Foma and Forte (Arista, that is) & Developer Questions

[zenrhino]

I scoured (there was a url link here which no longer exists) but didn't see much that wasn't about Rodinal (which I love for the 100 speed versions from both Foma and Forte at 1:50).

I'm doing a project shoot for school, shooting 120 on a Holga (don't laugh -- I'm shooting in rough neighborhoods and need something light, easy, and cheap to replace), and I'm going to use either Foma or Forte 400.

I'm concerned that Rodinal will make the grain too sharp. Can anyone recommend a developer for either Foma or Forte 400 that will (sorry, I don't remember the tech term for it right off) reduce the appearance of the grain (by melting the silver and replating it back on the film, if I'm not mistaken).

I'm shooting on a Holga so sharpness isn't exactly a concern, but I'm going to print these at 20x20" so grain is more important than sharpness.

Thanks,

ZR
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

 

[Gerald Koch]

D-76 full strength or HC-110 dil B.

 

[srs5694]

Personally, I like Fomapan 400 in PC-Glycol. (Check (there was a url link here which no longer exists) for the formula.) I use a dilution of 1+1+48 for 10:00 at 20C, rated for box speed. (This is for 35mm, though, and of course you may need to tweak the times a bit for your own development style and preferences.) I actually tested this combination using this procedure to determine the proper speed and got a value of EI 320-400. (My camera's meter produced the same settings for both values, so I'm not sure which is better.) With Fomapan 400, PC-Glycol 1+1+48 produces grain that is, to my eye, just a bit finer than that produced by D-76 1+1. I've not tried D-76 at stock strength with Fomapan 400.

XTOL has a reputation as a fine-grained developer, but I personally think it makes the Fomapan grain look a bit mushy and not really any finer than what PC-Glycol produces. I've never tried Fomapan 400 in Rodinal, so I can't comment on that.

 

[Jordan]

I've found that the Fomapan films work well in Diafine. If you have some around, give it a try. It may help you cope with the exposure issues introduced by the Holga.

 

[Donald Qualls]

I've shot a number of rolls of Forte 400 in its guise as "Classic 400" and it seems very happy in Parodinal (which implies it'll like genuine Rodinal also). I was rather surprised; the grain of this film in Parodinal isn't much more than Tri-X in HC-110 F, and less than Lucky SHD 400 in HC-110 G. For Parodinal 1:50, I add 50% to the published Rodinal 1:50 times, and agitate only every 3rd minute (same I'd do with real Rodinal with this agitation), and the negatives are excellent...