35mm HP5 Users: Favorite Developer?

Hi,

For 2009, I would like to settle on one film and developer combo for everyday photography. The film I have settled on is HP5. I have searched this forum and others for favorite combinations of HP5 developers but have had greater difficulty seeing examples of the combos. I know web images are not great for seeing differences, but I'd like to ask for your favorite developer for 35mm HP5, what made you choose that developer, and an example photo.

I am posting 1. Rodinal 1:100, 60min stand, EI800 2. Rodinal 1:50 EI400

Reasons for using Rodinal: long storage life, ease of use, economical, but basically haven't had time/$ to try different developer combos which is why I started this thread

Thanks for participating.

PMK is my favourite with both FP4 Plus and HP5 Plus. Beautiful tonality. Like Rodinal, PMK stock solution is pretty much immortal.

I personally soup most of my film in Pyrocat-HD nowadays. If I want more pronounced grain I choose Rodinal.
But this is down to personal preferences really. For some pictures where I really like the grain to be part of the image, Rodinal comes into the equation. (Pictures like your second one is a good example.) If I want a smoother picture with less pronounced grain Pyrocat serves me better.
(Normally fine-grain developers seems to "smear" the grain, but this is not my experience with Pyrocat HD or PMK. It just doesn't develop the silver, i.e. the grain as much and compensates for this by adding stain instead. Hence at least Pyrocat HD in my opinion is "sharper" than most other developers.)
If you want to try out Pyrocat-HD, see to that you get the one which is mixed in glycol, as it keeps much better. (If you're US based, Photoformulary is probably the place to look.) Much like Rodinal, Pyrocat is very economical to use.

//Björn

Will Pyro work with 35mm? I always thought it was a developer suited for large format...forgive the ignorance, I've never used it and am just wondering.

I use 510 pyro for my wifes 35mm Arista.EDU Ulta 200 (I think this is Foma) all the time.

Mike

Rodinal gives very sharp and visible grain. The difference between HP5 in Rodinal and ID11 or XTOL is clearly visible. I personally consider that combination more as a special effect that a general purpose but it's matter of taste. If you haven't tried more standard dev do it and compare before you decide.

Currently finol

HP5 Plus gives good results in most of the popular B&W film developers.

D-23 is hands down my favorite with HP5+

in fact, I had completely given up on the film thanks to how aweful it turned out in HC-110. When I started experimenting with D-23, I gave it another go...and...WOW! fantastic combo.

Pyrogallol works fine with small films as long as you use a modern formulation. While Kodak D-1 (ABC Pyro) is probably not ideal for 35mm film, PMK is extremely good with 35mm.

Pyrocat HD is also good with 35mm, although strictly speaking it's not a pyro developer. (Pyro means pyrogallol, and Pyrocat uses pyrocatechin, but they are close cousins.)

BradS said:

D-23 is hands down my favorite with HP5+

in fact, I had completely given up on the film thanks to how aweful it turned out in HC-110. When I started experimenting with D-23, I gave it another go...and...WOW! fantastic combo.

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What EI do you use? I use HP5+ extensively, I usually use ID11/D76, but have heard it's good in D23. Can you post an example?

Rob

Tmax at EI3200 or EI800

Here's EI3200 through a Contax 137MD w 50/1.7 Planar:

Rob Archer said:

What EI do you use? I use HP5+ extensively, I usually use ID11/D76, but have heard it's good in D23. Can you post an example?

Rob

Click to expand...

I like HP-5 in D-76/Id-11 too. Here are a few shots of HP5+ rated at box speed in d-23....probably 7~8 minutes.

edit: the thing I like about this combo, and what I've tried to demonstrate with these few photos is how well this combo deals with extremely contrasty lighting situations.

I shoot HP5+ about 95% of the time, mainly in 120.
Edwal FG7 for 120
DDX for 35mm
Rodinal, stand dev, for high contrast situations. Very rarely.

Sorry no example scans.

If you are looking for visual differences between developers, I would not expect much, especially with small pix on the Internet, behind which are an infinite number of variables. Just make it easy on yourself and assume that the differences are so subtle that you can safely go for the developer you find most convenient, and that you will be able to get what you want from it with plenty of testing and experimentation.

Hearing peoples' reasons for doing what they do cannot hurt, however.

I like to use Ilford HC whenever possible. It is good, convenient, consistent, and lasts forever. (Same concept as Rodinal. I mean to do some testing with Rodinal, but am so set with HC it is hard to convince myself to do so.) The only other developer I really use is D-19. HP5 is my main b/w film. Second most used is Delta 3200, and FP4 next; though quite rarely. Occasionally I will shoot Delta 400 or T-max 400 in super flat light where I want more separation in the shadows than HP5 will give. At any rate, I use HC for all of these, and the D-19 usually for pushing the crap out of Delta 3200 (or T-Max/Delta 400 if necessary). Before I started using D-19, I would use Ilford Multigrade paper developer for similar purposes, or Dektol for "special" effects.

As for pix, don't have any scanned except for the ones from the rolls where I took the pic of Q you see to the left by my name. I find this an utter waste of time unless needed. Those pix were scanned because it was a paid shoot for the Musician's Union, and they needed them as digital files. Maybe if I had a Website I would start scanning some stuff, but not until then. I guess I can put them up if I fire up my other computer.

HC also works quite well for continuous tone results on lithographic film; either alone or mixed with a small amount of A+B. I have switched to David Soemarko's LC-1 formula, but used HC/A+B mixes quite effectively for some time before I read about LC-1 in the Christopher James book. Both work well, but LC-1 gives you more fine control and is more convenient to mix, store, use, etc.

I use Ilford DD-X for just about everything now including lots of HP5+.


Steve.

I normally process it in Microphen stock rating the film at 500 EI although in 120 it can be nice in Rodinal, gives an 'old fashioned look' I would rate it in Rodinal 1:25 at 320 EI.

I am sure the pics will show you the differences

* Ilfotec LC29
* Print on Ilford Warmtone

Bigger

* Print on "I do not remembre the paper"

Bigger



* ID-11
Print on RC paper

Bigger

Steve Smith said:

I use Ilford DD-X for just about everything now including lots of HP5+.


Steve.

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I've heard this combination recommended by others. Do you favor it because of the combination of full speed and a certain look that you like? Are you pushing the hp5+ in DD-X? I normally develop hp5+ in Xtol, but could be persuaded to try DD-X if I hear about some good specific reasons. Lastly, how would you describe the look of hp5+ with DD-X?

I don't know about any specific reasons (for me). It just seems to work.

I think DD-X is good for pushing. If you look at the data on the label for Delta 400 (I don't remember what it says about HP5+) the slowest speed given is EI 500 i.e. faster than its box speed. Ilford do not give a time for ISO 400.

I usually use HP5+ at EI 200 so I am not the person to ask about pushing.

Ilford's data sheet here: http://www.ilfordphoto.com/Webfiles/20073211236917.pdf

Gives times for HP5+ in DD-X from ISO 400 to EI 3200.



Steve.

2F/2F said:

If you are looking for visual differences between developers, I would not expect much, especially with small pix on the Internet, behind which are an infinite number of variables. Just make it easy on yourself and assume that the differences are so subtle that you can safely go for the developer you find most convenient, and that you will be able to get what you want from it with plenty of testing and experimentation.

Click to expand...

This is exactly what I was thinking...

I always think it kinda funny when people ask "what is the BEST ....(fill in the blank)"

I always think..."what is the best flavor of ice cream?"

I don't think it's as crazy a question as the ice cream question. There are likely to be a handful of answers to this question that are relatively common and well-supported.

To think the original poster will prefer, ultimately, what any one of us does is expecting a lot, but if the poster is looking for some ideas to consider, they're all worth considering.

Posts like these are what got me to try PMK. It's now a staple in my darkroom. Had people not lauded it on forums and on web pages, I likely would have never bothered with it.

I agree with you there. There is no one best of anything in this hobby/profession of ours.

(And no scolding was intended.)

120 (6x7) and 4x5

My experience to date is with HP5+ in 120 and 4x5. I do like the film a lot. I will try some 35mm as well.

My processing:
HP5+ at E.I. 250
Xtol 1:3, 400ml min., usually 800ml to make sure the developer covers the film.
Jobo tanks, 2551 or 3010
Motorized roller base, Uniroller or Beseler
Base time/temp: 9 minutes @ 68F.

120-6x7 Example:



I hope this helps.

BradS said:

This is exactly what I was thinking...

I always think it kinda funny when people ask "what is the BEST ....(fill in the blank)"

I always think..."what is the best flavor of ice cream?"

Click to expand...

Well, if you see the original post, I was asking for what people consider to be their favorite developer with this particular film and why. I don't think I asked for the "best" developer with HP5. I agree there can be no "best" developer for a given film because there are too many variables and it depends on the application.

What I'm trying to get are some ideas of what developers people like to use for general purpose, everyday photography with HP5 and why. I'm not able to try a wide range of developers for this film due to time/cost currently so I'm calling on the vast experience of the forum members here.

PhotoJim hit the nail on the head as to the intent of this thread. As an example of what I hoped to get from this thread, let's say I had been using D-76 but someone mentioned they like to use Rodinal because of its long shelf-life, ease of mixing, and sharp noticeable grain with HP5. If I had not known about Rodinal before, I may now consider it if I hate mixing powder and I happen to love grain. It's not the "best" developer, but because of the reasons this person stated for using it, I may now consider it.

If you think the reason for starting this thread is funny, well at least you got a good laugh if there's nothing informative for you here I, on the other hand, have found the information here very valuable, and may indeed try a couple more developers before settling on my general purpose developer for HP5.

My thanks to everyone who have replied to this thread.