 degrees C (68 F). Thus DD-X appears to be more active, more vigorous, than D-76. It might make the contrast worse. I think I would stay with the D-76 1:1 for now, but reduce the development time by at least 25%. Seven minutes should be about right for a start.

Edit: I wanted to add that I'm trying DD-X, And it does seem promising. Delta 100 negatives look snappy and sharp--though they are contrasty. Not blocked, but contrasty. So while it seems like a good developer, I don't see it as a necessary change just to reduce contrast. Reducing your development time with D-76 still seems like the place to start.
 
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