Agfa APX100: What development times do you use?

Ara Ghajanian · May 9, 2005

Hey all,
I just shot my first roll of APX100. I rated it at 100ASA and shot in a room with available light coming from the windows on an overcast day. I was wondering what development times others use in similar situations. This is also my first opportunity to use Rodinal. I was going to try the manufacturer's suggested time for Rodinal of 8 minutes as a starting point, but I figured I'd ask you chaps for advice before I fill the tank.
Ara

VoidoidRamone · May 9, 2005

APX100 EI 100 in Rodinal 1:50, 13min 68/f. My favorite combo.
-Grant

david b · May 9, 2005

Rodinal 1+100 for 22 minutes (ISO 100). Agitate for first 60 seconds then 3 inversions every 5 minutes.

Did some last night and the negs are beauties.

titrisol · May 9, 2005

It depends a lot on what you use and how you agitate.
Those 8 minutes in 1+25 are excessve for me, I use 7 min (agitating once/minute)... you'll have to experiment

But given your conditions I'd go for the 1+100 reccomendation by david, it'll help boosting the shadow detail and keep the contrast in check.

Paul Sorensen · May 9, 2005

I usually use 1+50 at about 14min with 30 sec initial agitation and two gentle inversions every 30 sec thereafter. I think it is commonly believed that Agfa's recommendations are a bit too contrasty for most folks' taste. Of course, you are going to have to figure out what you like. I have also used 1+100 for high contrast scenes. I have heard of folks reporting great results with stand development at 1+200.

Dr.Kollig · May 9, 2005

Agfa times are for gamma:0.65 for mixing heads, for condenser these times are too long. For 0.55 try 12 min at 20°C (agfa information) or the times mentioned above 13-14 mins.

Regards,

Wolfram

BWGirl · May 9, 2005

I'mn with Grant on this one. That's what I use.

BruceN · May 9, 2005

Me too!

Bruce

Ara Ghajanian · May 9, 2005

This is all very fascinating. I didn't know dilution of a chemical would affect contrast so much (keep in mind I barely got a 'D' in high school chemistry). I'm tempted to try the 1+100 at 22 minutes, but I think I'm going to try the 1+50 first just to get used to Rodinal. I'm going to try the agitation for 30 sec then 2 inversions every 30 suggestion. Keep the suggestions coming though, maybe you can change my mind.
Ara

Kevin Caulfield · May 9, 2005

I find the recommended 8 mins at 1+25 at 20 C works fine for me.

Max Power · May 9, 2005

Great stuff and dirt cheap too!

I secretly think that I like it better than Delta-100 and FP4+, but don't tell Ilford (half the price, too!)

FWIW, love it at EI 125, souped in HotRod at 1+50 for 13:30 at 20C.

Really sharp and contrasty and huge range.

YMMV,
Kent

panchromatic · May 9, 2005

david b said:
Rodinal 1+100 for 22 minutes (ISO 100). Agitate for first 60 seconds then 3 inversions every 5 minutes.

Did some last night and the negs are beauties.

Thank you!

Question did you use a SS tank? One or two rolls? Do you think two in one tank would be alright? 68F?

Thanks in advance

david b · May 9, 2005

I use a Jobo 1540 when doing two rolls at a time. I haven't had a problem yet (please knock on wood).
When doing one roll, I use a Jobo 1520.

I would use a minimum of 5ml rodinal for each roll.

highpeak · May 10, 2005

I shoot APX 100 at box speed, develope in 1:50 Rodinal for 13 minutes at 20*C. I use a paterson single roll tank for developing.

I got very good result with reasonable lighting situation. Never tried at very dim light(Long exposure).

Ara Ghajanian · May 11, 2005

Hey all,
Thanks for all the advice. I ended up developing for 13 minutes at 1+50. The results were great. Really nice grain structure and the contrast was just right. I usually use TMAX100 for all my 100 ASA stuff, but I think I may switch over to APX. TMAX tends to be a bit too cold looking for me. The APX had nice smooth gradations in tones, but still extremely sharp and detailed. I can't wait to try it in 120.
Ara

titrisol · May 11, 2005

I'd suggest you agitate just once every minute intead of every 30 secs.
EDIT: Duh! too late

Ara Ghajanian said:
This is all very fascinating. I didn't know dilution of a chemical would affect contrast so much (keep in mind I barely got a 'D' in high school chemistry). I'm tempted to try the 1+100 at 22 minutes, but I think I'm going to try the 1+50 first just to get used to Rodinal. I'm going to try the agitation for 30 sec then 2 inversions every 30 suggestion. Keep the suggestions coming though, maybe you can change my mind.
Ara

Fotohuis · May 11, 2005

yes, in fact Rodinal is a very funny developer.

Be aware not to go under the minimum amount concentrate for about 10 ml/film so 1+100 needs a 1000 ml (1010 ml) developer tank.

Further the life time (stock) for this liquid developer is very long.

Robert

Amund · May 11, 2005

I have developed with as little as 5ml(1+100 for one reel) of developer without any problems.
Also used as little as 2ml for stand development(with 1 sheet film), but I wouldn`t try that with a roll...

titrisol · May 11, 2005

I have usd 2 ml for a 36 exp/35mm in 1+200 stand.
I have to say it worked! Contrast was quite low but negatives were very much printable.

titrisol · May 11, 2005

Robert, I disagree with this figure.
I use (normally) 7ml/36 exp (1+50) or 4 ml (1+100) with repeatable results.
I guess the 10ml/roll figure is to make you buy a lot of rodinal.

Fotohuis said:
yes, in fact Rodinal is a very funny developer.

Be aware not to go under the minimum amount concentrate for about 10 ml/film so 1+100 needs a 1000 ml (1010 ml) developer tank.

Further the life time (stock) for this liquid developer is very long.

Robert

Fotohuis · May 11, 2005

The "tricky" thing to do this, is that the result with Rodinal depends on the exposure of the film and the subject (more or less black or white surfaces). Further there is of course a certain margin in the given 10 ml.

So not a really good idea if you want consistent negatives.

Robert

Marc Leest · May 11, 2005

Strange. I use APX100 @ 80 in rodinal 1:50 at 17 min. 13 min came way too underdeveloped (tested with a densitometer).

Could this difference be explained that there a 2 emulsion variants (new vs old packaging ?)

Fotohuis · May 11, 2005

Here some explanation of one of the Agfa specialists and indeed 4-7 ml is on the edge, I know. For Eur. 4,50 a 500 ml bottle so that 3 ml extra cost me 2,7 Eur. Ct and you think I am going to have a risc to my film? By the way, we are not related to Agfa and in fact we do not have their products in our program.
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Liebe Forenten,

wir von der Agfa empfehlen grundsätzlich, 10 ml Konzentrat je Film zur Entwicklung zu verwenden. Da ist, wie jemand bemerkte, auch eine gewisse Sicherheitsmarge enthalten. Denn es ist ja nicht immer so, dass die Filme eine mittlere Schwärzungsverteilung haben. Das heißt, es wird bei der Verarbeitung von foto-
grafischen Materialien von einer mittleren Schwärzung ausgegangen und das sind so 20-30%. Das meint 20-30% des Silbersalzes werden bei der Belichtung belichtet und dann natürlich bei der Verarbeitung in metallisches Silber umgewandelt. Bei diesen "Durchschnittaufnahmen" kann auch weniger Entwicklersubstanz ausreichen. Aber wenn nun der Anteil wesentlich über den genannten 30% liegt, wird mehr Entwicklersubstanz benötigt und die bei einer geringen Menge Konzentrat nicht vorhanden. So dass es dann zu einer Unterentwicklung kommen kann. Wenn also zwei Filme verarbeitet werden sollen, empfiehlt es sich auf jeden Fall die doppelte Konzentratmenge einzusetzen. Eine Verlängerung der Verarbeitungszeit ist nicht sinnvoll, da ausreichend Entwicklersubstanz vorhanden sein muss. Und wo nichts ist kann auch eine Verlägerung der Zeit nichts herausbringen.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen
Wolfgang Holz

Agfa Gevaert AG

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Robert

titrisol · May 11, 2005

Loose translation (please don;t throw rotten tomatoes if I make some mistakes)

Dear Forenten (I assume it means customer?)
AGFA reccomend in principle 10 ml of concnetrate for each roll of filom developed. Also, as someone has noticed there is a security margin in that figure. Because one cannot be always sure that the film will have a middle density distribution. That means that 20-30% of the silversalts are exposed and then are converted into metallic silver by processing. For these "average photographs" less developer can be sufficient. But if now the exposed portion is more than the 30% mentioned, more developer is needed, and even a small quantity of concentrate can make a difference and can lead to underdevelopment. If thus two films are to be processed, we reccomend you use double concentrate quantity. An extension of the working time is not meaningful, since sufficient developer must be present. And when none is present, longer times are meaningless.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen
Wolfgang Holz

Agfa Gevaert AG

Fotohuis said:
.
---------
Liebe Forenten,

wir von der Agfa empfehlen grundsätzlich, 10 ml Konzentrat je Film zur Entwicklung zu verwenden. Da ist, wie jemand bemerkte, auch eine gewisse Sicherheitsmarge enthalten. Denn es ist ja nicht immer so, dass die Filme eine mittlere Schwärzungsverteilung haben. Das heißt, es wird bei der Verarbeitung von foto-
grafischen Materialien von einer mittleren Schwärzung ausgegangen und das sind so 20-30%. Das meint 20-30% des Silbersalzes werden bei der Belichtung belichtet und dann natürlich bei der Verarbeitung in metallisches Silber umgewandelt. Bei diesen "Durchschnittaufnahmen" kann auch weniger Entwicklersubstanz ausreichen. Aber wenn nun der Anteil wesentlich über den genannten 30% liegt, wird mehr Entwicklersubstanz benötigt und die bei einer geringen Menge Konzentrat nicht vorhanden. So dass es dann zu einer Unterentwicklung kommen kann. Wenn also zwei Filme verarbeitet werden sollen, empfiehlt es sich auf jeden Fall die doppelte Konzentratmenge einzusetzen. Eine Verlängerung der Verarbeitungszeit ist nicht sinnvoll, da ausreichend Entwicklersubstanz vorhanden sein muss. Und wo nichts ist kann auch eine Verlägerung der Zeit nichts herausbringen.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen
Wolfgang Holz

Agfa Gevaert AG

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Robert

Fotohuis · May 11, 2005

Forenten = useres of the forum,

but o.k., I am hiring you for all my German translations from now on.

Maybe you're also very well in some German Slovak translations, because I need some further instruction sheets for Amaloco Photo Chemicals.

AMALOCO MONOCOLR RA-4 je mimoriadne rýchly, výdatný, trvanlivý a dobre vyuiteľný dvojroztokový proces spracovania farebných papierov a transparentného materiálu typu RA-4, pri izbovej teplote. Pri pouití preruovacieho roztoku S10 počas spracovávania v miskách, v procesore NOVA alebo v rotačnom bubne, pri teplote 20C, je doba spracovania len 2 minúty a 15 sekúnd. V zariadení THERMAPHOT ACP pri teplote spracovania 27C je doba spracovania len 1 minúta.

This text sucks.... maybe we have to make a comprimise like that stupid Euro coin and try to learn all English in Europe.

Sorry to be a bit off topic.

Agfa APX100: What development times do you use?

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