Are these typical results for using Ilfosol 3?

Sosha · Aug 10, 2011

This was my first try at developing everything from scratch myself.

Back in college a couple months back, we used ID-11 at a ratio of 1:1. Then stopped and fixed with some generic Ilford Stop and Fix (I was too caught up in picture taking to worry about developing chemicals back then). The results came out fine... I was always happy with them and assumed that all developers develop very similarly with only slight changes in contrast and tone.

The first three pictures here are how they came out from developing in college. The last three are how they came out in my bathroom using Ilford HP4+ developed in Infosol 3 for 6:30 as per instructions. 30 sec stop in ilfostop and 10 minutes in the rapid fixer. 10 minutes in running water afterwards with a little drop of fairy to avoid watermarks.

They seem very too different to me, the ones developed with ilfosol 3, the portraits seem washed out and lacking detail whereas the portraits that were developed in college seem much better to me.

I was just wondering is this was normal for Ilfosol 3?

Many Thanks

Sosha

Monito · Aug 10, 2011

The last one seems full of detail. Some differences are due to shallower depth of field in #4 and #5.

Ottrdaemmerung · Aug 11, 2011

Great portraits, and congrats on developing at home! Yes, your results are indeed typical of Ilfosol 3. If you're looking for less contrast and finer detail, try using the 1+14 dilution, or a finer developer like D-76/ID-11, Ilford DD-X, or Rodinal.

sandermarijn · Aug 11, 2011

Sosha, that hands-photo is great. You're not doing anything wrong at all! Sander

bdial · Aug 11, 2011

If you are't happy with the contrast, try increasing the development time some.

Jeff Kubach · Aug 11, 2011

They all look great to me.

Jeff

bsdunek · Aug 11, 2011

Yes, the last three look like Ilfosol 3, and I like them better than the first three. I do tend to be very generous with time when using Ilfosol 3. I don't start timing until the tank is full, and don't empty until the time is up. Probably adds 5-10% to the time. Works for me.

cowanw · Aug 11, 2011

I do 8 minutes and 15 sec at 1+9 for HP5 with a prewash

Sosha · Aug 11, 2011

Monito, Ottrdaemmerung, Sander, Bdial, Jeff, Bruce, Cowanw, thank you all for your replies and kind words, they are appreciated. I'm glad to know that there is a different effect in developing with Ilfosol 3. There's a certain something, a different quality to the negs which I will take into account for the future. Just wanted to make sure my results weren't a fluke or one off.

Thanks again

Sander, coincidence of the day, I actually used to study in Leiden. Lovely place, spent some time in Het Rijnlands Lyceum in the fall of 2008. Lovely buildings and friendly people, cant go wrong

tomalophicon · Aug 11, 2011

hey Sosha, I'm interested in the lens you used for the last 3. Please tell us.
Tom.

Steve Roberts · Aug 12, 2011

Sosha,
The portraits are punchy and have a good impact factor. If I'd been asked to comment on them more generally (without your specific question regarding Ilfosol), my thoughts would have been a) you have a bit of a problem with dust particles, b) watch out for what's behind the subject (verticle posts in two cases) and c) to my eye, shots 3, 4 and 5 have too much headroom, though of course that's subjective and perhaps a case of convention vs. personal style. Please take my comments as they are meant - in a constructive way. My favourite is no.2, which doesn't invite any of my comments above!
Best wishes,
Steve

sandermarijn · Aug 12, 2011

Sosha said:
Sander, coincidence of the day, I actually used to study in Leiden. Lovely place, spent some time in Het Rijnlands Lyceum in the fall of 2008. Lovely buildings and friendly people, cant go wrong

We (Visser 't Hooft Lyceum) always took the piss with the Rijnlands. They had more money than we did

Are these typical results for using Ilfosol 3?

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