I Want Grain!

[raucousimages]

I want images with massive amounts of grain for am upcoming low-light project. I will be shooting 35mm. I am thinking Tri-X at 1000 in Rodinol or at 5000 in HC-110 replenisher (I have a freaky little formula for it somewhere)

What film and developer including dilution, temp, time and ISO Etc. would you use?

Thanks

 

[Ian Grant]

Tri-X (or HP5) in D163 at 400 EI 7 minutes @ 20°C (68°F). Tried this combo thwe very firts time I shot a 120 film and the grain was like golf balls

Ian

 

[fschifano]

Tri-X in Diafine will get you the grain you want at a speed point of about 1000, give or take a little. You'll also get a reasonably good range of tonal values, making the negatives relatively easy to print. Despite what the label says, Diafine is not a fine grain developer in the true sense of the word. But because the negatives are not as contrasty as they would be had the film been pushed that much in a more conventional developer, the grain is not as readily apparent. To make the grain more apparent, printing with a bit more contrast can take up the slack. If that's not enough for you, then try one of the super speed films from Kodak (P3200 TMax), Ilford (Delta 3200). or Fuji (Neopan 1600). Of the three, Ilford's product offers the most pronounced grain that suggests the look of popcorn or golf balls. Nothing more exotic than D-76 is needed for any of these films. I would not suggest Rodinal if you want to exploit some speed from them.

 

[Robert Hall]

Dude,

Dead Link Removed

in Rodinal

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

1. TMZ-3200 exposed at true film speed of ~800
2. Develop in Dektol - you want a low sulfite developer
3. Only use the central 1/3 or so of the negative and blow it up for an automatic 3x grain increase. Either use a shorter lens or shoot from farther away.

Pushing to get grain isn't a terribly good idea because you loose all shadow detail on the way, unless, of course that is your aim.

Rodinal, though grainy, will loose you lots of shadow detail - not something you want in low light (see the HD curve of Rodinal to get an idea of the contrast fall-off in the shadows - close to 2x). Rodinal does best in brightly lit scenes, not available light. HC-110 can produce lots of grain but I find it to be very mushy and reminiscent of oatmeal. I prefer very sharp salt&pepper grain; the prettiest grain I know of comes from Plus-X in D-76 1:1, but this isn't anyone's low-light favorite.

Also try an on-camera flash if it is allowed/acceptable to the venue as the lighting effect you get with flash can accentuate the grain.

 

[jimgalli]

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Old world grain but perhaps not fast as you would like. Pushing would add even more grain.

 

[mikebarger]

I'd think plain old Rodinal with any 35mm film would give you all the grain you'd want.

Mike

 

[removed account4]

overexpose your film a little bit, whatever film you end up using .. and shoot with a wide lens so you HAVE TO enlarge (more than usual )
then process it in caffenol C ( eyeballed 8oz water 8 tsp of cheep coffee, 4tsp of washing soda, around 2 or 4 tsp of powdered vit c )
THEN add in stock solution of dektol, or whatever you use. about 3 oz(i use ansco 130 because it is what i have on hand, but i am sure anything
will work . )
... let it stand for about 25-30mins depending on how much contrast you want.
you will have nice negatives and nice grain.