Looking to do some Semi-stand 4x5 with Rodinal... what Film?

brian steinberger · May 16, 2007

I'm starting a project documenting the inside of a local barn that is deteriorating. Light is very contrasty and I'm going to expose for shadows and try to bring very bright windows down using semi-stand development.

My question is what's a good film to use with Rodinal for this. I have Acros 100, Delta 100, and Kodak Tmax 400. I'm shooting large format, so using Rodinal with TMY won't be a problem. Also, dilution? Times? Agitation?

I'm developing in a cradle. Any suggestions? Thanks!

gainer · May 16, 2007

Any film you want. You'll have to experiment. Semi-stand or stand are not as automatic as some would have you believe. At 1:100 dilution I would try 30 minutes with agitation at 0, 10 and 20 minutes, but allow for bracketting until you get what you want. In this case you may have to bracket both exposure and development, but I have usually been able to use box speed when exposing for the shadows. Actually, I set my meter for 4X box and read a significant shadow, what Zonies call Zone III. I never figured out what ancient Romans had to do with photography. Or modern buildings either for that matter.

rwyoung · May 17, 2007

-- snip, snip to trim quote --

gainer said:
what Zonies call Zone III. I never figured out what ancient Romans had to do with photography

As I understand the "legend", AA (and other co-conspirators ) picked Roman numerals to delineate the zones because Aribic numerals were already in use for film speed and EV numbers. Except for there being no "zero" in Roman numerals (Zone 0) and then not using the Roman numerals in the developing notation (N-2 == N-II) it seems reasonable.

Plus it looks pretty cool...

Personally, I'd pick Acros 100 of the three you listed but I've only ever used it in roll form and then only a couple of rolls. Otherwise FP4+ seems to work very nicely with Rodinal and stand techniques. But FP4+ wasn't on your list.

Tom Hoskinson · May 18, 2007

All of the films you have listed will work very well Semi-Stand developed in Pyrocat - it is my choice for the photographic situations you describe. Pyrocat is great at clamping highlights. Plenty of time and temperature info for Pyrocat is posted on APUG.

With Rodinal, you'll need to do some testing, but there is a lot of Rodinal info posted on APUG that will give you starting points.

Steve Sherman · May 18, 2007

Wha's the end product

Hi Brian,

You need to define what your end product will be, enlarging paper, contact paper. azo, platinum, POP or even Carbon tissue.

Each will command a higher contrast index.

Films will have a greater impact on contrast control that the chemistry you choose. FP 4 has a much higher contrat profile than HP 5. I have shot in a very dimmly lit prison with FP 4 and held detail in ZOnes 2 through 15, that is about the limit before other factors begin to degrade the finish product. I shot the same scene with HP 5 and produced a flater negative than the FP neg.

Let us know what your positive material will be and we can offer further suggestions.

E mail going out to you tonight on another subject.

Cheers, Steve

brian steinberger · May 19, 2007

Steve,

I'm going to be printing on VC paper. I've seen your prison image and it is amazing! These are the kind of contrast scenes that I'd like to control.

I know that you use semi-stand with Pryocat. I have some on hand. Any suggestions on a film that makes a good combination with this developer?

Rolleijoe · May 21, 2007

For Rodinal 1:100 I've done tests with many films, but over on Flickr, there's a lady "luvdatrodinal" who is getting superb shots from Efke with semi-stand.

So much so, that I've purchased a box of Efke 25 to try out some shots. Now I've shot Efke 25 & 100 in roll-film, and let me tell you it's quiite addicting. Once you shoot it, you'll never want to go back.

It's available from Freestyle, and is remarkable stuff. I'va also switched to their (Efke's) brand of paper "Fotokemika" which is extremely siver rich, and though I'm only using fiber, reminds me of the great old Agfa papers from 30s'40s.

couldabin · May 21, 2007

I'd be interested in hearing how this goes. Will you be using trays, or something else? Judging from my experience and the feedback I received recently from this forum, I don't think semi-stand produces acceptable results in trays. And it's a bit of a mystery how it produces acceptable results using other containers. Do let us know how it comes out.

argus · May 21, 2007

Rodinal in (semi) stand is for lazy people like me... I already mixed HP5, FP4 and Tri-X 320 in one batch all 4x5"

Use a slosher tray and cover it up. Take dinner, desert and a congac. Go back to the darkroom, stop and fix the film, wash and ready you are.*

Greetings,
G

* description of stand development may differ from real-life situations.

Looking to do some Semi-stand 4x5 with Rodinal... what Film?

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