Agfa D-8

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bosseb

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I have found an old exposed roll of Agfa D-8 (6,5x11) film that I want to develop. I'm going to use Calbe R09 as developer.
My problem is that i haven't been able to find any information about film speed or development times. Any suggestions or ideas for this?
 

Donald Qualls

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With R-09, you should get something printable (if there's anything left of the latent images when you start) from almost any B&W film by using 1:40 dilution, agitating continuously the first minute, then five inversions every 3rd minute for the remainder of 13 minutes (at 20 C). That'd be about one stop push for Fomapan 100, and close to one stop pull for Classic 400, the shortest and longest time requirements for the conventional films I've processed in Rodinal-like developers.

If you have it available, I'd recommend either adding 0.1 to 0.2 g of potassium bromide to the working solution, or preferably using a lower fog developer such as HC-110 for old film, but I've heard of people getting good results with Rodinal and similar soups -- I think it's more to do with how the film has been stored than any other single factor.
 
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bosseb

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Thank you!
I think I'll do a small clip test with Rodinal following your advice first just to check the overall look, and if there is any fog. I hope I will have the time to try it later this week.
From what I know the film has been stored under good circumstances. I found some old photo paper together with it that's possible to use still, even if it isn't giving the best prints I've seen...
 

Donald Qualls

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Good luck -- I'd be interested to see what you get. BTW, I think D8 is the size designator (like B2, which was Agfa's 120 film); the frame size you describe is that of 116 and 616 (same film, different spools -- the same trick as 620 vs. 120, only 30 years earlier). The film type would probably end in "pan" or "chrome" (Agfa made both Isopan and Isochrome at various times, both conventional B&W films), though it's highly likely Agfa had other commercial names for films over the hundred years or so they sold film. You might be able to find that name at the head end of the backing, or between framing numbers, once you've loaded the film into a reel. Having that might allow you to find a reference for the actual, original recommended time.

Of course, if the film was made after about 1934 and before about 1970, it's a very likely bet it'll want 7 minutes in D-76 stock solution, with agitation every 30 seconds -- that was the B&W standard for drug store processing (often really done in the back of the drug store!) until C-41 color films gained the upper hand with the family snapshooter and B&W films could diversify into individualized development regimes. Even earlier B&W roll films are likely to work with that development, though it wasn't until the D-76 era that commercial development really became common; most photographers prior to the 1930s developed their own film, often making their own prints as well (frequently on POP, due to ease of handling).
 
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bosseb

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I've tried to develop the film now, but unfortunately it was in a much worse state than I thought. Badly fogged, stained and not a single trace of images visible.
Anyway, thanks for all the help and all the information!
Btw, there were no clues to film speed or name on the backing paper, it just says Agfa D-8.
 

Donald Qualls

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Might potentially be old enough that Agfa only sold one emulsion in that format...

Anyway, sorry to hear there was nothing on it, but that's the way it goes with found film -- sometimes you get lucky, and sometimes you get a beating...
 
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