Rodinal - RO9 One shot developer?

Matthew Rolfe · Aug 10, 2009

Hi

Is R09 one shot developer (a&o manufactured) an exact copy of the Rodinal formula? Is it simply the name that has changed, ie the chemical formula has stayed exactly the same?

also could anyone help me with the minimum concentrate for Rodinal/RO9 one shot? I shoot 8x10, some have said 5ml/6ml and even 10ml to cover surface area evenly. Is there an up to date minimum amount?

thanks

J Rollinger · Aug 10, 2009

R09 is claimed to be the original Rodinal formula. Rodinal has changed its formula a few times.

Ian Grant · Aug 10, 2009

Not all R09 is the same as the last version of Rodinal, but the A&O version is exactly the same, made in the same plant, to the same formulae, with the same equipment, same bottles etc.

There are going to be constant threads about R09 - Rodinal as Calbe and others still make R09 to a pre-1945 German formulae and while similar it's also different to the current Agfa/A&O product.

This all stems from disputes over the Agfa product Trade names, and Rodinal is already being sold withn at least 3 or 4 new names in the US, Cnada etc, but it all comes from A&O.

Ian

fotch · Aug 10, 2009

Ian, what advise would you give to someone who never used any version and wants to try it for the first time? What to buy?
Thanks

Ian Grant · Aug 10, 2009

As your in the US I'd see what Freestyle & B&H are selling Rodinal as, I only know Canada sells the A&O manufacture product as Blazonal, Fotoimpex in Europe as Adonal (Freestyle import Fotoimpex products).

Quite honestly it's a big unholy mess, as it's hard to know what R09 is genuine A&O manufacture to the last Agfa formula & what's the old pre-War R09. Mirko (Fotoimpex) says only A&O product is in the Agfa style bottles.

A&O have pulled out of direct distribution and now only make to order in batches, for other distributors to sell under their own Brand/Product names,but the genuine bottles should say something like previously sold as Agfa Rodinal. The rights to the trade names are too complex and the US right to Rodinal is owned by John of J&C (now defunct).

B&H still have Agfa (A&O) Rodinal listed this is your best option, the changes are going through at the moment.

Ian
Ian

J Rollinger · Aug 10, 2009

When i bought my R09 i was from J&C and was manufactured by Calbe Chemi. J&C told me it was the original Rodinal formula so i bought it. Since J&C is gone I emailed Calbe to inquire about where i can get more and they told me that there is no U.S distributor anymore since J&C went under so i would have to find it in Europe, So i gave up. I still have a 1/4 filled bottle of it, Its crystallized to hell but still works great.

Matthew Rolfe · Aug 10, 2009

Thanks Ian, i was assured R09 One shot was exactly the same as Rodinal but I thought I would check to be sure. The development times per the Massive Dev Chart are the same for both anyway.

Ian Grant · Aug 10, 2009

J Rollinger said:
When i bought my R09 i was from J&C and was manufactured by Calbe Chemi. J&C told me it was the original Rodinal formula .

You had the old pre-War formula R09 which was left behind in terms of quality etc by the newer post War Agfa versions. J&C are one of the reasons that the Rodinal brand name has to be dropped. It wasn't "The Original Rodinal formula" at all as it's changed a few times over the years, it was just the latest version when WWII ended and Agfa "West Germany" was set up leaving Orwo with the old formulae.

Ian

fotch · Aug 10, 2009

Ian Grant said:
As your in the US I'd see what Freestyle & B&H are selling Rodinal as, I only know Canada sells the A&O manufacture product as Blazonal, Fotoimpex in Europe as Adonal (Freestyle import Fotoimpex products).

Quite honestly it's a big unholy mess, as it's hard to know what R09 is genuine A&O manufacture to the last Agfa formula & what's the old pre-War R09. Mirko (Fotoimpex) says only A&O product is in the Agfa style bottles.

A&O have pulled out of direct distribution and now only make to order in batches, for other distributors to sell under their own Brand/Product names,but the genuine bottles should say something like previously sold as Agfa Rodinal. The rights to the trade names are too complex and the US right to Rodinal is owned by John of J&C (now defunct).

B&H still have Agfa (A&O) Rodinal listed this is your best option, the changes are going through at the moment.

Ian
Ian

Thanks. Unfortunately. B&H wont ship the Agfa to my area (WI).

Freestyle doesn't have that exact bottle. They show a Agfa logo on a box (with bottle) with 17 oz. (1 more oz. the B&H) or FOMA RO9.

I guess I will have to wait to the confusion settles out and it can be determined what is what.

Again, thank you.

Anon Ymous · Aug 10, 2009

Fotch, this might be what you're looking for.

fotch · Aug 10, 2009

Anon Ymous said:
Fotch, this might be what you're looking for.

Thanks. Although I would like to buy the bigger bottle since it keeps so long and if I like it will use this up too quickly. However, might be the only alternative.

Thanks again.

Jerevan · Aug 11, 2009

From my own experience, film developed in R09 (I use the "old" version with the 1+40 dilution) looks exactly the same to me as my Rodinal (original Agfa bottle bought in 2005) in 1+50 does. Straight, honest grain. And the developer choice is only a small link in a long chain that ends with a print.

Rodinal - RO9 One shot developer?

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