HP5+ and XTOL - dev times?

[alkos]

I have noticed that the development times for HP5+ in Xtol are much longer than for other films in general, about 1-2 stops difference! Seems weird.

Could anybody confirm that I can safely develop my film in the recommended times (1+1 or 1+2 @ 800 in ~20deg C) and easily print them later on Ilford MGIV under a condenser enlarger?

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

You have to test for your own developing time and agitation scheme. But I found that with Xtol (replenished) a good starting time for me and my condenser enlarger and paper of choice, a good starting point for almost any film is 8min if I agitate 10s every minute. Then you adjust from there.

 

[Jerevan]

I've only developed HP5+ at 400 in Xtol 1+1 for the recommended 12 minutes and that gives me fine negatives that print easily on grade 2 and 3. I think the recommendations from Ilford are a solid starting point. I am using a diffusion enlarger, but Ilford says in their fact sheet that the times given are useable with all enlargers, if the negatives are of average contrast.

 

[Neal]

Dear alkos,

I find the times on the Xtol data sheet to be a great place to start.

Neal Wydra

 

[jmcd]

I shoot HP5+ at 400 and develop it in Xtol 1:1 for 12 minutes at 68 degrees, and in flat light at 800 developed in Xtol 1:1 for 17 with excellent results. I proof on grade 2-1/2 and print on 2 or 3. However, our light meters might not agree.

 

[alkos]

Thanks guys, I just wanted confirmation that the times are supposed to be on the hot side ;-) I'll give it a go then.

Do your HP5 negatives look denser that, i.e. Tmax 400 or Delta?

 

[jmcd]

Also, our thermometers might not agree!

 

[jmcd]

My HP5+ negatives developed in Xtol look very similarly dense to Delta 400 developed in Xtol.

 

[frank]

From what i gather by reading and personal experience, correctly developed Tmax negs are supposed to look less dense than correctly developed HP5+.

 

[alkos]

Also, our thermometers might not agree!

true ;-) but when I used xtol and 2 years ago (using 1 thermometer ) I needed to develop hp5+ at delta400 time to get similar densities... but I have not been wet-printing back then - scanning only - and hence my original question. For a moment I though Hp5 is just denser than the others by default, but now I am confused again.

 

[Chazzy]

I think that the manufacturer's suggested times are always the correct starting place. Kodak and Ilford do not give bad advice in their information sheets, although they cannot anticipate the details of your processing circumstances. Start with the Ilford-recommended time, see how it works for you, and make your adjustments from there.

 

[fschifano]

From what i gather by reading and personal experience, correctly developed Tmax negs are supposed to look less dense than correctly developed HP5+.

Indeed, they do, but they print perfectly well.

 

[Venchka]

For me, personally:
HP5+
Xtol 1:3
~68F-70F (Summers in Texas make the liquid warm during development)
10 minutes
Continuous agitation.

Good luck.

 

[alkos]

Venchka - see what I mean? The chart gives 16-18min for 1+3, asa 400 and 68-70F. Too much of a difference IMO even considering the agitation.