yossarian123
Sam I Am
I happened to have some ascorbic acid (vitamin c) powder lying around the house along with baking soda. I've read that you can turn Rodinal into a fine grain developer if you add sodium ascorbate to the mix. So I decided to give it a try. I took 1 tsp AA, 1/2 tsp baking soda - mixed it in with a little bit of water and let the fizzing die down. Then I added it to 500ml Rodinal 1:50 and processed at the 1:25 time. The resulting two negatives were a train wreck - they were extremely thin and pretty much unusable.
So did I use too much AA & baking soda? I read two different proportions (oddly enough, both from the same person in online forums). The first was 2 tsp AA/1 tsp soda per 1L, then in another forum the same person said 1 tsp AA to 0.5 tsp per 1L. So which one is it? I could experiment on my own but I'm afraid to ruin any more negatives. Is anyone else using this combo that could help out?
So did I use too much AA & baking soda? I read two different proportions (oddly enough, both from the same person in online forums). The first was 2 tsp AA/1 tsp soda per 1L, then in another forum the same person said 1 tsp AA to 0.5 tsp per 1L. So which one is it? I could experiment on my own but I'm afraid to ruin any more negatives. Is anyone else using this combo that could help out?
ferider
Veteran
The first time I tried, I used too much, Sam, and the output was similar to yours. Here are my notes for the second time when it worked:
"Rollei Retro 100, Rodinal 1:100 stand, 1/4 Tsp Sodium Ascorbate, 6ml Rodinal (2 rolls), 750ml water, start at 19 degree C (warms up a degree or two during the 1h stand)."
Scanner output:
There is a difference in grain to no Ascorbate, but it's subtle.
That being said, I moved from Rodinal 1:100 stand to 1:50 timed (now without Ascorbate) and really like the output, also the grain seems better. The usual wisdom that 1:100 stand is good for grain is wrong, IMO.
Roland.
"Rollei Retro 100, Rodinal 1:100 stand, 1/4 Tsp Sodium Ascorbate, 6ml Rodinal (2 rolls), 750ml water, start at 19 degree C (warms up a degree or two during the 1h stand)."
Scanner output:
There is a difference in grain to no Ascorbate, but it's subtle.
That being said, I moved from Rodinal 1:100 stand to 1:50 timed (now without Ascorbate) and really like the output, also the grain seems better. The usual wisdom that 1:100 stand is good for grain is wrong, IMO.
Roland.
charjohncarter
Veteran
Here is another discussion on this subject. And Patrick G. in this discussion has a article on I think luminous-landscape.com.
http://photo.net/black-and-white-photo-film-processing-forum/003Mbo?start=0
http://photo.net/black-and-white-photo-film-processing-forum/003Mbo?start=0
yossarian123
Sam I Am
That looks pretty good Roland. I love Acros 100 in Rodinal but I'm looking for ways to improve my Tri-X & HP5. I'll usually just soup those films in HC-110 B but I'm looking for alternatives and eager to experiment. Stand dev is out, my basement temps are way too cold and its too much work to keep a temp stable for required period of time.
It sounds like I used too much SA and reduced the developing strength of the rodinal. Did you use straight sodium ascorbate or mix it from AA & baking soda?
It sounds like I used too much SA and reduced the developing strength of the rodinal. Did you use straight sodium ascorbate or mix it from AA & baking soda?
ferider
Veteran
I bought and used a bottle of sodium ascorbate powder from NOW Foods, Sam. Let me know what you find out for Tri-X please, as you said the numbers on the web are confusing.
yossarian123
Sam I Am
Thanks John, I read that discussion. Unfortunately I also read this one:
http://photo.net/black-and-white-photo-film-processing-forum/002bNh
At the bottom Patrick recommends 2 tsp to 1 tsp, double his recommendation in the post you linked to. Looks like I used the wrong one.
Uncle Fester
Well-known
baisao
Established
I've been looking into this also. Apparently, ascorbic acid is different than sodium ascorbate and does not work the same with Rodinal.
HTH