Dialing in FP4+ and Rodinal

[Mike Kennedy]

I am not at all happy with my results of FP4+ in Rodinal. I seem to be jumping all over the board with dilution ratios / times / and temperatures.
Today is the day. I just rolled 3 cassettes of 10 exp. each and plan to develop them in Rodinal at 1:25 , 1:50 , and 1:100. Temp. of 20oC.
Agitation 5X in the first 10sec. then 4X each minute.
One problem arrises when I think of using 1:100 in a small spiral tank. Don,t you need at least 5ml. of Rodinal to be effective? Ergo do I mix 1 liter of developer and just use 1/2?

Thanks,
Mike

 

[NikoSperi]

Agfa always said 10ml was necessary to develop one roll (36 frame 135 or one roll 120). Debate arose when people discovered they could use much less - down to 3ml apparently - about whether Agfa's 10ml number referred to developing ALL the fully exposed film (as in transforming all the silver in the emulsion) as opposed to a normal negative showing an image from black to white.

5ml should get you through. I have not had success at 1:300 (nor 1:500 when I goofed up the numbers), but 1:100 works for me.

If you have to mix more diluted soup than your tank can hold, instead of agitating, fill the tank with what it can take, and at your agitation interval, pour the developer back into your holding bottle so it mixes with the fresh stuff, and fill the tank again. This way, you still have the dilution, yet don't get the exhaustion due to insufficient concentrate.

 

[noseoil]

Rather than using three different dilutions, I would work with one dilution and master the results that way. The 1:100 would be the way I would go first, as it gives good film speed and wonderful sharpness. Try using minimal agitation and make sure you write down your procedures (temp, agitation cycles, range of light values in the shot, etc.) so they can be duplicated. Do one test at a time or three at once, but don't mix dilutions, mix times with one dilution, or you can end up frustrated and chasing your tail (don't ask). tim

 

[df cardwell]

With FP4, you can confidently develop with 5ml.

I don't know what kind of magic you are looking for,
but with FP4+, with it's naturally long straight line
and pleasant structure, I think Rodinal will be best used with a moderate dilution ( 1+50 ) and reduced agitation ( every 5th minute ) and extended time to compensate for the reduced agitation ( 20' ). The look should be a longer scale than normal, rolling into a gentle shoulder around D 2.0

If you test for midtone density ( V=.75 ) your low values will come right in. If you test for low values, you may assume the midtones will be too low. So test for mid values. Rodinal will not increase constrast as you extend development time; rather it simply builds density across the scale very evenly.

The 'gotcha' with Rodinal is that agitation is the variable that determines the slope of the high values. Although the magic of FP4+ is that it fights this in most developers ( which I think is good ) Rodinal's ability to build acutance effects is discouraged unless agitation is reduced.

My own taste prefers the balance of repeatability, convenience, fine grain ( yes ), full speed, and moderate acutance effects at 1+50, with agitation at every 5th minute. This is a reasonable compromise with Rodinal, and gives a taste of what the classic developer is all about with chaining one to the darkroom sink, or ending up with bizarre acutance effects.

Good luck. Most folks think the Agfa suggested times to be too long, although they work for me. Perhaps you'll be well to begin your tests at those times ( extrapolating for 1+100 ) and cutting back as needed.

G'luck

.

 

[Earl Dunbar]

df: That is one of the clearest, most concise and most helpful explanations of Rodinal that I have ever seen. Thanks.

Earl

 

[Mike Kennedy]

I agree with Earl!
Wonderfully concise & easy to follow instructions.
I am locked and loaded.Headed out for my test shots. I will report back with my results.

Many Thanks,
Mike

 

[avandesande]

I have been using DFs 1:100, 5 minute 5s agitation, for 30min regimine for just about everything. I have had good results with trix, efke100 and efke50. I will be doing some efke 25 tonight. 90% of my images print easily on grade 3, although some of the sunny landscapes print best on grade 2.
I am going to get an extra back though to use with abstracts, they don't seem to pick up enough contrast and I will go to some kind of regular agitation. What would be a normal regimine for a 1:100 dilution?

 

[blokeman]

dialling in FP4+ & Rodinal

Rodinal has been my preferred dev. for a long time, always using 1:100.
I've never had any problems with using just 5mls. Films used have been; Agfa APX100, TMax 400 & 100, Tri-X new & old, Delta 100 & 400. Some times are long naturally... from memory I think APX100 is up around 30 minutes.
And... luckily, I've just managed to purloin a dozen Rodinal 500ml bottles as Agfa is out of business. ...... David.

 

[JonPorter]

I've begun shooting 35mm FP4+ at ISO 125 as a replacement for Agfa 100. I've gotten good results developing it in Rodinal 1:47 (5ml Rodinal + 8oz. water) at 68 degrees for 15 minutes, with 30 seconds initial agitation then five inversions every two minutes. I'm generally printing around the 2.5 contrast setting on my diffuser enlarger. Next I plan to experiment with agitation at three minute intervals, and also see what pushing a stop looks like.

 

[Mike Kennedy]

I just finished viewing a short roll of FP4+ and was quite pleased with the results after following df Cardwell,s sage advice.

Now I have something to work with!!

Most Sincere Thanks,
Mike

 

[df cardwell]

Way to go Mike...

and I steal from the very best !