HC110 as a replacement for Rodinal

mawz · Jul 2, 2009

I'm down to my last bottle of Rodinal, can't seem to source any of the replacement versions locally and am unwilling to mail-order chemicals for various reasons.

I'm looking for a good low-cost high dilution developer. Preferably available in liquid concentrate with moderate to high accutance. The ability to push is unneeded as I already use TMax for that (Great stuff, but not cheap).

The developer should work well with HP5, PanF, Acros and Tri-X (both 400TX and 320TXP).

I was thinking of going with HC110 as a replacement. Will it live up to my needs as described?

Robert Hall · Jul 2, 2009

Are you looking for cheap or good?

jim appleyard · Jul 2, 2009

HC-110 can be your source for low-cost, high-dilution, and it does last forever, but that's about all it has in common Rodinal. Rodinal is an accutance dev, HC-110 is for moderate to fine grain.

aluk · Jul 2, 2009

If you are in Toronto, most Henry's branches have Rodinal; it has been re-labeled in Canada as Blazinal, but is the same stuff. If the name matters, I think that the one downtown (Church) still had a couple of 'original' Rodinal bottles as of last week.

rusty_tripod · Jul 2, 2009

I have been very happy with HC-110 but I am using Rodinal right now.

Colin Corneau · Jul 2, 2009

If I can find Rodinal/Blazinal here in the sticks, I'm positive you'll be able to find it in the Centre of the Universe.

Thomas Bertilsson · Jul 2, 2009

I would say that the look of both developers is dissimilar. Rodinal, to me, is a very powerful developer, but fairly slow working. You can really build contrast with it while maintaining glorious midtones. Sharp, rather obvious grain that you may or may not like.
HC-110 is finer grained, has a tendency to pronounced highlights (in my experience) and muted mid-tones.
Out of the two I like Rodinal best. An alternative for you is Xtol. If you use a 5L package as a replenished solution, you spend about 70ml per roll. At $9 for the kit, you can developer about 70 rolls for that cost. You do the math. Very economical and a wonderful developer that is almost as sharp as Rodinal, but has quite a bit finer grain, and has more shadow detail (film speed).

- Thomas

Phillip P. Dimor · Jul 2, 2009

I have both HC110 and Rodinal. I prefer rodinal. It is easier to measure and I prefer the look. That being said, it does seem to last a long time.

WGibsonPhotography · Jul 3, 2009

I'm assuming you regularly develop the films you listed in Rodinal. correct me if i'm wrong.

Rodinal is my developer of choice, but I have never used HC110, so I'm really not much help (as usual). I shoot mostly HP5+ and FP4+ (35mm for both). I find the grain of HP5+ and Rodinal quite nice, though I've heard a lot of people complain that it's horrible.

From what I understand, HC110 is a finer grain developer. I cant say anything other than that :/

Just out of Curiosity, why are you unwilling to mail-order chemicals? I've ordered a few bottles of Rodinal, some Dektol, and paper from Freestyle with no problems at all.

Morry Katz · Jul 3, 2009

HC110 is dilutable many ways - just check the Kodak web site for information. And it's very versatile, with nice grain and reasonable times. I found Rodinal too contrasty and grainy for my taste. Have experimented with many other formulae and have just returned to HC 110 and D-76. Old standbyes. For more information see "The Negative" by Ansel Adams. He loved HC.
Cheers
Morry Katz - Lethbridge, Alberta

Ian Grant · Jul 3, 2009

Stick with Rodinal, the hiccups in supply will be ironed out soon, with A&O no longer distributing it your store will need to buy it from the new Canadian supplier.

While HC110 is a good dveloper it's not like Rodinal, Pyrocat HD is a good replacement and you either make it up yourself or buy in from somewhere like the Photographers Formulary.

Ian

nuckabean · Jul 3, 2009

Does anyone know where Rodinal is currently available online? It seems to be sold out anywhere and I was looking forward to using it this summer. Any help would be appreciated!

Ian Grant · Jul 3, 2009

Depends where you are.

It's still made in the same former Agfa factory but now made and sold in batches to 3rd parties. Mirko from Fotoimpex, Berlin will be selling it as Adonal, in Canada it's being sold as Blazinol. There's a problem with using Agfa's registered trade names.

Ian

E76 · Jul 3, 2009

Freestyle currently has Rodinal in stock as Compard R09.

verney · Jul 3, 2009

Rodinal is also sold under name Rollei R09:
http://www.firstcall-photographic.c...-r09-film-developer-previously-rodinal-500ml/

mawz · Jul 3, 2009

aluk said:
If you are in Toronto, most Henry's branches have Rodinal; it has been re-labeled in Canada as Blazinal, but is the same stuff. If the name matters, I think that the one downtown (Church) still had a couple of 'original' Rodinal bottles as of last week.

That's interesting as I've not seen that store stocking Rodinal in years. The only place to get it downtown was Downtown Camera.

I'll check Henry's for Blazinal.

mawz · Jul 3, 2009

WGibsonPhotography said:
I'm assuming you regularly develop the films you listed in Rodinal. correct me if i'm wrong.

Rodinal is my developer of choice, but I have never used HC110, so I'm really not much help (as usual). I shoot mostly HP5+ and FP4+ (35mm for both). I find the grain of HP5+ and Rodinal quite nice, though I've heard a lot of people complain that it's horrible.

From what I understand, HC110 is a finer grain developer. I cant say anything other than that :/

Just out of Curiosity, why are you unwilling to mail-order chemicals? I've ordered a few bottles of Rodinal, some Dektol, and paper from Freestyle with no problems at all.

Yes, I do develop those films in Rodinal.

And the reason I'm unwilling to mailorder is a combination of a very small mail slot in my building(a 1L packet of D-76 would fill it) and the awkwardness of getting to any courier depots to pick up shipments. Getting mail larger than letter size is an exercise in frustration right now.

mawz · Jul 3, 2009

Robert Hall said:
Are you looking for cheap or good?

Both.

Thankfully, that's an option with developers.

mawz · Jul 3, 2009

Colin Corneau said:
If I can find Rodinal/Blazinal here in the sticks, I'm positive you'll be able to find it in the Centre of the Universe.

You'd be surprised at times at what's not available in the big smoke.

WGibsonPhotography · Jul 3, 2009

mawz said:
Yes, I do develop those films in Rodinal.

And the reason I'm unwilling to mailorder is a combination of a very small mail slot in my building(a 1L packet of D-76 would fill it) and the awkwardness of getting to any courier depots to pick up shipments. Getting mail larger than letter size is an exercise in frustration right now.

That makes sense.

The delivery person just drops it off on my porch. I have to try to time the ordering and delivery so that it arrives when someone is gonna be here to bring it inside, which is harder than it sounds sometimes. I dont want to leave it outside in the heat.

jim appleyard · Jul 3, 2009

mawz said:
Yes, I do develop those films in Rodinal.

And the reason I'm unwilling to mailorder is a combination of a very small mail slot in my building(a 1L packet of D-76 would fill it) and the awkwardness of getting to any courier depots to pick up shipments. Getting mail larger than letter size is an exercise in frustration right now.

Is there a UPS Store near you? You could have it sent there and then pick it up? Most mail order is sent UPS or FedX, not regular mail. Besides, I don't believe UPS/FedX are allowed to use residential mailboxes; they can leave it on the porch or whatever you have.

Mailorder opens up the whole world for you and you don't have to depend on what's on the local shelf (as much as we all like to support our local dealers)

CBG · Jul 3, 2009

Try getting a Mailboxes Etc mailbox:
157 ADELAIDE STREET, WEST, TORONTO, ONTARIO M5H 4E7, CANADA 416-367-9171
34 EGLINTON AVENUE WEST, TORONTO, ONTARIO M4R 2H6, CANADA 416-482-5855
9251 YONGE STREET, UNIT 8, RICHMOND HILL, ONTARIO L4C 9T3, CANADA 905-882-5958
4-2880 QUEEN STREET E., BRAMPTON ONTARIO L6S 6H4, CANADA 905-790-0771
Or something similar - then you can get what you need...

mawz · Jul 3, 2009

jim appleyard said:
Is there a UPS Store near you? You could have it sent there and then pick it up? Most mail order is sent UPS or FedX, not regular mail. Besides, I don't believe UPS/FedX are allowed to use residential mailboxes; they can leave it on the porch or whatever you have.

Mailorder opens up the whole world for you and you don't have to depend on what's on the local shelf (as much as we all like to support our local dealers)

Credit card orders often cannot be shipped to anything other than the billing address and UPS and FedEx require you to go to the depot to pick up orders they can't deliver to your door, not the local store (A pity,since my GF works at a FedEx Office location). Since I'm in an apartment building, they can't leave the shipment on my porch.

mawz · Jul 3, 2009

CBG said:
Try getting a Mailboxes Etc mailbox:
157 ADELAIDE STREET, WEST, TORONTO, ONTARIO M5H 4E7, CANADA 416-367-9171
34 EGLINTON AVENUE WEST, TORONTO, ONTARIO M4R 2H6, CANADA 416-482-5855
9251 YONGE STREET, UNIT 8, RICHMOND HILL, ONTARIO L4C 9T3, CANADA 905-882-5958
4-2880 QUEEN STREET E., BRAMPTON ONTARIO L6S 6H4, CANADA 905-790-0771
Or something similar - then you can get what you need...

Won't work and not really worth the cost for a single use (ordering chemicals). Credit card orders are typically shipped only to billing addresses for security reasons.

gb hill · Jul 3, 2009

E76 said:
Freestyle currently has Rodinal in stock as Compard R09.

This is not Rodinal. This is Rodinal special which is similar to Studional.

HC110 as a replacement for Rodinal

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