HP5+ and FP4 with Perceptol

[pentaxuser]

I am looking for anyone with experience of the above two combinations, preferably with rotary processing but inversion tank users please feel free to respond.
I have used ID11 with HP5+ but otherwise the above films with Perceptol is a new combination for me.

I used FP4 at ISO 80 and HP5+ at 320 rather than box speeds. Why? Simply because I had seen some quite good prints produced with this combination of speeds and Perceptol in a Roger Hicks book.

FP4: Neither the Massive Development Chart nor Ilford list times for ISO80 but suggest 1+1 at ISO50 for 13 mins. If this is a reasonable time to aim for then what adjustment should I make for ISO80?

John Tinsley in his Rotary Processing Manual suggests 1+1 for 14 minutes which seems to makes no allowance for rotary agitation but he bases this on a 5 mins pre-wet which he claims cancels out the reduction in processing time as it dilutes the developer in the emulsion. Ilford on the other hand does not recommend a pre-wet but recommends a 15% reduction in processing time. My experience with Delta 400 and reinforced by a reply suggests that
even without a pre-wet the reduction for rotary processing should be almost nothing but this may not be the case with FP4. The book recommends against futher dilution such as 1:3 with rotary processing because of the dilution in relation to the lower quantities of developer needed in rotary processing.

HP5+: The Massive Development Chart lumps any speed between 200 and 400 and suggests 11mins(non rotary) for stock and for ISO 400 suggests 15mins for 1+1 and 25 mins for 1+3.

Ilford does cover 320 and suggests 1+1 at 18 mins and 1+3 at 25. So provided there's no difference between 320 and 400 then there's agreement at 1+3 but a 3 minute difference at 1+1(15mins cf 18 mins). This seems quite large.

If I were to heed the advice of the Rotary Processing Manual and avoid any such processing above 1:1 and therefore use normal inversion instead, what advantages do I get with 1:3 as opposed to 1:1?

So far the more I read and research the more it's a bit like the opening of that U.S. based comedy of the 1980s( Soap?) which gave a synopsis of the family relationships and said "Confused - you soon will be"

Thanks

Pentaxuser

 

[Leon]

your times with your gear and processes are going to be different yet again, so why not use the times you have already as a starting point? if your highlights are burnt out, reduce time, if too flat increase time ... and so on.

for landscape stuff, I find HP5 in perceptol works best for me at ei 250 and I developed for approx 18 mins 1:3 at 24 deg. But that's just me with my stuff.


not used it for fp4, but try and extrapolate something from the figures you've got and give it a go remembering the old mantra "expose for the shadows and develop for the highlights" and you should be ok.

 

[blackmelas]

I've had success with HP5+ at iso 200 with perceptol 1+2 following Thornton's 12min and 24C. This is tank processed and for a condenser enlarger.
I have had little experience and less luck with FP4+ and Perceptol. My results have led me to PMK and Prescycol as my preferred developers for this film.
James