Chemistry recommendations needed

[DieHipsterDie]

If you are going to order from Freestyle why not just buy the real Rodinal from them?

Something different I guess. I also heard that Agfa's Rodinal has deviated from the original formula.

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

On shoe string budget?

Hipster,

I have been on a shoestring budget since the day I entered photography, and that is still true today.

The chemicals you use are going to have a smaller effect on the end results than most care to think. There are differences, but it's best to start with something basic. I too recommend Rodinal because it's easy to work with, and it's cheap because you can dilute it a lot. Your end results depend a lot on how you use the chemicals, so start in that end. I mentioned Rodinal - it's cheap and disappoints few. Stop bath - who needs it? I use water. Fixer - get high capacity fixer, like TF-4 from www.photoformulary.com or how about some of the silvergrain line from www.digitaltruth.com ? Rodinal works really good with ISO 25-125 or so film, and well with higher speeds if you like grain.
For paper go ahead and use whatever you can get your hands on. I have made prints I like on Kodak, Agfa, ADOX, all kinds. RC, fiber. Pick one. You can make it work.
Paper developer. I have seen beautiful prints made from run of the mill developers like Dektol. It's all in how you use it. There will be a time when you may want to experiment with developers and exotic materials. Your achievements with known materials will be important as you develop your skills as a photographer and a printer.

You may also want to consider printing on graded paper if you don't want to or can't use filter sets. Then you don't have to worry about the grade of your paper.

I use the same type of fixer for film and paper development, but have learned the hard way that I shouldn't mix their uses, so I have one bottle ready for film and one for paper.

Hope that helps,

- Thom

Thanks for all the advice.

By the way, what happens if you use multigrade paper and don't have multigrade filters? i.e. you're too poor to buy a set? Is there a "default" grade?

 

[Fanshaw]

Why double the recommended development time? Is there something wrong with the original recommendation?

Fanshaw

 

[dancqu]

Things haven't changed that much in 20 years.

Not in your world. I interred into the dark a few years
ago after an absence of more years than he. I stocked
up on all the usual. After about the first year I adopted
single tray print processing. My tight quarters expanded
considerably. I now Home-Brew all my chemistries.

On the other hand I use a corrugated board blotter
stack dryer and photo grade sponges. Dan