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Excel Film Enhancer w/ Rodinal or HC-110?

kchoquette

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Feb 21, 2013
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Lee, MA
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Hey everyone,

I came across the Excel Film Enhancer when I was browsing the PF website and it seems to have a lot of benefits that I could really use. Due to developing at home and not having a lot of control over my conditions, I'm really only able to use one-shot/liquid/syrup based developers that don't require me to make a huge batch of chemicals and store them.

Is there any way I can use it with these developers and by what percentage would it affect my developing times?
 
It's adding another developing agent Phenidone along with Sulphite and Carbonate so effectively giving a completely different developer.

Better to choose a different developer in the first place.

Ian
 
I've not used it. However, like most other products, I'd search for examples and then try it out. That is, if I was still interested.

Each person has their own taste and vision. What another may hate, may be just your ticket.

I photograph what I like and process how I like. Sometimes others like it, sometimes not. At the end of the day, I'd rather look at a photo on my wall that I love and you hate, than vice versa.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 
"At the end of the day, I'd rather look at a photo on my wall that I love and you hate, than vice versa".

Thank you for this. I'm not sure what it has to do w/ anything, but no matter, I love it.

EFE is supposed to give crisp easy to print negs w/o highlight blockages, increase the shadow detail, and reduce developing times. And more! Not bad for 9 bucks. I usually hang a big cut crystal over my developing tank on a sky hook, and shake it a little left to right (right to left does not work) to obtain the same results. You can combine that w/ the ACME Negative Extender to stretch your 6x4.5 negs closer to 35mm proportions if you're running a little scrunched up.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
HC-110 is a concentrate designed by Kodak to produce results very similar to D-76.
 
kchoquette said:
I've worked extensively both with D76 and HC-110 and can definitely say none of my results have even been close to as finely grained.
Click to expand...
The Covingtom Innovations website on HC-110 quotes from the 2001 Kodak Professional Photographic Catalog

"Compared to D-76, this chart indicates that HC-110 (dilution B) produces:

o Slightly less shadow detail or true film speed;
o Slightly finer grain;
o Slightly lower acutance."

http://www.covingtoninnovations.com/hc110/
 
Excel Film Enhancer seems to be a rehash of an old product called Crone Additive. This chemical was said to convert D-76 to C-76 producing better speed and grain. It was popular in the 50's and 60's.
 
Ian Grant said:
Gerald, both Chrone-C and Excel FE are sold still, they seem to be different according to the Datasheets and MSDS.

Ian
Click to expand...


Hi Ian,

Did not know that Crone Additive was still being made. But basically both are a solution of phenidone and perhaps an anti-foggant. The main difference is in how the phenidone is solubilized either with isopropanol or sodium carbonate.
 
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