Pyrocat HD Capacity w/ Semi-Stand Agitation

I’ve been extremely pleased with the results that I have been getting with Pyrocat using semi-stand agitation. I’ve searched the threads regarding capacity and have found recommendations for Jobo (constant agitation) processing of 50-75ml / 4x5 sheet at the standard 1:1:100 dilutions. This equates to roughly 2-3ml of developer per roll with constant agitation, but I would guess less could be used with the semi-stand method.

I’m using dilutions in the range of 1:1:200 to 1:1:250 in my 500ml tank. Although my tanks (Jobo 1500 series) will hold two rolls of film, I have only been processing one roll in each tank for fear of exceeding developer capacity. This method of processing is giving me development times approaching an hour. When I have several rolls to process it is starting to become an all day event to develop my film. So, I would like to start developing 2 rolls per tank if possible at these dilutions, if not I will need to order more reels and tanks.

Before I start burning rolls of film on testing, does anyone have any success/failure stories regarding this topic?

Thank you in advance,
cmichael

I use 1:1:150 for minimal agitation schemes. I began using that dilution when I was printing on Azo, so a weaker dilution might work just as well with enlarging paper. All of my experience has been with sheet film rather than roll films, and I've found no problem with exhaustion. The greater amount of developer needed to cover larger amounts of film has probably been the reason. It might be different with roll film. I've used as little as 500ml of Pyrocat to develop an 8x10 sheet (about the same amount of film as a roll of 35mm or 120), although I now use 1250ml in the JandC tubes.

From all of that, I think I would use a liter of developer with two rolls, although I might try a couple of test rolls in 500ml to see what happened.
juan

Unless memory serves me ill, Steve Sherman recommends that your solution be no more dilute than 1:1:200. I believe he uses 1:1:150 most of the time.

c6h6o3 said:

Unless memory serves me ill, Steve Sherman recommends that your solution be no more dilute than 1:1:200. I believe he uses 1:1:150 most of the time.

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I also don't recommend diluting the developer more than 1:1:200. You have to increase time of develoment significantly with weaker dilutions and very little additional benefit is achieved in terms of sharpness or shadow detail over the 1:1:150 dilution. If you are developing two rolls of medium format film in a tank you should have no problem of developer exhaustion with a liter of the 1:1:150 dilution.

Sandy King

I keep my dilutions to either 150:1 or 175:1. I make time adjustments predicated on contrast in the scene. If it is an unusually high contrast scene I cut the time and temperature down so as to still take advantage of at least 15 minutes total development time.

The type light I usually shoot in (flat) my starting point is 3 parts A / 2 parts B to 150 parts water. Then 5 minute presoak in water than 1 minute vigorous agitation in pyrocat 10 min. stand, 20 secs. agitation, 10 min. stand, 20 sec. agitation, 10 min. stand then out to stop bath and onto fixer.

I have not done any film for enlargement; I do believe the increase in adjacency effect for contact prints can be greater than for negatives designed to be enlarged.

I've settled on the 1:1:150 dilution for all of my processing with pyrocat. It makes mixing more simple than juggling dilutions of 1:1:100, 2:2:100, 1:1:150, with differing times, contrasts, etc. With 35mm and 120mm, I adjust for time as I normally would (depends on contrast in lighting and the print). This isn't too much for enlarging, but edge effects are there in a print.

With sheet film, things can be adjusted to allow for any lighting or printing scenario needed. I haven't yet found that the developer has exhausted to affect a print, but what Juan said about greater developer volume seems to hold true. I did play around with 1:1:175 and the 1:1:200 dilution, but found development times to be too long for my needs. tim

Thank you all for your replies. Looks like increasing the concentration may address my concern. I was worried about losing edge effects but it looks like Tim has already investigated that avenue. I had based my semi-stand dilutions on the unblinking eye article that stated “Sheet film in trays, semi-stand agitation: special working solution of 1 part A with 1 part B with 200-400 parts water.” I will start playing with 1:1:150 dilutions and see if 500ml is enough for two rolls. Actually, I may be able to squeeze 600ml in the tank, which would give me 2ml of developer/roll at 1:1:150. I will test to verify.