Adox Scala 50 / HR-50 blotches in skies

[Sal Santamaura]

Tilting (a verb) 180 degrees is inverting. Indeed, one cannot invert a tank without tilting it. "Gently" refers to how vigorously one inverts/tilts the tank. Methinks thou dost protest too much. The key is that continuous rotary agitation schemes are incompatible with document films like HR-50 / SCALA 50.

But they use the same word 'tilt' except with more explanation for CMS-20

"Agitation: First half minute ongoing, then once every minute 1 tilt. Tilt the tank gently and try to imitate a rotation with your hand sideways."

Try doing that at 180 degrees. 'Tilt' refers to a very slow action similar to whisking an egg where the wrist is rotated to swirl the developer, not the imitation of a double jointed contortionist.

Having just exposed another roll of HR-50, I consulted the technical data sheet for HR-50 DEV, which is what I've been using on this film. Lo and behold, it provided evidence that ADOX uses "tilt" and "invert" interchangeably:

https://www.fotoimpex.com/shop/images/products/media/63385_5_PDF-Datasheet.pdf

See page 2.

 

[250swb]

Having just exposed another roll of HR-50, I consulted the technical data sheet for HR-50 DEV, which is what I've been using on this film. Lo and behold, it provided evidence that ADOX uses "tilt" and "invert" interchangeably:

https://www.fotoimpex.com/shop/images/products/media/63385_5_PDF-Datasheet.pdf

See page 2.

So can't common sense work things out if you take both the film datasheet and the developer datasheets combined with other Adox copy film datasheets? There is a pattern, you don't need to be Sherlock Holmes to see it. It seems like the idea of a gentle 'tilt/swirl' scenario is scary to some people (if they've even used the film), but it fits all the warnings, the datasheets certainly do NOT say by any stretch of the imagination 'invert for ten seconds every minute', 'swirl for ten seconds every minute', or 'rotary processing is totally fine' as could be the case with other films. Less is more whichever way you want to address it.

 

[loccdor]

Thread's a bit old, but splotchy skies are being mentioned. I noticed something from Adox's website's own documentation:

You can see splotchiness in the sky in their own documentation, in the image they are advertising their speed boost! But not in the image beside it.

Anyway, I love this film, I've used it @6 for IR and @50 otherwise. It's my favorite slow B&W. I develop in Rodinal 1+25 22C 10 minutes semi-stand, with 30-sec initial stick agitation and one very gentle tilt/turn at 5 minutes. I have never experienced any irregularity in the development at all with this method. And for some reason, Adox recommends against using Rodinal with this film! I think it works beautifully if you do it right.

 

[FotoD]

Could it be artefacts from their fogging process (speed-boost)?

 

[loccdor]

Could it be artefacts from their fogging process (speed-boost)?

I think not, because I only have used the speed boosted version, and never experienced. Unless it's only present in a percentage of the boosted film. I was also looking at a thread recently of RPX 25, and someone was complaining of similar unevenness. My understanding is RPX 25 is the non-boosted version and it's all derived from Aviphot 80. My best guess is on agitation sensitivity.

 

[Sergey Ko]

Most likely this is the result of improper storage of the film, high humidity, mold (fungus)...
No deviations in mixing and turning/rotation will give this

 

[thicktheo]

I was also looking at a thread recently of RPX 25, and someone was complaining of similar unevenness.

I was also posting at that RPX 25 thread. That unevenness is not the same as with this film.

In any case, I have found solutions for both films: developed at HC-110 dil H (1:63) for double the time, and the results are okay. Tried machine rotation for the HR-50 and hand agitation for the RPX 25 (medium format), both came out fine.

The Adox HR-50 now comes out pretty good, developed for 9-10 mins, in a rotary processor.

I have been shooting it in the studio, outdoors, in strong sunlight or overcast skies, everywhere. I prefer to use it with strong light sources (sun, flash, practical lights) but it does work well in cloudy skies, too. I tend to push it a stop when I it suits my needs. It comes out a bit more "muddy" and contrasty but I like the result.

...links for more HR-50 shot in strong sunlight, where, yes, my camera's light meter wasn't at its best:

black and white Sikinos — thodoris markou

A week in Sikinos, the most serene island of Cyclades. Shot on black and white film.

thodorismarkou.com

IMG Future Stars 2024 Tennis Tournament — thodoris markou

A little bit of black and white film, at Tatoi Club, during the IMG Future Stars 2024 international tennis tournament. All images shot with the Leica M7.

thodorismarkou.com

 

[loccdor]

Wonderful shots @thicktheo . I'm glad you're enjoying this film as much as I am. I visit your area every summer with my Greek wife, and plan on making it my main black & white film this trip. Who knows, we might bump into each other!

I have not tried shooting it at 100. In harsh sunlight there may be some filters that can help, mists or cross screen filters that can lower the contrast and open up the shadows. Green filters are often my go-to for good skin tones, but I have not tried one on this film, it might need more compensation than normal. I actually kind of want to try pulling it to 25.

Natural overcast light @50 in Rodinal, with a sharp lens it can almost be a little too harsh for portraits to my taste:

But it does make 35mm look like medium format to me.