Developer for Arcos 100

drpsilver · Dec 30, 2013

30 Dec 2013

In my search for a film to replace my old friend Plus-X, I have begun working with FP4+ (which I know well in 35mm, 120, and 4x5). It was suggested by a colleague that at look at Arcos 100. I have no experience with this film, and am looking for suggestions on developers and development times (for 35mm format). I have easily available to me D76, HC-110, Perceptol, and Rodinal. Any suggestions/starting points would be helpful.

Regards,
Darwin

summicron1 · Dec 30, 2013

i develop acros 100 in d-76 1:1 and get amazing results. It's lovely film. It was lovlier when it was a lot cheaper than other 120 films around ---wish I'd loaded up with it when it was $1.60 a roll two years ago -- but it's still lovely film, worth whatever price.

Richard S. (rich815) · Dec 30, 2013

I love Acros. Great film. But nothing like Plus-X which I love for other reasons and thankfully still have a decent stash of in 35mm and 120 in my film freezer. I use Acros without reservation though especially for its awesome reciprocity characteristics for night shooting. I develop it in d-76, Rodinal, HC-110, it's all good.

Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California, Hasselblad 500CM, 150 Sonnar, Acros in D-76 stock

Richard S. (rich815) · Dec 30, 2013

Oh and I mostly just follow Massive Development Chart times to start.

JW PHOTO · Dec 30, 2013

Try any of the developers you have at arms reach and they should work fine. Acros is a very developer friendly film and you will find that out. Whatever you do try will more than likely work, but please make sure you at least try Perceptol at a dilution of 1:3 @ 70F for 16 - 18 minutes. Use gentle agitation and rate the film at ISO 64-80 to be on the safe side. I can actually get by at ISO 100, but your meter/agitation scheme/temps might be different. I've also had very sharp results with Rodinal 1:100 semi-stand for 1 hr, but have to down rate to ISO 64 with that one. I think if I were going to make giant enlargements from small negatives I'd lean toward the Rodinal 1:100 @ 1hr. I also wish I would have filled a spot in my freezer when this film was cheaper. Smart marketing by Fuji to get us hooked and a great film at a super cheap price. Now we're addicted and the price is going up and up and soon it will go up some more. Have fun! JohnW

Brian Legge · Dec 31, 2013

Love it at ei 50 in Rodinal 1:50 for ~10 minutes.

http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=acros+rodinal&w=59657594@N00&s=int

Its all I shoot when I can get away with the low speed.

Dan Daniel · Dec 31, 2013

I use HC-110, 1:50 @ 68 F, 7 minutes. This is for scanning.

Be careful about getting too attached to it. Fuji is about to do a price rise again. And I wouldn't be surprised if they simply stop making film before too long.

Jeff Kubach · Dec 31, 2013

Richard Sintchak (rich815) said:
Oh and I mostly just follow Massive Development Chart times to start.

+1. If all else fails.

Jeff

Keith Tapscott. · Dec 31, 2013

D-76 or ID-11 diluted 1+1 is as good as any.

gone · Dec 31, 2013

Back when I was sending my film out for processing I tried Acros, and the lab used T Max developer I think. It looked pretty bad. Sharp, but digital like. Didn't care for it all and never shot it again. But I understand that if you use D76 it looks a lot better. I do like FP4 though, but none of this is close to TRi-X, and that's all I shoot now other than an occasional roll of HP5. If I need a 100 ISO film I just shoot Tri-X at 100.

chriscrawfordphoto · Dec 31, 2013

I've never liked the tonality of Acros nearly as much as FP4 or Tmax 100. To me, its main value is its incredible long exposure performance; virtually no reciprocity failure! That said, Rodinal 1+50 and PMK are the two best developers I have found.

Rodinal 1+50

PMK

Christiaan Phleger · Dec 31, 2013

Another + for Perceptol 1:3 and Rodinal 1:50.

tony lockerbie · Dec 31, 2013

Can't believe that no one has mentioned Pyrocat HD. I use it at 1:1:100 for 12 minutes...works well for me.

erikg · Dec 31, 2013

Like it a lot in Rodinal 1:50, 9:30@20c. EI 100. 35mm.

Kevin Caulfield · Dec 31, 2013

FX37 5 mins at 20C

Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk

Regular Rod · Jan 1, 2014

drpsilver said:
30 Dec 2013

In my search for a film to replace my old friend Plus-X, I have begun working with FP4+ (which I know well in 35mm, 120, and 4x5). It was suggested by a colleague that at look at Arcos 100. I have no experience with this film, and am looking for suggestions on developers and development times (for 35mm format). I have easily available to me D76, HC-110, Perceptol, and Rodinal. Any suggestions/starting points would be helpful.

Regards,
Darwin

Up to now I've only used ACROS once (a roll of 120). I liked the results. It's a nice film but it is a bit on the curly side on the 120 substrate. I used box speed and developed in HC110 (B) 4 1/2 minutes at 20 deg. C and was pleased with the results.

RR

mauro35 · Jan 1, 2014

+1 for Rodinal 1+50. I personally use 12 min. at 20C and I think this film benefits greatly from all the positive qualities of Rodinal. Great tones, amazing sharpness and very fine, beautiful grain.

grommi · Jan 1, 2014

Caffenol-C and Acros are made for each other. I do a full stand dev in Caffenol-C-L for 70 mins 20°C, expose for EI 50 - 800 if you scan the negs, EI 100 - 200 for wetprints and reduced dev time. You have to do this once in your life to experiance what is possible with this combo. Very good film speed, sharp, huge range of tones.

Lots of great samples:
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=caffenol-c-l+acros
You will find a lot of pictures from Ilya Bur, he's a better photographer than I and his pictures speak for themselves.

Not convinced? You might read my interview with Stephen Schaub from my early Caffenol days:
http://caffenol.blogspot.de/2010/03/r.html

Best - Reinhold

Richard S. (rich815) · Jan 1, 2014

grommi said:
Caffenol-C and Acros are made for each other. I do a full stand dev in Caffenol-C-L for 70 mins 20°C, expose for EI 50 - 800 if you scan the negs, EI 100 - 200 for wetprints and reduced dev time. You have to do this once in your life to experiance what is possible with this combo. Very good film speed, sharp, huge range of tones.

Lots of great samples:
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=caffenol-c-l+acros
You will find a lot of pictures from Ilya Bur, he's a better photographer than I and his pictures speak for themselves.

Not convinced? You might read my interview with Stephen Schaub from my early Caffenol days:
http://caffenol.blogspot.de/2010/03/r.html

Best - Reinhold

Very nice Reinhold. I'll have to try this with Acros.

Mark Fisher · Jan 1, 2014

Acros is mostly what I use in 120....Rodinal EI 80 1:50 for 12 minutes for a diffusion enlarger to print at grade 2.5 to 3

Dismayed · Jan 1, 2014

I like XTOL 1:2 with Acros.

Richard S. (rich815) · Jan 1, 2014

So. Once again we have a film that works well with a whole bunch of different developers. Glad we discussed this.

dynachrome · Jan 1, 2014

My best results have been with Fuji Microfine. Over the years friends brought it back from Japan for me. Other developers also work well with ACROS. It's a matter of doing some trials and being consistent.

jcc · Jan 1, 2014

For Acros 100, I use Ilford Ilfotec HC diluted at 1:31 @ 68ºF, for 7 minutes. The results are very nice. I love that film. Wish 4x5 sheets were cheaper, but it's quite worth it.

RattyMouse · Jan 1, 2014

Richard Sintchak (rich815) said:
So. Once again we have a film that works well with a whole bunch of different developers. Glad we discussed this.

That is sure how it seems to a noob like me. Every developer works with every film. Further, in a different thread, it is related that most developers are virtually the same and all the effort should go to printing, not developing.

Developer for Arcos 100

drpsilver

summicron1

Richard S. (rich815)

Richard S. (rich815)

JW PHOTO

Brian Legge

Dan Daniel

Jeff Kubach

Keith Tapscott.

gone

chriscrawfordphoto

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Christiaan Phleger

tony lockerbie

erikg

Kevin Caulfield

Regular Rod

mauro35

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grommi

Richard S. (rich815)

Mark Fisher

Dismayed

Richard S. (rich815)

dynachrome

jcc

RattyMouse

Developer for Arcos 100

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