Which Rodinal to Use?

[Photo_Smith]

You can't, Rodinal is no more available (unless you find some old bottle somewhere), it stopped with the death of AGFA. AGFA never made the formula public or license Rodinal.

The factory and the formula were licensed to A&O chemistry after Agfa's demise (still branded Agfa). The current formula (made by Connect Chemical in the same factory) then distributed by Adox et al is identical to the last shipping product from Agfa.

 

[Brian Legge]

I switched to Adonal and haven't had any issues. It behaves identically for my purposes.

 

[Ezzie]

I use the Compard/Connect R09 one shot, and mix it as for Rodinal. Works fine for me. Especially with 120 Acros @ 1:50. My current favourite combo.

 

[ath]

Here's what Mirko from Fotoimpex (Adox brand) said yesterday about the current Rodinal situation:
http://www.apug.org/forums/viewpost.php?p=1530249

 

[Roma]

I used to buy Rodinal and now buy Compard R09. I can't tell a difference at all.

 

[jmcaimi]

R09 and Adonal

R09 and Adonal

I have been using R09 one shot for Tri-x in Semi-stand, with constant results. Then I tried Adonal (same identical workflow) that should be same soup. Output is completely different. Much more contrasty (way too much). Is it Adonal more concentrated? Does anyone has some clue about this issue?

 

[Fotohuis]

You can add Paranol-S from Tetenal to this list too.

They did some research about the Rodinal formulae and are offering this developer now too.

Concerning the amount of chemicals they are producing for third parties it will be very close to the original Rodinal.

About the change from Rodinal to R09 (Compard) the differences are neglectible.
Probably the same for this Paranol-S (S stands for sharp), even maybe the same stuff in the bottles from R09.

No idea about the Adonal. I am not using it.

 

[mfogiel]

I suggest to forget Rodinal and try Acurol N instead. It is as sharp, as flexible, very similar in behaviour vis a vis dilution and agitation, has better tonality, does not block the highlights as easily, has smaller grain and more speed. It's a "better Rodinal" in every way.

 

[Fotohuis]

The fact R09/Rodinal is so populair is mainly the excellent storage life time and the price around Eur. 12,- for 500ml and normally used in a regular 1+50 dilution. Not much when recalculated for one film (approx. 0,12 €ct)
Apart from the Acurol-N (SPUR) developer, also Tetenal has e.g. Tetenal Neofin Blue, G. Crawley FX-1 or for Tgrain type films FX-37 or FX-39 (the last one also commercial available). All known for very high acutance type developers. Not speaking from some Pyro type variants like Finol (Moersch) or Pyrocat-HD (Sandy King), both are commercial available too.

But most people would like to keep it simple and cheap. Neofin Blue is simple in use but not cheap, the same for FX-39, Finol or Pyrocat-HD, neither SPUR Acurol-N.