Question re: Developing 220 film

drg3rd · Oct 14, 2024

I recently bought some 220 film (B&W and color) for the first time. I haven't shot any of it yet, but was wondering about the development process. I have Paterson tanks/reels. Ordinarily I use 500ml of Rodinal or HC-110 for my b&w 120 film. For a 220 roll, should I use the same quantity of developer - 500ml? I assume that 220 film will exhaust the developer faster than 120, but I can't find any information about whether I need to adjust my process (developer dilution/quantity/duration) in any way to account for that. Any shared experience would be helpful.

mshchem · Oct 14, 2024

You shouldn't need to change anything if you're using fresh chemistry. The capacity of the developer is adequate at 500mL in a Paterson tank. If you reuse the developer it will develop 1/2 as many rolls of 220 as 120.

Rodinal 1+ 24 no trouble. HC-110 dilution B no trouble one shot.

MattKing · Oct 14, 2024

If you happen to be using a high dilution developer like HC-110 dil H, just think of 220 as requiring the same amount of HC-110 concentrate/syrup as two rolls of 120, and check the calculation.
If you use the conservative recommendation of min 6 ml/roll of syrup (as I do when using HC-110), you will find that with dil H (1 + 63) you need a tank that is at least 768 ml in size.
With the near dilution E of 1 + 49, you need a tank that is at least 600 ml in size.
Whereas with dilution B (1 + 31) the minimum amount is 384 ml - so filling up the 500 ml tank will be fine.

AnselMortensen · Oct 14, 2024

I develop 220 B/W in a Paterson tank.
I use Rodinal 1+25 and 1+50 but I have standardized on 600ml, because that's what I use in my Stearman Press SP-810 for my sheet film...

drg3rd · Oct 14, 2024

I do often use HC-110 dilution H. I'll give dilution B a try and see how it goes with the first roll. Thanks for the advice!

Jan-Peter · Oct 16, 2024

Yes! Mshchem: Developing a 220 film equals just the same as to feed the reel with two 120 films one after the other. In general there is entirely NO difference at all.

Of course if you do not use one-shot-developer dilutions you will have to count down double the amount of an ordinary 120 film.

Jan-Peter

Rick A · Oct 16, 2024

I hope you have a reel that holds 220 film.

Donald Qualls · Oct 16, 2024

Rick A said:
I hope you have a reel that holds 220 film.

Fortunately, both Paterson and Jobo adjustable reels (Yankee, too, for that matter, if anyone still uses those tanks) will. Any reel that adjusts between 35mm and 120 ought to, since a 36 exposure roll of 35 mm is the same length as the actual film in a 220 roll.

Now, if you're using stainless reels and tanks, you need to get the special 220 reels (thin wire, lots of turns compared to 120 or larger diameter in a Nikor tank that also takes 4x5).

ant! · Oct 16, 2024

I recently developed 220 Delta 400 in a Paterson tank. As already mention, it works fine. Adjust the reel for 120/220 size and roll it on. Use 500ml of the liquids (which is the same as for 120). I used DD-X with the normal strength and it worked fine.

dynachrome · Oct 16, 2024

Loading 220 film onto a Paterson reel can be a frustrating experience. If you round off the corners of the leading edge, the film will get in and advance more freely. The Brooks type 220 reel looks like a stretched 35mm 36 exp. reel and also requires some patience. I prefer a Nikor wide spaced tank and reel set. The spirals are thicker and loading is more error free. The only drawback is that it requires more chemistry.

Question re: Developing 220 film

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