D76 Agitation: Arista 400 @800

[peter k.]

Vell we were out shooting, an although we usually shoot 400 @ 200, a nice scene was available. No tripod so we shot it at 800. Now the chart shows in D:76 1:1 that it should be developed for a whooping 17 min... wow.. normally agitate one inversion every 30 sec for 400 @ 200.. what are your agitation suggestions for 400 @ 800.
Thanks p.

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

Take a look here. https://www.digitaltruth.com/devchart.php

What film are you shooting?

 

[peter k.]

Yep, that's where we get our timings. Great site been using it fer years.
Well we developed the others so now will just do the normal do and see how it turns out..
Never shot or developed Arista 400 (AKA Foma) at 800 before, so will see if there is to much contrast by doing our normal agitation. .
Hehaww venture forth...

 

[Saganich]

Try initial agit 60 seconds, then 10 secs after each full minute. So that's 10 seconds agit and wait a full minute before next agitation. For long development times that extends the stand time bit and reduces agitation a bit.

 

[runswithsizzers]

Yep, that's where we get our timings. Great site been using it fer years.
Well we developed the others so now will just do the normal do and see how it turns out..
Never shot or developed Arista 400 (AKA Foma) at 800 before, so will see if there is to much contrast by doing our normal agitation. .
Hehaww venture forth...

You say you are following the "timings" posted in the Massive Dev Chart, but your 'normal' agitation of 'one inversion every 30 sec' is not the same as recommended by the Massive Dev Chart. Per the FAQ posted as part of the Massive Dev Chart website at <this link>

"Agitation: Wherever possible times have been listed which rely on the standard technique of 30-60 seconds continuous agitation after immersion, followed by 5-10 seconds (three inversions) per minute thereafter."​

 

[peter k.]

Try initial agit 60 seconds, then 10 secs after each full minute.

Thanks... Will try that next time, when we shoot it at 800.

You say you are following the "timings" posted in the Massive Dev Chart,

Yes, true, ..not following it exactly, .. but like most of us, we make refinements to the way we develop, as each of us have different methods, open tray, or light tight containers, or automatic Jobo, ect. So most all of us experiment with what is given and often compromise to our own needs.
For Arista "followed by 5-10 seconds (three inversions) per minute thereafter." was way to much. So we normally do one inversion every thirty seconds, after the initial 60 seconds of continual agitation which has given up to now what we like. But that may change with time. .

 

[runswithsizzers]

Thanks... Will try that next time, when we shoot it at 800.

Yes, true, ..not following it exactly, .. but like most of us, we make refinements to the way we develop, as each of us have different methods, open tray, or light tight containers, or automatic Jobo, ect. So most all of us experiment with what is given and often compromise to our own needs.
For Arista "followed by 5-10 seconds (three inversions) per minute thereafter." was way to much. So we normally do one inversion every thirty seconds, after the initial 60 seconds of continual agitation which has given up to now what we like. But that may change with time. .

I understand.

I am very much a newbie when it comes to developing b&w negatives, so forgive what may be an ignorant question, but: Isn't it more common to manipulate development time than agitation? When you say the MDC "standard agitation" was "way too much" - I assume you mean overdeveloped, correct? Whether you choose to reduce development time or reduce agitation - I guess it's a personal choice, and I have no problem with that. Whatever works for you is well and good.

But as a more general question of practice and theory: Would it be possible to achieve exactly the same results by altering development time rather than your agitation schedule?

 

[peter k.]

When you say the MDC "standard agitation" was "way too much" - I assume you mean overdeveloped, correct?

To be honest, tested Arista years ago, at the beginning of trying and learning how to develop B&W, from scratch on my own, with help from this forum. That's how we came up with what we use today.
First started with Hc110, but all the high lights where blown out, no matter what changes we made in time of development or agitation. It most likely was because we were such a newbie and everything was a learning experience. There are many, we believe, .. who love Hc110 with Arista, but we couldn't conquer it.
So tried D-76, and liked the results better. But agitating it as recommended, and trying different developing times with that agitation, did not give us the look we wanted. So we usually shoot Arista 400 shot @ 200, agitate first 60 secs and then one inversion every 30, for nine minutes @ 68*. Or change the timing to the temp of the developer as needed.
Next, talking about developing..
A little while back shot my first roll of Tmax 400 for the first time, and developed it in D76... That may well be, our next journey, and the tests will begin again, but will most likely try it with a different developer.
Like shooting sheet film, rather than roll, but TMax 400 sheet film is very expensive. So have the crazy thought of cutting up a roll of 120 Tmax to MF sheet size and try it in my 2x3 speed film holders. Done by inserting the cut 120 sheet over an already exposed piece of 2x3 sheet film. Tried it today, with some old exposed film and it slid in. Time will see if this will work out to do all the developing testing with a new developer and film, at a more affordable cost
BTW we all ready cut allot of 4x5 down to 3x4 and 9x12 and 2x3 size, when we need them, rather than special order these film sizes.
Analog can be allot of creative fun.