Rodinal Special

[thefizz]

With so many people using good old Rodinal developer, I am surprised not to hear many of you talk about Rodinal Special.

Do many of you use it?

I understand it gives finer grain that ordinary Rodinal. If so, why does it seem that Rodinal is more widely used?

Peter

 

[TPPhotog]

Doc Morten (High Priest of the Sacred Rodinals) uses it and my understanding is that it gives a better tonal range for portraits (and fetish) prints.

Certainly in this part of the UK (The West Country) Rodinal is much easier to obtain than Rodinal Special, which is the only reason I've not tried it yet.

 

[titrisol]

Rodnal Special = Studional in this side of the pond riight???

 

[modafoto]

Rodnal Special = Studional in this side of the pond riight???

That's right.

 

[modafoto]

I understand it gives finer grain that ordinary Rodinal. If so, why does it seem that Rodinal is more widely used?

I use both Rodinal and Rodinal Special. I find the name of Rodinal Special misleading as it has nothing to do with Rodinal, but is total different.

RS gives finer grain and is very great developer for subjects that Tony mentioned (especially fetish ). It's great with Ilford Delta film range.
I use it over and over. I have a bottle with 600 ml. of RS mixed 1+15 and develop two films at a time. The first two batches can be developed @ recommended time. The following batches is developed +10%. I have successfully developed 12 films before discarding it. But it could do more, but I am rather safe than sorry. The price allows you to do this (I mix a bottle of 600 ml. for about $1.50).

To answer your question why Rodinal is widely used...I can only speak for myself (other members of the church: please tell your reason).
I use it because of the great acutance. It gives me fine sharpness and crispy negs with loads of nice contrast that I like.

My two cents.

Greetings Morten

 

[Soeren]

Yes My High priest I will give my testimonial
I originally started using Rodinale in revolt to the Grand Crü D-76/Glen-Xtol dictatorship in my cameraclub.
I still use because of its punch, sharpness and course I like the look of the prints from it, like the nice grains etc. Long shellf life and low price are also nice.
Cheers Søren

 

[arigram]

Rodinal is also a fine hallucinogen.
I have a bottle of Rodinal Special but I haven't tried it yet as its
times are too fast for the film and EI I want to develop.
I would like to ask myself how does it compare to Ilford Ilfosol and Perceptol.

 

[rogueish]

I started using Rodinal because of First Acolyte Tony and the High Priest Morten himself. I like the fact that on higher speed films it pronounces the grain, which I find suitable for certain subjects. On slow speed (for which it is meant) it produces very little grain.
Being cheap and lasting forever doesn't hurt either.
As to Rodinal Special or Studional, I have never seen it available here in my area.

 

[thefizz]

Thanks for the replys, some interesting thoughts.

I am surprised to hear that Rodinal Special is hard to get for some of you. I use both Rodinal and Rodinal Special and have no problems getting both in Dublin.

By the way, what is this "Church of Rodinal" all about?

Peter

 

[Soeren]

If we told you we'd have to kill you

 

[thefizz]

D'oh

 

[rogueish]

By the way, what is this "Church of Rodinal" all about?
Peter

Don't worry. Just for asking about it, your already on the underground splinter group "The Rodinal Militia's" list. As I type, secret agents are drawing up plans for your brainwas.... uhmm... I mean, investigating your worthiness for the obduct... introduction to the Church.

 

[thefizz]

I think you lot must be drinking Rodinal.

 

[titrisol]

I use Rodinal because it last a long time, and gives me results that I like. It is not fine grained, it is not good for push-processing, but the tonal rnage is pretty cool.

I use it with APX100, Efke 25 and 100, JC Pro 100 and Fuji Acros

For everything else I use DDX - but since it has become scarce I may give Studinal (R.S.) a try

 

[BWGirl]

I think you lot must be drinking Rodinal.

You mean it has another use????

Well, I was initiated into the COR (Church of Rodinal) by Tony & Doc Morten as well, and it was a glorious day! My bottle of Rodinal is browning up nicely and working its development wonder whenever I need it!

It is just so versatile! I love the stuff...it goes so well with fish, chicken, salad...

 

[thefizz]

Hi titrisol, if you are substituting R.S. for DDX, would you consider Tmax developer as I understand Tmax produces even finer grain than R.S.

Hey BWGirl, I hear Rodinal goes well with film also, although I have yet to eat film.

 

[titrisol]

I haven't used Studional yet, but I'm willing to give it a shot.
I'm more interested in its pushing characteristics (something I love about DDX) and how well it works with fast films. Neopan 400 with DDX is wonderful combo.
and Delta 3200 soups real weel in DDX

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

I use Rodinal for the sharpness and beautiful contrast it provides. It has worked well for me in both over- and underdeveloping situations to control contrast.
It is, like it has been said, not a fine grain developer, and will therefore give fairly grainy negs on films faster than FP4 and Plus-X. That's necessarily not a bad thing. I have some prints made with Tri-X (rated at EI200) developed in Rodinal that are crisp and sharp. Of course there is grain, but it's by no means excessive.
I haven't tried Rodinal Special or Studional because I find no need for another developer.
I use Rodinal with Efke 25-100, Ilford FP4+, TMX, TMY, J&C400 and Agfa APX100. It works very well with all of them.

- Thom

 

[Soeren]

I was told it would give some lovely skintones so I tried that but the models complained. They got big red splotches and severe burns from it
Søren

 

[Denis P.]

Just to get back to the original subject (Rodinal Special)...
I swear by Rodinal, but for films up to 100 ASA. I mostly use Efke KB-100 (35mm format) and R100 (medium format), and Rodinal 1:50 at about 10-11 minutes yields absolutely excellent results.

However, for 400 ASA films (I use TMax400 shot at EI 400), the grain often gets very visible.

In trying to find a suitable (liquid) developer, I got some Rodinal Special (readily available here), but was not happy with the very short dev. times at recommended dilution. I ended up with 1+50 dilution and 14 minutes dev. time for TMax 400 with acceptable results and smaller grain than (ordinary) Rodinal.
I was not very successful in finding online recommendations for Rodinal Special (or Studional, same thing) at higher dilutions, so I used trial and error to arrive at 1+50 dilution and 14:00 minutes at 20 deg. Celsius.
For TMax 400 I find that HC-110 (dilution "H", i.e. 1+19) also produces good results, but it's also more expensive than Rodinal Special.
Still, I'll have to do some more testing with Rodinal Special. And yes, with 1+50 dilution, I use it as one-shot developer.

As you might have noticed, I prefer liquid developers and avoid mixing powders... Still, I'll have to try that 5-liter pack of powdered Xtol I got recently. I'm told that it's excellent for TMax 400, even pushed to EI 1600!

As for "High Church of Rodinal", you could say that I'm an ardent follower
Nothing beats Efke R100 souped in Rodinal. Sharp and crisp!

Regards,

Denis

 

[modafoto]

By the way, what is this "Church of Rodinal" all about?

It's about peace, love and acutance

 

[modafoto]

I think you lot must be drinking Rodinal.

Darn right we are!

 

[thefizz]

Thanks to all of you for sharing your thoughts on Rodinal & Rodinal Special.

Now can I please join the Church of Rodinal ?

 

[thefizz]

Am I in yet?

Am I in yet?

Am I in yet?

 

[garryl]

Am I in yet?

Am I in yet?

Am I in yet?

no your in the mud!

old joke,

Garry