Problems with HC 110

[jpa66]

I just developed my first roll of film in HC 110. I'm an avowed Rodinal lover, but wanted to try something different. I developed a roll of Tri-x at 400, and used the developer at 1:49, as per instructions found on a site ( I forget whose ) that was recommended through a thread on RFF. I developed for the recommended time of 8 minutes at 68 degrees, and the negs came out underdeveloped ( not terrifically so, but enough to make a difference ). I also just noticed upon scanning them that there is a broad band of brown colored tint running across a majority of frames.

Anyone have an idea as to what that band might be? I fixed it for 7 minutes, and my fix appeared to be ( and should be ) good, but I'm thinking that maybe that's the problem ( for the color tint - not the under-development ). Any thoughts would be welcome, as I'm not too thrilled with my first experience with HC 100.

JP

 

[typhillips]

JP, I've used HC-110 extensively and never had trouble with the tint you mention. 7 minutes seems awfully long.... was this a rapid fixer or traditional?

Did you mix well? HC-110 is really thick and requires more stirring than what you are used to with Rodinal.

8 min. at a 1:49 dilution sounds about right, assuming you are referring to the concentrate vs. water dilution (and not stock solution). I believe my time for Tri-X is 10 min. at the 1:63 dilution ("dilution H"). The published time, adjusted for dilution H, is 7.5 min, way too short.

I used to use HC-110 extensively for HP5+ and it is a great developer for that emulsion. Neopan also looks very nice in it. I personally prefer Rodinal for Tri-X. The grain of Tri-X seems finer than HP5+ so it seems to "tolerate" Rodinal well.

Are you going to the meetup tomorrow? Perhaps we can chat more about it.

Ty

 

[jpa66]

Ty,

I did mix it well, as I was surprised to find how thick it actually was. The underdevelopment bugs me more than the tinted band ( that only added insult to injury ). I wanted to try HC110 earlier, but I kept reading conflicting reports about development times, and everyone seems to think that Kodak's times are way too short regardless.

I plan on being at the meet tomorrow ( barring a hurricane-like storm ), so that'd be great to discuss it then.

Thanks,
JP

 

[Trius]

The brown streak is strange; my first thought is washing, but who knows.

I've never used that dilution, but are you sure it's not underexposure rather than underdevelopment? In my experience TX is much better at EI 200 or 250 with HC110. Every film mus be tested for "working EI" with every developer. Not that I think developer can make more than 1/3 to 2/3 stop difference in speed, but you may be used to the results of TX @ 400 in Rodinal that you just assume 400 is the true speed. Since HC-110 has a different look than Rodinal, you may be misinterpreting underexposure for underdevelopment.

 

[typhillips]

JP, just checked my notes. I stand corrected.

My development time for Tri-X, exposed at box speed and souped in HC-110 dilution H (1:63) is 12 minutes at 68 deg F. This would work out to be roughly 9.5 minutes for your dilution. So perhaps they are a bit underdeveloped. But given Tri-X's great latitude, I would think all the negs would still be quite printable (or scannable, in my case).

 

[charjohncarter]

I do 11:30 minutes for TriX at 250 with HC-110h (1:62-63). I find HC-110 just as forgiving as Rodinal. You just have to get your time, temp, agitation down. Sounds like typhillips and I are about the same.

 

[slm]

Are you sure the fixer was still good? I think that streak is due to exhausted fixer.
If you can mix a fresh batch, you can re-fix the negatives and re-wash as usual. Should clear it up.

Cheers

 

[jpa66]

I'll mix up some new fixer and give that a try. That was one of my thoughts.

Maybe the photos are underexposed instead of underdeveloped - that may be it, as well.

Well, I'm off soon to the Chicago meet-up, and maybe I'll find some answers there.

 

[dufffader]

exhausted fixer could be the reason. Best way to check if it is, is to dip the neg into new fixer. If it clears up, then you know.

the first and last time I had the banding due to exhausted fixer, the effect was obvious during scans. the images had less contrast than normal, not to mention rather uneven.