Rodinol and sodium sulphite

[sirmy]

A few years ago there was an article in the British Journal of Photography about adding anhydrous (?) sodium suilphite to rodinal to produce a finer grained negative. I remember thinking how impressive the images were but now cannot find the article or remember how much sodium sulphite should be added (I believe it was 5 grammes but cannot be sure).

Has anyone heard of, or better still, tried this method and are the results worth the effort?

 

[Lex Jenkins]

Haven't tried it tho' it sounds almost pointless to add sodium sulfite to Rodinal. Seems more logical to just use D-76/ID-11 or other sulfite-containing developer.

OTOH, I have been known to experiment with adding other ingredients to Rodinal, such as blending with Xtol (does it contain sulfite?) or adding ascorbic acid and borax.

 

[ann]

Have not heard about Rodinal but one of Edwal's (FG7) if i remember correctly, did suggest that you could add the sodium sulfite. rule of thumb was a film cassette full would be an easy measuring method. They (Edwal talk abou this on their website.

Of course the addition of asboric acid (vitamin C) to Rodinal has been in the news off and on for serveral years.

 

[Flotsam]

I still regularly use FG7 mixed in a 9% Sodium Sulfite solution to process 35mm Tri-X. An oz. of S.S. by volume is supposed to make a pint of 9% solution but I always use a scale.

FG7 can also be used sans the S.S.

 

[garryl]

Here are a few references that should keep you informed--

Photo Techniques Magazine-

Vol. 23, No. 3

Volume 23, Number 1, Page 27, Year 2002.

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=002bJj

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=003CSC

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=005HKJ

http://unblinkingeye.com/Articles/Rodinal/rodinal.html

 

[sirmy]

Thanks for the links.

I've finally found the article I was thinking of and its follows very similar lines to those on the link. It recommends 30g anhydrous sodium sulphite in 500ml of water to which is added 5 ml of Rodinal making a solution of around 1:100 rodinal to water. the developing times are greatly extended though, APX 100 requiring 18 mins instread of the 8 for 1+ 25 rodinal.