Fast films in Neofin Blue/ Beutler

[Lachlan Young]

What sort of developing times/ EIs can I expect from 400 speed films like HP5+ or TRI-X developed in Neofin Blue? I lnow they will be grainier than usual but that does not bother me especially. I imagine if the development times are over 20 minute I can use reduced agitation. Has anyone tried this?

All help mch appreciated,

Lachlan

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

Yes Lachlan, about 30 years ago with Tri-x and HP4, sharp and grainy results as you would expect. You might also consider using Crawley's FX-2 (see the Apug Chemical recipes).

 

[Ole]

Willi Beutler, the man who made the Neofin developers, only used Neofin Blue for all films. The Red version "was made for impatient people".

Developing times will be long, as expected. With reduced agitation, even longer. My own preference is that anything that can't be done in 12 minutes gets a full 90 minutes on the (heated) bathroom floor, with agitation the first 20 seconds, then after 5, 30 and 60 minutes. Seems to work.

 

[Ole]

Addendum: HP5+ should give a speed of 640 to 800 with this treatment.

 

[Alan Johnson]

Tri-X in Beutler was mentioned in "Controls in Black and White Photography" by R.Henry p240. He got edge effects off a knife edge subject.I tried Tri-X in Neofin Blau with minimal agitation 28m (20m x 1.4) 68F, 2 inversions every 4 min.I could not see any edge effects on an 11x print of a portrait,maybe not a good choice of subject.I dont know if Ole's method would give visible edge effects.

 

[Ole]

I dont know if Ole's method would give visible edge effects.

Neither do I; good sharpness and fine tonality are more important to me. I'll pop a neg under the microscope if you insist...

 

[Alan Johnson]

When examining negatives I find microscope, loupe and grain magnifier subject to optical illusions, a print is better.Some say the edge effect gives the impression of sharpness.Sometimes it can be seen on a print where a grey area is next to a black area, as a lighter line.This happens with Tri-X stand developed in rodinal.Neofin is a don't know.

 

[anyhuus]

Ole,
What is your EI and development time for FP4+ in Beutler? I tried 10 minutes, and it seems a bit too contrasty (haven't made any densitometer-tests, it's just an impression I get from scanning the negs)?

 

[Ole]

I think I ended up with 9 minutes for FP4+, and then they are just as contrasty as I like. A bit more contrasty than most other people prefer, in other words.

 

[anyhuus]

... and then you expose at ISO 125 or do you gain any speed increase?

 

[Ole]

I may have got some speed increase, or I may have a slow shutter. Anyway I had good shadow detail