PanF and Developers

I recently bough some PanF to try in both 35mm and 120(6x7). My choices for developers are Rodinal and HC-110. Which would be the better of the two? I don't have any data for HC-110 but I'd say with Rodinal 1:75 at about 9 minutes would be close.

I suppose this is not the first time this has been asked but have seen nothing about HC-110.

If it is the current Ilford Pan F Plus film, you could always use Ilford's recommendations for Rodinal and HC-110: http://www.ilfordphoto.com/Webfiles/2006216115811391.pdf

This is one of those "are blondes or brunettes better?" questions ColColt.

Perfect thread for me; I just bought my first rolls of PanF. My standard developer is HC110, but HC110 has the property of enhancing highlight contrast, while PanF has a reputation for easily blowing highlights. I see lots of online recommendations for Rodinal and very few for HC110 which makes me wonder if the latter is a bad combination.

The problem with Ilford's suggestions for HC-110 is they only list 4 minutes...IMHO, way to short and especially if you use ASA 32 as I planned. I think I'll try Rodinal instead. I have read, since posting, in several places, Rodinal seems to shine if done properly.

This is one of those "are blondes or brunettes better?" questions ColColt.

Click to expand...

Yep, and like HC-110 and Rodinal, I like them all!

I can only imagine that you'd get 4x5 quality with this film in 6x7...I'll soon find out.

I use 50:1 HC110. I have heard that this gives development times 50% longer than dilution B which is 32:1. Following this advice would be 6 minutes. But I'm not very confident this is optimal.

I suppose I could try Dilution H like I do with Tri-X and HC-110...may be surprised. At 1:60 that's close to your 1:50.

Pan F+ tends to be contrasty. I use an EI of 32 to 40 and develop it in D-23 1+1.

> Pan F+ tends to be contrasty

I found a development style which prevents the high contrast. I use Rodinal 1+50, 16°C, 10 minutes with continuous agitation. I measured a HD curve for that combination: An real IS value of around 40 ASA.

Densities (thought for 50 ASA)
1 0.06
2 0.15
2 0.30
4 0.42
5 0.60
6 0.78
7 0.90
8 1.14
9 1.50
10 1.75

If you use 50 ASA the film is slightly too transparent below Zone 6 an somewhat beyond the curve for 9 and 10. But nothing you cannot compensate in the darkroom.

Wonderful film.

Hi David, I think Rodinal would be a great match with Pan F. HC-110 Dilution H would also work well. In short try both and see what you prefer. Along the way bracket a few frames and nail the personal ei for you.

When using HC-110 , this is the Place were you can find information.

http://www.covingtoninnovations.com/hc110/

Karl-Gustaf

Why not using Ilford developers? for Pan F+ i think i tested Ilfosol 3 and it gave me great results and a bit contrasty which i liked, i didn't test the film again, but i have this film only in 120 and i may try again, but i want to have suggestions to which camera i should use and which develop of what i have should i try [Ilfosol 3, HC-110, TMAX, D-76 in powder unopened, Diafine unopened, XTOL unopened for future huge/plenty shots].

PanF+ is not a "certain" developer dependent film. Use want you want or have on hand. Of course it seems to do better, at least for me, in two developers that I use. I've tried it with Xtol, PyrocatMC, Wimberley's WD2D+ and Wd2H+, DK50, Perceptol and Rodinal. The two developers I speak of from all the above? Rodinal and Perceptol(homebrew) are it. I use the Rodinal at 1+100 semi-stand and the Perceptol 1+2 or sometimes 1+3. If I had to pick just one developer for PanF+ it would be my homebrew Perceptol. If it's a normal/bright scene I'll rate the film at ISO 25-32 and use 1+3 or sometimes 1+2. If it's overcast/foggy I'll go 1+2 and rate it at ISO 50 and kick the developing time up one minute to maybe two. I would imagine Gerald's approach with D23 1+1 is very close to my using Perceptol. You can take that last comment with a pinch of salt (chuckle). PanF+ is not my number one film since I shoot mainly with a big, clunky Pentax 6x7 and a tripod is a 100% must with PanF+ and that setup. I don't use HC-110 so can't comment there. All said, PanF+ and Perceptol would be my number one pick of all the developers I have used with the film. Just me of course, John W

Sorry to be late. Was typing yesterday and home internet went off.
I run through 100ft of PanF+ in 2015. Special film to me and took some time to get used to it. I was trying to use it as PolypanF @100, but no luck.
Yes, at 50 ISO it is four minutes in HC-110 B. Here are the negatives scans:

Low grain, high sharpness, and high contrast. You will need to expose and develop very carefully.

ColColt said:

I recently bough some PanF to try in both 35mm and 120(6x7). My choices for developers are Rodinal and HC-110. Which would be the better of the two? I don't have any data for HC-110 but I'd say with Rodinal 1:75 at about 9 minutes would be close.

I suppose this is not the first time this has been asked but have seen nothing about HC-110.

Click to expand...

I use Pan F a lot with Rodinal, both 35mm and 120. I think it's a good match.

I do no pre-soak, 18.5°C, 1:150 Rodinal, invert 10 times every ten minutes. For around an hour. I think the semi-stand developing can bring out the grain heavily with some films, but with Pan F it's hard to make the grain prominent.

Here's PAN F 50 with semi stand;


And APX 100 with the same development, the grain really comes out with most other films, Delta 400 is the least grainy, but Trix, APX, HP5 and most others I have tried get a lot of grain, which can be quite nice sometimes.

Check Filmdev.org and see which you like better.

How about positive sildes with PanF using PQ Universal or Tetenal Dokumol?

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