Rodinal for the newbie?

[De_Corday]

^that looks awesome.

 

[De_Corday]

OK. HP5+ at 400, in Rodinal 1:50 for 11min. Minimal agitation--inversions for 20 sec to begin, then three inversions every 3 minutes. Please ignore the crappy faux-scanning that makes the center darker than the corners...

Could use some more contrast next time around... should I go 1:25?

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[Ronald M]

I have used Rodinal for 23 years now. It is the developer that I learned to develop film with when I was 15 years old. I have tried different dilutions and techniques with it and the best results have always come from diluting it 1+50, agitating normally (no stand developing or leaving several minutes between agitation cycles). Stand development and reduced agitation will give you uneven developing. You may get lucky and not get uneven developing for a many rolls, but eventually it will happen, and it will happen to a roll that is especially important to you.

Exactly. Also why no film manufacturer suggests it.

I just love how someone with better writing skills than photo skills is able to get these these things started and they never die, some poor newby picks up on it and thing that how things are supposed to be.

If you really want to see good black and white, visit Chris`s site.

The rule is , exposure controls shadow detail and time in developer controls contrast. You need to work it out with your materials. There is no shortcut.

Overagitation is another. Does not happen. We agitate the heck out of sheet film on hangars. If we don`t, we get marks all over it from inconsistent developer replenishment across the neg. 35 mm is the same. I can develop with continuous in a Jobo and it does not hurt a thing so too much agitation clearly is not a problem. One does not cure to much contrast with reduced agitation or you make a mess. The cure is a faster clock.

So learn the basics before you go branching off into experiments so there is a decent level of proficiency to compare it with.

 

[Corran]

Stand developing is a well-known technique and not wrong. It may not be what someone needs but dismissing it entirely is just as short-sighted.

Having developed hundreds of rolls/sheets with stand development I have to say that it's an excellent technique that everyone should explore.

 

[Photo_Smith]

Exactly. Also why no film manufacturer suggests it.

Actually they used to suggest it, in fact I was told by someone years ago that the method their lab used was to clip the films on a hanger in the weak developer and leave them to 'develop to completion' sometimes overnight!

Not a recommended method now of course' but on that would have been considered perfectly valid in the early 20th Century.

Here is the Agfa info from their 1910 'Agfa book of Photography'

Years ago back in far galaxy...

 

[shortstop]

Rodinal was the main developer I used when I began to develop my negatives. Recently I used Ilfosol. Not bad until two rolls undeveloped at all. Grrrr.. The bottle was opened only 4 months before. But the colour of the solution was reddish. I learned the lesson. Back to Rodinal.
Surprisingly recently an error gave me incredible result. Two 135 rolls tmax 400 developed twice the time from Massive Development. Brilliant negatives and grey tonality very rich! I don't have an explanation. Only surprised.
Antonio

 

[Fotohuis]

Recently I used Ilfosol. Not bad until two rolls undeveloped at all. Grrrr.. The bottle was opened only 4 months before.

Yep, Ilfosol: Ascorbic Acid type developer with a short lifespan. Even Tmax 400 and Rodinal /R09 is not one of the best combinations.
In 1+50 the best results with:
Agfa APX-100/Rollei Retro 100 (so NOT the APX-100 NEW from Lupus which is Kentmere 100).
Fomapan 100 (E.I. 80)
Acros 100 (E.I. 64)
1+50 or 1+100
Efke 25 / Adox CHS 25
Ilford Pan F+
RPX 25
For some experiment on micro films:
1+150 - 1+200
Rollei ATP1.1
Kodak TP
Adox CMS20

 

[Photo_Smith]

Medium format TMax 400 in Rodinal 1:50

Possibly not the best combo, but works well enough.

 

[Fotohuis]

Possibly not the best combo, but works well enough.

Your own words .....

 

[Photo_Smith]

Yes, the result often being in the skill and execution,. It is true their are better combinations per se, but you'll be hard pressed to find a smoother more refined look for any 400 class film in Rodinal.

 

[shortstop]

Medium format TMax 400 in Rodinal 1:50 Possibly not the best combo, but works well enough.

Nice photo. What kind of paper? Warm?
Antonio

 

[Photo_Smith]

Thanks.
It was taken on a Pentax 6x7 with 150mm lens, from memory that is a scan, although I normally print on warmtone Foma paper.

 

[Bill Clark]

Interesting article on stand development:

http://jbhildebrand.com/2011/tutorials/workflow-tutorial-2-stand-development-with-rodinal/