HP5 plus: Best overall image quality at..

[miha]

In my opinion HP5 works best in Ilfotec HC @ 400 and up, or in Perceptol @ 200. Way too grainy in DD-X.

 

[flavio81]

In my opinion HP5 works best in Ilfotec HC @ 400 and up, or in Perceptol @ 200. Way too grainy in DD-X.

Amazing; last week a friend told me that at 1600 it gives pretty small grain in DD-X (yes, seriously). I guess everybody has different tolerance levels for grain. If you use it at 200 in perceptol this means you want very small grain. Have you tried, by the way, using FP4 at ISO 250 and developing in undiluted D76, as an alternative? (of course, with a different contrast and shadow detail). I'm eager to test pushing FP4, there are people that push it even 5 stops!

 

[miha]

Amazing; last week a friend told me that at 1600 it gives pretty small grain in DD-X (yes, seriously). I guess everybody has different tolerance levels for grain. If you use it at 200 in perceptol this means you want very small grain. Have you tried, by the way, using FP4 at ISO 250 and developing in undiluted D76, as an alternative? (of course, with a different contrast and shadow detail). I'm eager to test pushing FP4, there are people that push it even 5 stops!

HP5+ (135 and 120) in DD-X gives by far the largest grain, especially in comparison to Tetenal Ultrafin Plus (now discontinued), ID11, Microphen, or Ilfotec HC. It makes me wonder why Ilford recomends it as THE liquid developer for this particular film.

In my experience, HP5 works best with Ilfotec HC at 1+31, and I have been using this combo for a long time. DD-X works fine with 4x5' HP5, tray developed, as it gives easy to print negatives.

My experince in pushing FP4+ is limited to Tetenal Emofin, also recently discontinued, but similar to Diafine. Results were nice, but so are those obtainable with HP5 and diluted Perceptol - very nice tonality.

 

[flavio81]

HP5+ (135 and 120) in DD-X gives by far the largest grain, especially in comparison to Tetenal Ultrafin Plus (now discontinued), ID11, Microphen, or Ilfotec HC. It makes me wonder why Ilford recomends it as THE liquid developer for this particular film.

Well what i understood is that DD-X wasn't a fine grain developer but an speed enhancing developer, suitable for pushing. That's why i was surprised by what my friend told me (that it gives really fine grain...)

Probably my friend always deveoped HP5 using some diluted developer (which will then have little grain solving action). Here in Lima everybody is a cheapskate and thus they use the lightest dilutions they can get away with!

My experince in pushing FP4+ is limited to Tetenal Emofin, also recently discontinued, but similar to Diafine. Results were nice, but so are those obtainable with HP5 and diluted Perceptol - very nice tonality.

Miha, do you use perceptol for pushing? I thought it was unsuitable for this.

 

[removed account4]

hi OP

if you don't have any packaged developers
and have washing soda, vit c and instant coffee,
HP5+ looks fantastic in caffenol C

 

[miha]

Miha, do you use perceptol for pushing? I thought it was unsuitable for this.

No, of course not, I'm using it with HP5 @ 200 and FP4 @ 50.

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

HP5+ is great at any speed. I use it at EI 250-320 for normal shooting with my technique, meter, lenses, and developer.
It's my go-to film that I use for everything almost. In 6x6 it's absolutely amazing, and I love the grain I get from 35mm (especially half frame).

 

[miha]

hi OP

if you don't have any packaged developers
and have washing soda, vit c and instant coffee,
HP5+ looks fantastic in caffenol C

Hi John, I obtained some powdered vit C and a bag of soda many moons ago. I think it's time to mix something out of it finally. I wonder how good will it be with sheet film... dichroic fog ?

 

[klownshed]

I've put loads of rolls of HP5+ through a Holga, all developed in ID-11.

Almost every frame (unless I accidentally activate B mode) is perfectly printable.

You can worry too much sometimes

 

[removed account4]

Hi John, I obtained some powdered vit C and a bag of soda many moons ago. I think it's time to mix something out of it finally. I wonder how good will it be with sheet film... dichroic fog ?

it works wonders with sheet film, roll film, all film
no worries about fog .. ive never gotten it from caffenol, only from tmax developer ..

have fun !
john

 

[miha]

Great, Thanks!