HP5+ and XTOL

david b · Apr 2, 2006

Anyone out there using this combo?

I had a bag of xtol sitting around so I shot some HP5+ (at 400) and then developed 1+1.

Nice combo but skin tones are a bit odd.

So I was wondering if anyone else was using this combo.

Peter Schrager · Apr 2, 2006

HP5+Xtol

David-what film are you using. For sheet HP5 I use Xtol 1:1@ 75 degrees for 8 minutes (N) Tray developed
Peter

SuzanneR · Apr 2, 2006

I've used this combo... it's great when you push the film to 800. I recently tried it at 400, and the most recent image in my gallery (Nonna with Eric) is Hp5 @ 400 in XTOL 1:1. I'm not keen on it when I need to expose at 200. I came up with very dense negatives, so I prefer D-76 for the pull.

kraker · Apr 3, 2006

david b said:
Anyone out there using this combo?

I had a bag of xtol sitting around so I shot some HP5+ (at 400) and then developed 1+1.

Nice combo but skin tones are a bit odd.

So I was wondering if anyone else was using this combo.

Yes, I'm using this combo for 35mm film, and I find that the suggested development (1+1, 12 mins @ 20 degrees C, 2 inversions every 30 s (suggested by X-tol reference documentation) or 4 every minute (suggested by Ilford documtation)) yields very dense negatives... Haven't experimented too much to get better results yet (I plan to switch to Microphen and Ilfotec HC when my X-tol batch is finished)...

Not much help, this, but I thought I'd post it anyway...

Robert Kerwin · Apr 3, 2006

I use this combo. I shoot HP5+ at 320 and develop in XTOL 1+1 for 6:45. For my night photos I shoot at 250 and develop for 5:30 (1+1). I'm not sure what you mean by skin tones being "a bit odd." Could you elaborate? For the stuff I do, I haven't had any problems, but I don't do a lot of people photos. The few I've done, however, were fine and printed very nicely.

What time/temperature/agitation are you using?

- Robert

John Simmons · Apr 3, 2006

I have used this combo and I do prefer HP5+ (if I am pushing) at 800-1600 developed in stock ilford microphen. I have personally never had any luck with XTOL...but thats just me. Many swear by the stuff.

John

david b · Apr 3, 2006

Robert, where did you come up with those times? The massive dev chart is much different.

As for a bit odd, I can't really explain it. I will do a scan in a day or so and post it for you to see.

Robert Kerwin · Apr 3, 2006

David,

I came up with my times through experimentation, basically adjusting exposure/development until the range of negative densities fits into the paper's exposure range and I get good shadow detail.

I generally regard the times on the Massive Dev chart, as well as those given by the film manufacturers, as starting points. I've found that I usually need to adjust the time downward (sometimes by a lot) to get negatives that are easier to print with my enlarger. Admittedly, my development times are shorter compared to others', though occasionally I do run across someone with similar times.

I'll look forward to seeing your results.

- Robert

mmmichel · Apr 3, 2006

David,

I use this combo often and agree with those above who have suggested that the recommended development times are quite a bit off. I had similar problems with skin tones (and bulletproof negatives) when I started using this combo. After posting on this forum, I discovered that others who used this combination typically used much shorter dev. times of 7-8.5 min (rather than 12 min @ 68F). I switched to a time of about 8 min at 68F and my results have improved markedly.

Shmoo · Apr 3, 2006

This is a good combination IMHO. I even pushed HP5 to 1200 and got good results.

S

kraker · Apr 4, 2006

mmmichel said:
After posting on this forum, I discovered that others who used this combination typically used much shorter dev. times of 7-8.5 min (rather than 12 min @ 68F). I switched to a time of about 8 min at 68F and my results have improved markedly.

Good, I'll give that a try someday (if I still have Xtol by then, because buying Xtol and supporting Ilford don't really mix )

david b · Apr 4, 2006

I am sure Krakers remark is aimed at me so let me explain.

I used to be an xtol user but have switched everything to Ilford products. All film, paper, and chemicals. And for the most part I have been happy.

But I feel their film chemicals lack something and to be honest, DD-X is simply too expensive for me to use.

So I figured I might as well try my last bag of xtol I had with some HP5+ (my favorite film) and much to my surprise, I do like.

Will I use this combo again? I am not sure.

kraker · Apr 4, 2006

david b said:
I am sure Krakers remark is aimed at me so let me explain.

Well, maybe it was, but only in a friendly manner. I hope you didn't feel attacked, it certainly wasn't meant that way. It's also aimed at myself; I'm also more than willing to sponsor Ilford, but here I am, developing my films in the Xtol I got from a friend.

david b said:
So I figured I might as well try my last bag of xtol I had with some HP5+ (my favorite film) and much to my surprise, I do like.

Will I use this combo again? I am not sure.

I'm using my first bag of Xtol ever, and I think it's quite a versatile developer; lots of "known combinations" in the massive dev. chart, normal and push processing, yes, versatile is the word.

After I finish it, I'll open my bottle of Ilfotec HC, also a first time.

10 years ago, before my darkroom hybernation, I used mostly ID-11 and Microphen.

fschifano · Apr 4, 2006

kraker said:
I'm using my first bag of Xtol ever, and I think it's quite a versatile developer; lots of "known combinations" in the massive dev. chart, normal and push processing, yes, versatile is the word.

After I finish it, I'll open my bottle of Ilfotec HC, also a first time.

10 years ago, before my darkroom hybernation, I used mostly ID-11 and Microphen.

It's good stuff, that XTOL. It's my "go to" developer for a lot of things.

MikeSeb · Apr 10, 2006

I love it. I develop in a Jobo at 1+1 or 1+2, times vary. It seems "cooler" than Tri-X, a different look but beautiful in its own right.

HP5+ and XTOL

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