H&W control from Frugal Photographer

[laser]

POTA is an excellent developer for Tech Pan and similar films . 1.5 grams of Phenidone and 30 grams of NaSO3 per liter. See the paper by Marilyn Levy of Rome Air Base in the 1970s.

 

[MCB18]

POTA is an excellent developer for Tech Pan and similar films . 1.5 grams of Phenidone and 30 grams of NaSO3 per liter. See the paper by Marilyn Levy of Rome Air Base in the 1970s.

Yes but unfortunately it is not nearly as shelf stable and requires a lot more developing agent than this recipe.

I plan to try and shoot another test roll of this same film at EI 80-100 today and develop it the same as before, maybe with a bit less agitation since the contrast is a touch high still.

 

[MCB18]

Well, the microfilm seems to work well in this developer around EI 50, however the film is not as dense as I would like it to be. The part I deliberately exposed to room light is not pure black and so I think that I may need to add a bit more development time, or increase agitation frequency.

Bracketed exposures around EI 50 (middle), +/- 1/2 stops. Negatives:


Inverted image:


The part I exposed to room light, film is not fully black.

 

[Augustus Caesar]

The results with very slow copy or technical film are generally disappointing. Better is to use one of the newer-generation T-grain films such as T-Max 100 or Delta 100. Very slow films have very restricted latitude.

 

[MCB18]

The results with very slow copy or technical film are generally disappointing. Better is to use one of the newer-generation T-grain films such as T-Max 100 or Delta 100. Very slow films have very restricted latitude.

That’s not really the point, yes I could absolutely do that but I’d rather mess around and see what I can get to work with this stuff.

 

[MCB18]

Ok, so developing a completely light struck section of this film in HC-110 B for 6 minutes shows the same density as the stuff developed in HW Control. I think this film just doesn’t turn completely black.

 

[Augustus Caesar]

That’s not really the point, yes I could absolutely do that but I’d rather mess around and see what I can get to work with this stuff.

Why? It's not worth the trouble.

 

[MCB18]

Why? It's not worth the trouble.

because I do this for fun? It’s not like I do this because I need to, if I need a picture I get out my phone and I take a picture. I am absolutely not looking for perfect results. I’m just having fun with some cheap film and a developer that I found online that’s meant to be used for film like this.

 

[MCB18]

Well, I gotta say, Foto-32 and H&W control is an amazing combination. I think CMS 20 II and tech pan still have it beat in terms of pure resolution, but I wouldn’t say it’s by that much! And, it’s at a relatively fast speed too, especially compared to something like CMS 20 II. Maybe still a bit contrasty for some folks, but I will definitely be using this combination more in the future. I really like the look.


Cropped to 250% to show detail:

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Nice work MCB18! Never listen to the naysayers!

 

[Craig]

You might try POTA as well as a comparison. It's intended to be mixed right before use and used one shot.

 

[MCB18]

You might try POTA as well as a comparison. It's intended to be mixed right before use and used one shot.

Yes, I’ve heard that, I also have the ingredients to make it, but it actually requires more developing agents than the H&W control stuff, and doesn’t last as long.

I finally got some propylene glycol so I can hopefully make the two part formula that is supposed to last indefinitely.

 

[Craig]

Yes, I’ve heard that, I also have the ingredients to make it, but it actually requires more developing agents than the H&W control stuff, and doesn’t last as long.

There is only 2 ingredients to POTA, doesn't get much simpler than that!

 

[MCB18]

There is only 2 ingredients to POTA, doesn't get much simpler than that!

Well yeah, but whereas POTA requires 1.5g of Phenidone to make 1L of working solution that lasts an hour at best, H&W control requires 0.83g to make 100ml of concentrate that can make 1.6L of working solution and, if you use the 2 part PG recipe I am using, will last indefinitely… H&W definitely uses the chems more efficiently, and considering how expensive Phenidone is, that is very desirable.

 

[WD4AON]

Well, the first test went extremely well! I’m seeing an acceptable level of density and contrast at EI 100. For reference, this is (probably) the same as Washi S, and I have found in normal development using their times it makes thinner negs that are still extremely high in contrast.

Strips below have bracketed exposures at 1 stop intervals starting from the top at EI 12.

Please share details of your exposure and processing test details; I'm very interested in the Washi-S tests because That is, I suspect, what FPP's Sonic 25 is. Maybe also the Sonic 12... Terry

 

[MCB18]

Please share details of your exposure and processing test details; I'm very interested in the Washi-S tests because That is, I suspect, what FPP's Sonic 25 is. Maybe also the Sonic 12... Terry

Nothing super complicated, I mixed up some H&W working solution from concentrate, and processed it for 15 minutes at 20°, agitating for the first 30 seconds then 10 seconds every 3 minutes. EI 64-80 seems best IMO, but you can probably get away with a little higher if you want.

 

[MCB18]

I do not like Phenidone… I was trying to get it to dissolve a little bit faster in the propylene glycol, so I put it in the microwave for a little bit… the solution turned deep orange. Which, I’m pretty sure it means that I oxidized most of it. So, I started over, this time putting it in the microwave for less time… it’s pale orange, which I don’t like, so I think I have to start over again… am I just being an idiot? Or is there some sort of tricks that I’m just not aware of?

 

[Alan Johnson]

From the formula: "All dissolves with stirring at 40-50C"
It should be possible to do this in a water bath, stirring with a thermometer.
IIRC others have commented that phenidone may get degraded at high temperature.

 

[koraks]

pale orange

Wouldn't worry me too much. Not ideal, not catastrophic either.
Next time just put the jar of glycol with phenidone in a larger cup of really hot water and put that combination on a simple magnetic stirrer. Or use one of the heated magnetic stirrers.
Don't microwave glycol; the burns are too nasty to even try.

 

[MCB18]

I did eventually get it mixed, I took a little break because I was getting frustrated. But, now as I understand it, it should be shelf stable, so that’s great.