Rodinal novice question

haris · Aug 18, 2007

Hello,

I just recieved my first bottle of Rodinal. Now, I know on this forum are many advices for different films/Rodinal combinations, so I won't ask what dilution for which film. Something else I would like to know.

I saw different people use different dilutions for same film. For example different people who use for example FP4 some use 1:25, others use 1:50, others use 1:100 dilution, etc...

My question is what different dillutions do, that is what is difference between 1:25, 1:50, 1:100, that is why people use different dilutions for same film?

Oh, by the way, Rodinal is one shot developer , right?

Thank you.

glbeas · Aug 18, 2007

Yes, it's one shot. Some folks use the higher dilutions for the economy but most are interested in the acutance effects evident in the higher dilutions. The 1:25 and 1:50 were the original specs from Agfa, some films do better with the higher concentrations, some need longer times to get more even development. Rodinal is one of those highly personal developers, you can choose a usage that fits your way of working, from a fast working 1:25 on through stand developing at 1:200 for an hour-development limited by developer exhaustion for contrast control.

Fotohuis · Aug 18, 2007

http://www.flickr.com/groups/rodinal/discuss/72157600245966695/

and in case you're interested in a long time period Rodinal test about lifetime:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/rodinal/discuss/72157601393747142/

For FP4+ I would personally recommend another developer than Rodinal but it depends for what kind of characteristics you're searching for. But the combination of fine grain and high accutance is a fraction which you can reach with the Rodinal APX100/Rollei Retro 100 combination. Another good Rodinal combo is Fomapan 100. If you like sharpness pronounced grain in architecture old look you can also go for the T200 (Creative 200) film from Foma with Rodinal.
Staying with the Ilford films PAN F is also a nice film combo with Rodinal.

To make the right high dilution of Rodinal you can use the 10ml plastic syrenges of the pharmacy and yes Rodinal is a one shot developer but that you can also read in it's instruction manual. Unfortunately not all developer times are correct in the sheet.

Robert T. McCarthy · Aug 18, 2007

I saw different people use different dilutions for same film. For example different people who use for example FP4 some use 1:25, others use 1:50, others use 1:100 dilution, etc...

My question is what different dilutions do, that is what is difference between 1:25, 1:50, 1:100, that is why people use different dilutions for same film?

Oh, by the way, Rodinal is one shot developer , right?

Thank you.[/QUOTE]

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The different dilutions of Rodinal are used to control contrast. The 1+100 dilution is good to tame a high contrast scene and for a rainy overcast day you might prefer the 1+25 dilution to increase contrast. The 1+50 Dilution is about normal.

Regards.

Bob

haris · Aug 18, 2007

Thank you Gary and Fotohuis,

FP4 was only as example, first name of film crossed my mind, not meaning I will use it with Rodinal

haris · Aug 18, 2007

Thanks Robert

Steve Smith · Aug 18, 2007

haris said:
FP4 was only as example, first name of film crossed my mind, not meaning I will use it with Rodinal

I got some great results using Rodinal last week. With FP4.

Steve.

declark · Sep 29, 2007

I am also a novice to Rodinal and just aquired a 500ml bottle, then this thought occurred to me that since it is badged as Agfa, will Rodinal go the way of APX25, APX100 ... as well?

Akki14 · Sep 29, 2007

Nah it's been saved. A few years ago it was out of production like APX100 but it's recently been produced by another company (A&O Imaging Solutions? can't remember what it says on the bottle) under the Agfa name.

Fotohuis · Sep 29, 2007

End 2005 the whole production of also Agfa chemicals in Vaihingen/Enz was stopped. A&O bought in 2006 the chemical production plant and is the new owner and half 2006 they produced again. I think they used up all old packing material first because only recently the packing is changed by a new label:
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=362340545&size=o

wclavey · Sep 29, 2007

Fotohuis said:
For FP4+ I would personally recommend another developer than Rodinal but it depends for what kind of characteristics you're searching for...

I do not know FP4+ as a film... I shoot much Arista EDU Ultra 100 (4x5) which I know is FOMA, and I have been using the FOMA R09 on that as we have discussed in another thread. I just purchased a small box of FP4+ to try it out and did my first 6 negatives in the R09 (last night, they are drying now). What is the reason for your comment? I'd like to know what to look for in assessing those 6 negatives.

Thanks, so much. Your information on Rodinal and R09 has been great.

Fotohuis · Sep 29, 2007

About the 4x5" format I should not worry too much about my comment. When doing 35mm the difference in grain between APX100/Rollei Retro and FP4+ with Rodinal with a magnification of 15x has much more relevance.

stormbytes · Jan 12, 2008

Robert T. McCarthy said:
The different dilutions of Rodinal are used to control contrast. The 1+100 dilution is good to tame a high contrast scene and for a rainy overcast day you might prefer the 1+25 dilution to increase contrast. The 1+50 Dilution is about normal.

I have absolutely no idea what the hell I'm doing, but a few months back I exposed a 35mm roll (36 exp) of TX400 in 1/3rd - 320/640/1000 iso and developed in Rodinal 1:25 semi-stand for about 30 minutes. Agitation was very minimal. First 30s & then 5s at each 5 mins or so.

Contrast sucked. I mean it was certainly printable and the tones were mostly there, but there was absolutely no 'punch' to the images, and I've yet to see this mystical "accutance" everyone's raving about.

After reading some info posted on Flickr groups (see Fotohuis link above) i went downstairs and developed another roll from the above batch (was exposed in the same way) in Rodinal 1:50/10 mins, agitation was 1st min & then 5s each 1 min.

I've yet to print the negs as they are drying, but I instantly observed a marked improvement in contrast. I'm curious to hear what light can be shed on the subject by folks more knowledgeable then myself.

Fotohuis · Jan 12, 2008

In principle Rodinal (a para-amino phenol developer) is suitable for slow and medium speed classical (cubical) film emulsions. So Tmax, Delta is IMO much less suitable in the Rodinal development.
Try classical films in the iso range from E.I. 20-200 and you will see what I mean.

Maybe one exception: Fuji Acros 100 (Sigma technology) is also doing fine in Rodinal at an E.I. of 64-80.

One of the best Rodinal (1+50) combinations is with Agfa APX 100 (new) or the equivalent Rollei Retro 100 film.

http://gallery.fotohuisrovo.nl/thumbnails.php?album=11
But even a Technical Pan film can be developed under high dilution (1+150, so low contrast developer) in Rodinal.
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Best regards,

Robert

stormbytes · Jan 12, 2008

what exactly would i be looking for in trying one of these films with Rodinal?

Fotohuis · Jan 12, 2008

Best characteristics for Rodinal:

Very sharp
Pronounced edge effect
Nice grey tonal range

In discussion:

Pronounced grain
(But the overall effect depends on your agitation method)

Advantage:

Liquid developer, easy in handling
Very long storage time (> 10 years)
Relative cheap (Approx. Eur. 12,- for 500ml) which is able to do about almost 100 films.

My advice:
Rodinal with:
APX 100/400 (Rollei Retro 100/400) resp. E.I. 80/E.I. 250
Fuji Acros 100 (E.I. 64)
Pan F (E.I. 50)
Rollei PAN 25
Efke 25/Maco UP25
Rollei Ortho 25
Fomapan 100 (E.I. 80)
Fomapan 200 (E.I. 125-160)

The last one can give some very old style images:
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BTW R09 (Fomadon or Calbe) is the pre WWII version of Rodinal. The lifetime of these versions are much more limited and they will pronounce more grain.

If you're interested you can look at our Flickr Rodinal versus R09 comparision:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/rodinal/discuss/72157601393747142/

Regards,

Robert

Ian Grant · Jan 12, 2008

Actually Robert you're very wrong.

Rodinal gives exceptionally good results with modern films like APX100, Tmax100 etc, I assume it would be the same with Delta100. Over the past few years I've known a lot of photographers who swear by the APX/Tmax and Rodinal combination, all getting excellent fine grain, very good sharpness and tonality.

I used the combination myself for 35mm, 120 & 5x4 and the results for APX100 & Tmax100 (EI50) are indistinguishable.

Ian

Fotohuis said:
In principle Rodinal (a para-amino phenol developer) is suitable for slow and medium speed classical (cubical) film emulsions. So Tmax, Delta is IMO much less suitable in the Rodinal development.
Try classical films in the iso range from E.I. 20-200 and you will see what I Robert

Fotohuis · Jan 12, 2008

Actually Robert you're very wrong.

It's OK to me if that's your opinon.

If you're going to modern technology type films I should do another choice than Rodinal.

But the same is valid for rotary development. The nice edge effect of Rodinal is then completely wrecked.

But if you're happy with Tmax and Rodinal, who am I to go in any discussion with you.

jim appleyard · Jan 12, 2008

Fotohuis said:
In principle Rodinal (a para-amino phenol developer) is suitable for slow and medium speed classical (cubical) film emulsions. So Tmax, Delta is IMO much less suitable in the Rodinal development.

One of the best Rodinal (1+50) combinations is with Agfa APX 100 (new) or the equivalent Rollei Retro 100 film.

Best regards,

Robert

I beg to differ re: Rodinal and T-Max! I am not a t-grain film fan. I spent several years, many different devs and many, many rolls of t-grain films trying to get them to look good. Eventually I went back to traditional films.

A couple of years ago a friend gave me 2 rolls of T-Max 100 to play with. I had never souped this film in Rodinal. Rodinal gave me the best negs I have ever gotten with this film.

But, that is why photography is also an art and that is why there is more than one film and more than one dev. Photographers were made to disagree!

I do agreee than APX 100 and Rodinal is just about perfect.

thefizz · Jan 12, 2008

I soup most of my 120 Tri-X in Rodinal 1:50 and love it. I also like Panf & Acros in Rodinal.

Schlapp · Jan 12, 2008

Chuck all films in together with 1:200. twiddle about a bit, leave for 1 hour, give another twiddle. finish development after around 2hours - ish. Lovely job.

Neanderman · Jan 12, 2008

Fotohuis said:
A&O bought in 2006 the chemical production plant and is the new owner and half 2006 they produced again.

I was told earlier in the week that A&O may be looking at dumping the entire Agfa chemical line.

Ed

Fotohuis · Jan 12, 2008

I was told earlier in the week that A&O may be looking at dumping the entire Agfa chemical line.

Nice if they would like to do that: To us

They just changed their labels a few months ago:

stormbytes · Jan 12, 2008

Fotohuis said:
Nice if they would like to do that: To us

They just changed their labels a few months ago:

Any way to confirm this with them?

Fotohuis · Jan 12, 2008

What do you want to confirm:

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Rodinal novice question

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