Perceptol stock v Perceptol 1+3 on Acros 100

[sperera]

hi there, developed some Acros 100 film in Perceptol stock solution and it looked great....i only use one-shot developmetn and as such in order not to run out of Perceptol so soon id like to give the 1+3 dilution a try.......the question is....what can i expect from this dilution on the Acros negs as opposed to using stock solution

 

[noumin]

I develop Acros in Perceptol stock, I'd like to try it out diluted 1:1, but my developing tank is to small, there wouldn't be enough developer left for proper developement. Just make sure your'e not running in the same trap. But apart from that, Perceptol is still available, why stretch your stock if you can buy fresh one ?

 

[sperera]

I develop Acros in Perceptol stock, I'd like to try it out diluted 1:1, but my developing tank is to small, there wouldn't be enough developer left for proper developement. Just make sure your'e not running in the same trap. But apart from that, Perceptol is still available, why stretch your stock if you can buy fresh one ?

thanks for answering....thing is i have to order it from Spain as cant get it in town so its not about economy rather getting it in stock fast....

 

[Dave Swinnard]

I've only used it straight and at the 1+3 dilution... but this is what I've found:

Versus straight Perceptol the 1+3 seems not so fine grained, sharper, and able to capture detail in a wide, wide range of subject brightnesses.

I used Perceptol 1+3 with 35mm Acros for "nightscapes" and was totally impressed with the very wide range of scene brightnesses captured. Ensuring enough shadow exposure is the trick. I have been able to capture details in the lighted globes of glass light bulbs, inside their fixtures all the way down through deep shaded areas in night scenes. I've not seen such a wide range of detail since I used dilute D23 with Tri-X back in the '70s.

Unfortunately with the "troubles" Ilford had a few years ago I stopped using Perceptol (and Microdol-X). When it re-emerged on the market locally, the number of local resellers had dropped significantly and the price had climbed through my "I don't believe it" threshold.

 

[pentaxuser]

I develop Acros in Perceptol stock, I'd like to try it out diluted 1:1, but my developing tank is to small, there wouldn't be enough developer left for proper developement. Just make sure your'e not running in the same trap. But apart from that, Perceptol is still available, why stretch your stock if you can buy fresh one ?

Ilford quote most films with stock, 1+1 and 1+3 I am curious as to why your tank is too small for 1:1. Are you absolutely sure about this? I have certainly done HP5+ with Perceptol at 1+3 in a Jobo which is a small tank holding 240mls so there was only 60mls of stock Perceptol and it was fine. Why would Acros be any different?

I am not trying to start an argument but it may be that you could have the benefit of using 1:1.

pentaxuser

 

[noumin]

Ilford quote most films with stock, 1+1 and 1+3 I am curious as to why your tank is too small for 1:1. Are you absolutely sure about this? I have certainly done HP5+ with Perceptol at 1+3 in a Jobo which is a small tank holding 240mls so there was only 60mls of stock Perceptol and it was fine. Why would Acros be any different?

I am not trying to start an argument but it may be that you could have the benefit of using 1:1.

pentaxuser

I use an old JOBO tank holding roughly 450 ml and I develop two 120-rolls of film in one go. If my memory doesn't let me down, 200ml of Perceptol isn't enough for two rolls (it would work with ID-11 however), I've done it and the results were not very nice.
Out of pure economical reasons, I'd really liked to dilute Perceptol 1:1, because as it is now, I just use up an awful lot of it.
You're right, it doesn't matter which film you develop, it's the film area that matters. But you made me think and maybe I start mixing up things here - I will have another look at those data sheets ...

 

[sperera]

Ilford quote most films with stock, 1+1 and 1+3 I am curious as to why your tank is too small for 1:1. Are you absolutely sure about this? I have certainly done HP5+ with Perceptol at 1+3 in a Jobo which is a small tank holding 240mls so there was only 60mls of stock Perceptol and it was fine. Why would Acros be any different?

I am not trying to start an argument but it may be that you could have the benefit of using 1:1.

pentaxuser

yes, what about 1:1 compared to stock and 1:3

 

[pentaxuser]

I also have the roughly 450ml( 485 mls I think) Jobo tank but have never tried two x 120 films at once - only one. It will hold 500mls if filled up completely so even at 1+3 that still 125mls of Perceptol stock which is 60mls per film. The 35mm tank holds 1 film at 240 mls which at 1+3 is also 60mls of Perceptol so the mathematics suggests that 2 x120 film in 500mls should be OK as the surface area of a 36 frame of 35mm is about the same as a 120 film, I think.

pentaxuser

 

[paul_c5x4]

Ilford suggest a capacity of 4 rolls of 135/36 or 120 films for Perceptol - This suggests that a minimum of 250ml is required for a single 120 roll.

On that basis, one roll in a tank with a 1+1 dilution would appear to be the limit with one shot processing - That said, I have been using 40ml per sheet of 5x4, but the Ilford datasheet would indicate that I should be using 62.5ml.

 

[pentaxuser]

I think there is something that doesn't quite add up here. If you develop in a Jobo 35mm tank which has a max capacity of about 250mls then this suggests that you can only develop from stock and yet Ilford gives times for 1+1 and 1+3. On the above basis you'd need a tank of 500mls for 1+1 and 1000mls, a whole litre, for 1+3. In a 120 tank( 500mls) you could only do 1+1 but not 1+3

I find this difficult to believe. Maybe someone who has done Perceptol at 1+1 and 1+3 and has extensive experience will contribute. I'd hate the OP to feel he couldn't do 1+1 and 1+3 if he wants to try it.

The compelling evidence for me is the book by John Tinsley about rotary processing where he talks of using Perceptol at stock and 1+1. When rotary processing the Jobo 35mm tank only needs 140mls so that 70mls of Perceptol at 1+1 and with the 120 tank you can do 2 x120 with 240mls so again at 1+1 this is 60mls of stock Perceptol per film.

pentaxuser

 

[noumin]

I think there is something that doesn't quite add up here. If you develop in a Jobo 35mm tank which has a max capacity of about 250mls then this suggests that you can only develop from stock and yet Ilford gives times for 1+1 and 1+3. On the above basis you'd need a tank of 500mls for 1+1 and 1000mls, a whole litre, for 1+3. In a 120 tank( 500mls) you could only do 1+1 but not 1+3

Yeah, that's what it looks like. If you want to try 1:1 or 1:3 you need a fairly big tank.
@ sperera : I'm sorry but I can't help you on your initial question, I haven't got the capacity

 

[bpaties]

Is it just me, or will ratios remain a mystery for some forever??? I am glad that none of you are using the "1L is require for 1:3 Perceptol" calculation when you are mixing Rodinal at 1:50, or you will be developing your film in a swimming pool before long ...

 

[Rob Archer]

I'm not sure about some of the above advice. I regularly (in fact, usually) use developers (including perceptol) diluted for developing 120 film in Jobo tanks. For 120 a tank requires 500ml of developer, so for 1:1 that's 250ml of stock dev and 250ml of water. There's more than enough developing agent to do the job - it's the time, temp and aggitation that makes the difference. basically a more dilute developer works more slowly overall, but the dev exhausts more quickly in the highlights and allows the shadows to develop more fully without 'blowing' the highlights. I think you would have to dilute to a far weaker solution that 1:3 for there not be be enough developing agent.

That's how I understand it, and my films develop properly.

(sits back and waits for the gunfire to start!)

Rob

 

[paul_c5x4]

Is it just me, or will ratios remain a mystery for some forever??? I am glad that none of you are using the "1L is require for 1:3 Perceptol" calculation when you are mixing Rodinal at 1:50, or you will be developing your film in a swimming pool before long ...

I think the confusion comes from conflicting sources. One side says that you can get away with 100ml of developer per roll, and another says a minimum of 250ml - For D76/ID11/Microphen, I would agree with the former, with Perceptol, the latter. Rodinal is a different mix entirely and the available data suggests a minimum of 2.5ml per roll.

Some clarification is required for sure as I'm often using 1+5 dilution for Perceptol.

sits back and waits for the gunfire to start!

I'm going to wait for high tide

 

[wa1vgb]

The pdf on the website and the information on the box are different. The info on the box has a capacity of 5 rolls of film. It also has a table of reuse of up to 10 rolls, the pdf has 4. I have been using 150 ml 1 to 1 for 135 and 1 to 2 for 120 - which I guess is not quite enough developer.