FP-4 and Rodinal

ColColt · Aug 29, 2015

I shot my first roll of FP-4 today pitting the Zeiss 50 f2 and 50 f2 DR Summicron. Anxious to see the results but, I'll have to wait till Tuesday or Wednesday for the Rodinal to get here. That was my developer of choice with FP-4 back in the day so, I'm expecting to have similar results now. I shot a surprise guest with both lens but, you'll have to wait and see.

Rodinal seemed to have given FP-4 such a good tonal range when I used it long ago and I have no reason to suspect much has changed. I suppose if anyone wanted the speed of Tri-X or HP-5 but the grain of FP-4 you may get it in Delta 400 from the results I've had. I found it to be a very good film as well in HC-110

Xmas · Aug 29, 2015

There is also Panf+ given you have sunlight there.

ColColt · Aug 29, 2015

Too slow...a great film as was Panatomic X but just too slow for much of anything but tripod work. I shot a lot of K64(ASA64) and on a sunny day the exposure was usually 125 @f8. With PanX you're looking at at least ASA32 for 125@f5.6 and even less in shade. I don't trust myself shooting under 125 anymore.

We do have a fair amount of sunshine in TN.

Richard S. (rich815) · Aug 29, 2015

Will be fun to see the results. I think neither will be "better" (ignoring those who equate more contrast and sharpness as somehow automatically "better") just different and with different signature and character.

Xmas · Aug 29, 2015

But Panf+ in Microphen, Tmax developer, or similar is a good 50ISO and close to your Kodachrome speed.

All we get here is dull overcast but I live in hopes and pack a cassette of Panf+ in gbag. The last one lasted a year it had the date spooled from the daylight loader on it.

Hilo · Aug 29, 2015

I don't know how long ago it is you used Rodinal for your FP4, or since you printed. But let me say it is the perfect combination. It was already perfect when the papers were still graded, but multigrade papers and filters made it totally ok. 1 plus 25, 8 minutes . . . always ok

ColColt · Aug 29, 2015

I suppose different is a better word than better but we'll see. I wouldn't bet on either without seeing the results. Both are excellent lens.

Xmas, we get all sorts of weather here but summer time mostly sun to one degree or the other. There are days of course it's cloudy, bright, no shadows sort of day. I always liked taking photos when it was overcast as there's no harsh shadows to deal with and the light is more diffused.

It's been a long time since I used FP-4-sometime in the early 90's. By 1995 I had transitioned to mostly medium format but was still using FP-4 and it had no equal in 120 format for my eyes. It did very well with 35mm as well. This shot from about the mid 80's downtown with FP-4/Rodinal.

FP402ab by David Fincher, on Flickr

With a Nikkor 20mm lens...

FP401 by David Fincher, on Flickr

John Bragg · Aug 29, 2015

Nice David. Great tones and rich rich blacks.

ColColt · Aug 29, 2015

...and a great tonal range I love it and hope the new film will be the equal of the old.

RalphLambrecht · Aug 30, 2015

That's a super lens,both the 1970s and the 1990s vwersion

John Bragg · Sep 2, 2015

So ColColt. Do you have any results yet to share with us David ? I am looking forward to seeing the fruits of your labours.

Regards, John.

ColColt · Sep 2, 2015

Not yet. The Rodinal is due to arrive sometime this afternoon via UPS. When it gets here I'll go to work.

JoeyAnchors · Sep 2, 2015

I'm a huge fan of Pan F+ in 120mm. From the research I've read it looks like Rodinal and Pan F+ go hand and hand.

Someday I'll have to try FP4.

ColColt · Sep 2, 2015

Make it soon. You know what happened to Agfapan. Here today gone manana.

John Bragg · Sep 2, 2015

ColColt said:
Make it soon. You know what happened to Agfapan. Here today gone manana.

Indeed, support Harman/Ilford any way you can. They are commited to supporting film and film photography in every way possible. A true success story and proof of what happens when people believe in their business enough to bid and save it.

ColColt · Sep 2, 2015

I would have to look back through my notebooks and negatives but I believe I shot my first roll of FP-4/HP5 back in the late 70's. I was impressed enough to continue to use them up until the mid 90's or so. I'm glad they're still around.

ColColt · Sep 2, 2015

Well, I thought the delivery of the Rodinal was comping UPS. It just arrived via FedEx so, my afternoon will be spent developing that roll sooner than I thought...may even have a few pics up before midnight UK time.

Xmas · Sep 2, 2015

JoeyAnchors said:
I'm a huge fan of Pan F+ in 120mm. From the research I've read it looks like Rodinal and Pan F+ go hand and hand.

Someday I'll have to try FP4.

I use PanF+ 35mm Rodinal 1:100 20c 60 mins stand contrasty but reasonable at 50ISO.

ColColt · Sep 2, 2015

Just got through with the process...negatives look pretty good. Development was for 6 minutes at 75 degrees at 1:75, agitation first 15 seconds and then 10 inversions per minute throughout development. I cut back a bit on developing time from my old method with FP-4 due to the somewhat higher temperature-glad I did.

I'll post some photos later when they're dried.

John Bragg · Sep 2, 2015

ColColt said:
Just got through with the process...negatives look pretty good. Development was for 6 minutes at 75 degrees at 1:75, agitation first 15 seconds and then 10 inversions per minute throughout development. I cut back a bit on developing time from my old method with FP-4 due to the somewhat higher temperature-glad I did.

I'll post some photos later when they're dried.

Looking forward to seeing them David. I have a soft spot for Rodinal, but I cant seem to get it to work as well as HC-110. Oh well, at least it keeps forever and if I fancy another go it is always there. Think my bottle is at least 15 years old.

ColColt · Sep 2, 2015

Well, I have a few done and while these are not Pulitzer Prize winners, just tests around the house, there was a two fold purpose. To see how the DR Summicron lens compared with the Zeiss and to see how FP-4 and Rodinal played together-whether it was as I remembered or changed.

I'm happy to say it looks as good as ever with Rodinal. Moreover, the DR lens gave the Zeiss a fit in the sharpness department. It was just a tad less contrasty than the Zeiss which is to be expected since it's a much (1969?) lens compared to the Zeiss. I had to bump up a bit on the DR but not much. It's hard to say which is sharper. You be the judge. I'm happy with both of them.

So, without further ado, may I present for your viewing enjoyment my first guest...Tigger!!

This one with the DR lens.

Rod0011DRa by David Fincher, on Flickr

...and the Zeiss

Rod0012Zeissa by David Fincher, on Flickr

Same scenario with the PolyShield foam board...DR first.

Rod009DR by David Fincher, on Flickr

Zeiss

Rod0010Zeissa by David Fincher, on Flickr

DR lens...

Rod002a by David Fincher, on Flickr

Rod008a by David Fincher, on Flickr

ColColt · Sep 2, 2015

One last shot of Bubba, my 11 year old Corgi.

Rod001213DRa by David Fincher, on Flickr

John Bragg · Sep 2, 2015

Nice work David. I am glad you like them as they look amazing. Rodinal and FP4 + is good for your technique and workflow.

ColColt · Sep 2, 2015

It's always been a good film for me-especially with Rodinal. ID-11 does well also but it still has the silver solvent Sodium Sulfite which softens the grain structure to a degree compared to Rodinal and HC-110 developers.

FP-4 and Rodinal

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