I absently was processing two rolls of 120 Fujichrome very late the other evening in my standard Kodak 7 step chemistry on the CPP-2. The only deviation from standard for normal development that I use is 6m:45s (incl drain time) for the 1st Developer for Fujichrome . Distilled H2O for all the mixing and washing. Did I mention washing? Oops, that 7 step process is really 8 when you include the 2 minute, 4 change 38˚C temperature critical wash between the 1st Developer and Reversal Bath. I realized it about halfway through the reversal bath that those H2O bottles were still sitting there untouched. Disgusted with myself, I nearly scrapped the run right then and there, but decided not to and halfheartedly went along for the ride for the next 20 minutes anyway, fully expecting garbage.
But lo, when I pulled the two rolls out, they were beautiful... actually seemed to have better controlled contrast than I've been getting lately from my Pentax 645N and SMC-A 35mm f/3.5 combo.
My prior understanding was that the wash both stopped 1st Development, and was necessary to keep 1st Developer from contaminating the Reversal Bath. Now I wonder if it's really needed with one shot development with fresh Reversal Bath? And, does H2O first wash really stop the development, or is there some opportunity for a tweak here, time-wise, to control contrast?
But lo, when I pulled the two rolls out, they were beautiful... actually seemed to have better controlled contrast than I've been getting lately from my Pentax 645N and SMC-A 35mm f/3.5 combo.
My prior understanding was that the wash both stopped 1st Development, and was necessary to keep 1st Developer from contaminating the Reversal Bath. Now I wonder if it's really needed with one shot development with fresh Reversal Bath? And, does H2O first wash really stop the development, or is there some opportunity for a tweak here, time-wise, to control contrast?