Misrated APX 100 as 400 - help

jrong · Jul 10, 2007

Dumb question, I accidentally misrated a roll of APX 100 at ISO 400 instead. Shot more than half the roll before I realised my blunder.

I have Diafine, HC-110, Rodinal, FX-39 and Perceptol at my disposal... what developer/quantities/times do you recommend, to salvage this roll? I shot some in very sunny conditions so I am afraid the increased grain and contrast will render the negs unusable.

Anyone have any experience with misrated APX 100?

Any help appreciated.
Jin

Snapshot · Jul 10, 2007

You'll have to push process the roll if you want to obtain usable pictures that are not significantly underexposed. My recommendation would be to process the roll in HC-110 for 13 minutes at 68F. I use XTOL and have pushed APX to 400 using a 1+1 dilution for 15 minutes with acceptable results.

r-brian · Jul 10, 2007

I don't know what APX 100 should be rated at for Diafine but IE400 sounds about right. In Diafine, most films are rated two stops higher. Plus-X is rated at IE400 for Diafine.

Snapshot · Jul 10, 2007

APX is rated for about 200 when using Diafine, which isn't enough to compensate for the underexposure. He'll need to push process to get negatives that will not have underexposed mid-tones.

BirgerA · Jul 10, 2007

I've used Rodinal 1:25 for 17 minutes in the same situation. Negatives turned out OK.

regards

Birger A.

Thomas Bertilsson · Jul 10, 2007

FX-39 and Diafine are the only speed enhancing developers you have there.
Diafine is of course fixed to a certain EI to get it right.
FX-39 is said to give about 1/2 stop speed increase over the manufacturer's box speed, so you're already ahead. The Massive Development chart has 7.5 minutes listed for normal development rated at EI 100. I would probably increase to about double the time to at least get usable highlights and midrange.
One thing you may want to consider is water bath development. If you're not familiar with the concept, you take the film out of the developer and soak it in water without agitating. The developer will exhaust very quickly in the highlights but continue to work on the low values, or shadow areas. Then back into the developer again, and on it goes. Takes a bit of trial and error, but it works like a charm for negs with an extreme contrast range, technically you should be able to bump the low end up a notch by doing this while you hold back the development of the highlights.
- Thomas

jsouther · Jul 10, 2007

Same thing happened to a friend of mine. I presoaked the film in a perborate solution for one minute as prewet, then developed it in diafine, 4 minutes each bath. Came out great!

Anscojohn · Jul 10, 2007

You think that's bad!!??

I once did the same thing only worse. Was planning to soup some Tri-X, rating the film at IE 1000, to be pushed in Edwal FG-7. When I opened the camera, I said words best left in the darkroom, because it was Ilford FP-4.

I souped it in D23 for about twenty minutes at 68F. The grain was substantial, but the negs were easily printable.

MartinB · Jul 10, 2007

Have gone to 200 on APX100 without problem but not sure about 400 - will check when I get home.
HC-110 will build contrast unless highly diluted so you may want to avoid.
If the misrated film is important, try a test using another roll. Diafine might work great. No need to use a whole roll, just shoot a couple of frames and process the short strip. Expose frames using similar contrasty light.

Alex Bishop-Thorpe · Jul 10, 2007

I pulled APX 400 to 100 in Xtol and the negatives were ok, so the opposite should be fine.
I never got to try APX100, but a store I know is still charging $13 a roll for it.

nworth · Jul 11, 2007

You have probably lost most of the shadow detail. There just isn't much response to spare at the toe of the curve, and two stops underexposure just doesn't provide enough photons to get the dark shadows. The more prominent shadow (Zone III and IV) will probably be OK, however, if you push the film as suggested above. Pushing the film raises the contrast (a lot), and you may get highlight blocking. If only the midtones count, pushing will work fine.

You mention that you discovered the error part way through the roll. If you exposed part of the roll at EI 400 and part at EI 100, I think you may be better off to to give normal or only slightly extended development. If you give a full two stop push, the EI 100 exposures will get so dense and contrasty that they will be very difficult, and you will almost certainly get blocked up highlights on them. You may be able to print them, but it will not be easy. A one stop push may be the best compromise. Most film can be exposed at one stop over the normal EI without difficulty, and while the shadows still suffer an one stop underexposure can usually be handled. Of course, you will still get the contrast gain from pushing and you will still lose shadow detail on the underexposed shots.

fschifano · Jul 11, 2007

r-brian said:
...Plus-X is rated at IE400 for Diafine.

That's what they say. I can tell you from personal experience that it ain't necessarily so. Plus-X doesn't work too well at EI 400 in Diafine. I think it really stinks. FP4+ looks reasonably ok at EI 250. and maybe Plus-X will too.

To the OP: You'll need to push this film to get something approaching a printable negative. Microphen or XTOL may be your best choices. Both will give a bit of a speed boost without driving the contrast too far through the roof. But APX 100 is not one of those films noted for push-ability, so don't hold your breath.

P C Headland · Jul 12, 2007

You could try the EI200 times listed here, or maybe try extending that time out to around 30-40 minutes. Make sure you don't agitate too much.

Another option may be to try 1+100 for one hour, giving 1 minute gentle, continuous agitation at the start, then 2 inversions each 15 minutes. Should give you something to work with.

Let us know what you do in the end and how it works out.

r-brian · Jul 12, 2007

fschifano said:
That's what they say. I can tell you from personal experience that it ain't necessarily so. Plus-X doesn't work too well at EI 400 in Diafine. I think it really stinks. FP4+ looks reasonably ok at EI 250. and maybe Plus-X will too.

The Plus-X I've shot and developed in Diafine was shot a EI250 and the results were fine. Maybe pushing to 400 is wishful thinking.

jrong · Jul 12, 2007

Strange. I've always developed Plus X in Diafine rated at 400 and always had results I was pleased with.

I might try my luck with Diafine. I haven't made up my mind yet. Either that, or long standing development with HC-110 dil H.

I shot the entire roll at ISO 400.

Will keep you all posted.

Misrated APX 100 as 400 - help

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