Tri-x and Rodinal = Underdeveloped Negatives

[grouchos_tash]

I have posted a question on flickr about some problems I've been having with Adonal. I hope so of you good people here could offer some suggestions?

https://www.flickr.com/groups/rodinal/discuss/72157652171204346/



If you don't have flickr...


''Hi everyone,

I have recently been using Adox Adonal (normally use Ilford ID11). Every roll so far has been under exposed, Fomapan 400 and Trix. At first I though it was my thermometer and bought a new one but no luck! I'm really disappointed at ruining so much film!

I've just been following the massive dev chart times and they are the same as the Adox website. For trix I used 12ml in 300ml of water (1:25) at 20 degrees for 7mins with agitation for the first 30secs and 3 inversions every minute after that.

Thanks for the help!''

So far I have ruled out exhausted fix and underexposure (underdeveloped recess).


Thanks again,

Gary

 

[leicapixie]

I suggest getting a packet of D-76/ID-11 and using a standard developer as test.
I found with Rodinal and more so, with Blazinol, I added about 2' to developer.
The developer was not consistent, for me..
Or you can buy a bottle of Kodak HC-110.
I have moved to Kodak HC-110.
I have never been happier.
I used Rodinal for close to 40+ years!
Blazinol, Amidol are close but not "original" Rodinal.
Mine, Blazinol seemed to age, quite soon..
I prefer clean, non film base fog of HC-110.
No! Not prefer but love.
My latest batch of Kentmere 400, indicates, the film is improved.
Finer grain, less film faults.
My thermometer is a cheap one in steel housing.
It may not be accurate..but it's one i always have used.

 

[Sid836]

Films usually do not get their box speed in various developers. HP5+ for example in Rodinal yields something more like EI 320 and with the suggested times by Ilford you get a rather thin negative.
You need to test a roll of the film you like and then adjust the development style to suit your taste.
Rodinal is nice but not very body likes its grain. D-76 is my favorite.

 

[mfogiel]

I have had lately problems with "old" Rodinal, because it crystalized inside the bottle, and lost much of it's vigour. This must be due to some modern twist to the formula, because "standard" Rodinal should work even after 50 years in an opened bottle. Anyway, Rodinal implies some loss of speed, so it is always a good idea to run your own ISO test: expose a roll of film repeatedly at EI 32,64,125.250,500,1000,2000,4000 and develop part of it in your standard settings, then see if the developement was OK. If you find that at EI 250 the negs are too thin, increase the time or the concentration, if even at EI 1000 you have some blocked highlights, do the reverse, then run the test on remaining part of the film and compare.

 

[Mablo]

Adox Adonal is equivalent to the late Agfa Rodinal according to the Adox web site. I haven't used Adonal but I've used Rodinal (and very similar R09 One Shot) for years as my main developer. Rodinal doesn't work in a similar way than, let's say D-76 or ID-11.

- Most ISO400 films should be exposed max at ISO200. Including Tri-X and Foma 400.

- One should first try with 1+50 dilution just to get a basic idea of grain and contrast. 1+25 gives you more contrast. 1+100 gives you less contrast but also more grain (and sometimes ugly halos).

- Agitate less than with ID-11. 30 sec initially and twice per minute is a good starting point.

Here is an example what 35mm Tri-X looks in Rodinal (exposed at ISO160):

Late December light by mblomqvist, on Flickr

 

[AndersG]

If the very richly exposed film leader come out thin the developer may well be expiring. Is it old?

My Calbe R09 that expired in 2006 or 2007 has this tendency and now (finally) the opened bottle seems to have become inactive to a dangerous level. I'll try my second unopened bottle next.

If your tank has room you can try increasing the total amount of developer. I already did that with my R09 - and then also decreased the dilution to 1+25.

 

[charjohncarter]

This is my formula for Rodinal and TriX:

TriX (200 EI)Rodinal 1+50,14minutes,30seconds initial agitation ,3inversions every 3 minutes,68 degrees F

AND I think this film is the same a Fomapan 400:

AristaEDU Ultra 400 (250) Rodinal 1+50, 11 minutes, 30 sec, 3 inversions per 3 minutes, 68 degrees

 

[johannielscom]

TriX @200 with Rodinal (original) 1:100.

Cold tap water (don't even own a thermometer🙄), shake vigorously for first minute and place in the fridge (7ºC) for 59 minutes. Rinse, fix, rinse, HypoClear, dry, done.

No halos and no excessive grain.

Cropped from a 3200dpi scan of TriX 6x6 negative.​

 

[Fotohuis]

I would never use any Calbe R09 or Adox APH09 (the same) older then 3 years. I can be inactive then.

Even the original Agfa Rodinal changed a little bit after 4 years old but became not inactive.

From Agfa Rodinal to Agfa Photo Rodinal, then from A&O, later CPP&S and now it seems to be from Tetenal. Under their own brand they are selling it as: Paranol S

http://www.tetenal.com/openerimg.htm?file=imaging_shop/images/102106.jpg

I think Compard is also doing some refilling under R09/Rodinal 120ml/500ml.

 

[Fotohuis]

shake vigorously for first minute and place in the fridge (7ºC) for 59 minutes. Rinse, fix, rinse, HypoClear, dry, done.

No halos and no excessive grain.

You always have a risk of uneven development, a little bit depending of the type of film and stand development gives less sharpness then a high diluted Rodinal development with minimum agitation.

However it is an easy way to go, a minimum of handling procedure. I prefer for my negatives then a 1+100 dilution with first 30s continuous agitation and then every minute just one turn slowly. But I have a Heiland TAS inverse robot so I won't bother for a 25-30 minutes developing time and the robot is doing the rest for me including a warning when the next step is almost there.

 

[grouchos_tash]

Thanks for all of the replies! Some good info about over exposing to compensate for Rodinal speed loss.

However, my problem is underdevelopment of the whole negative, this includes a grey KODAK in the recess. This isn't an exposure problem (that may be a secondary issue haha!). BTW the bottle was opened in January this year.

Thanks again,

Gary

 

[arseniii]

This is the combo I used for many many years. Produces the sweetest grain possible and mind blowing contrast.
I followin instructions on Digitaltruth.com.
I mix it 1+50 and develop for 14min at 22C

Good luck

 

[grouchos_tash]

This is the combo I used for many many years. Produces the sweetest grain possible and mind blowing contrast.
I followin instructions on Digitaltruth.com.
I mix it 1+50 and develop for 14min at 22C

Good luck

I might have to waste a roll of Tri-x and do some experimenting if I want to use this developer (I do have a box of ID11 waiting to be missed though haha!) :bang:

 

[grouchos_tash]

I suggest getting a packet of D-76/ID-11 and using a standard developer as test.
I found with Rodinal and more so, with Blazinol, I added about 2' to developer.
The developer was not consistent, for me..
Or you can buy a bottle of Kodak HC-110.
I have moved to Kodak HC-110.
I have never been happier.
I used Rodinal for close to 40+ years!
Blazinol, Amidol are close but not "original" Rodinal.
Mine, Blazinol seemed to age, quite soon..
I prefer clean, non film base fog of HC-110.
No! Not prefer but love.
My latest batch of Kentmere 400, indicates, the film is improved.
Finer grain, less film faults.
My thermometer is a cheap one in steel housing.
It may not be accurate..but it's one i always have used.

I was considering trying HC-110 but after my depressing failures with Adonal I bought another batch of ID11. At least then I can prove I'm not incompetent when I dev my next roll of Tri-x haha!

 

[Fotohuis]

However, my problem is underdevelopment of the whole negative, this includes a grey KODAK in the recess. This isn't an exposure problem (that may be a secondary issue haha!).

I can measure it out for you if you want (densitometer). Then your bottle of Adox Adonal is not good.
I would say: Buy a R09/Rodinal Compard version and try about 1+25 and around 7 minutes Tri-X 400 E.I. 250-320 which should be bullet proof.

 

[nightfly]

I usually do Tri-X in Rodinal 1:25 for 7.5 minutes. 30 second initial agitation, then 5 seconds every minute there after. I keep temp around 70F but I'm not too fussy about it as I like grain and contrast (which is why I use this combo).

For Ralph Gibson like contrast, he uses this combo but goes up to 11 minutes.

Maybe try something in between? I've done the Gibson method and it's still very printable with delicious grain and contrast.

 

[grouchos_tash]

I can measure it out for you if you want (densitometer). Then your bottle of Adox Adonal is not good.
I would say: Buy a R09/Rodinal Compard version and try about 1+25 and around 7 minutes Tri-X 400 E.I. 250-320 which should be bullet proof.

That's quite an offer! Plus I've learned a new word 😉 (i.e. densitometer). This is the dilution and time I went for and got the poor results. To be honest when I meter I tend to favour over rather than 'correct' exposure so probably shoot closer to EI320 without thinking about it.

 

[Fotohuis]

Plus I've learned a new word (i.e. densitometer).

You're welcome!

 

[John Bragg]

I could not get the "look" I wanted with Tri-X and Rodinal. I now use HC-110 H for everything and haven't looked back. Best of both worlds, Rodinal like economy and longevity, and also similar look to ID-11 1+1. Good luck Gary !

 

[grouchos_tash]

I could not get the "look" I wanted with Tri-X and Rodinal. I now use HC-110 H for everything and haven't looked back. Best of both worlds, Rodinal like economy and longevity, and also similar look to ID-11 1+1. Good luck Gary !

Thanks for the suggestion John! I'm interested in trying HC-110 next.

I emailed Adox to see what they might say and their response was super fast (within 20mins!). The guy suggested it was most likely my underexposure or leaving fix in the tank from a previous roll. The email contained the following statement which contradicts pretty much every comment on this thread so far (regarding Rodinal loss of speed)...

''There should not be a noticeable difference in speed compared to other developers and Rodinal plus Tri-X is one of the most common combinations with millions of developed rolls worldwide.
So it does work and you must have done „something“ wrong.''

Nice, eh? 😡