Rodinol...what's the deal?

[TPPhotog]

That's a personal opinion rather than a matter of proven fact I take it? It's getting a bit like P.net on some of these threads LOL

 

[hansbeckert]

That's a personal opinion rather than a matter of proven fact I take it? It's getting a bit like P.net on some of these threads LOL

Well, I have used Acutol and a number of other concentrated/acutance developers including Rodinal, Neofin Blau and Rot, FR-X22, TEC, ACU-1, Ultrafin, as well as other developers from Paterson, and nothing matches Acutol overall. Better tonality, finer grain, better shadow detail, better sharpness. The only developer that even approaches it is paterson FX-39, and that works well only with Ilford Delta films, for which it was designed. Rodinal is a 'cult' developer whose reputation far exceeds its performance.

 

[TPPhotog]

Well, I have used Acutol and a number of other concentrated/acutance developers including Rodinal, Neofin Blau and Rot, FR-X22, TEC, ACU-1, Ultrafin, as well as other developers from Paterson, and nothing matches Acutol overall. Better tonality, finer grain, better shadow detail, better sharpness. The only developer that even approaches it is paterson FX-39, and that works well only with Ilford Delta films, for which it was designed. Rodinal is a 'cult' developer whose reputation far exceeds its performance.

In your opinion

 

[hansbeckert]

Well, the differences were observable enough that Leica Fotografie magazine was able to see them too. I can send the article they ran to you in pdf form.

Here is a result of significant interest:

Kodak Tri-X Pan 27 DIN (sharpness high to very high)

Developer --- DIN speed ---- deviation from average resolution -- graininess
Acufine--------30 --------------------------------------------------3
D-76-----------30 ------------------------------------------------ 3
Diafine---------30 ------------------------------------------------ 3
Microdol-X-----27 ------------------------------------------------ 2-3
Rodinal1+50----30 ---------------- lower---------------------------3
Ultrafin1+15----30 ------------------------------------------------ 2-3

So, despite its reputation, Rodinal actually produces LOWER resolution than the average developer with fast films! As expected, Microdol-X produces less speed, but of course the graininess is lessened too. With several other fast films (discontinued since the Leica survey) resolution and speed were lower with Rodinal.

 

[Alex Hawley]

Well, the differences were observable enough that Leica Fotografie magazine was able to see them too. I can send the article they ran to you in pdf form.

Here is a result of significant interest:

Kodak Tri-X Pan 27 DIN (sharpness high to very high)

Developer --- DIN speed ---- deviation from average resolution -- graininess
Acufine--------30 --------------------------------------------------3
D-76-----------30 ------------------------------------------------ 3
Diafine---------30 ------------------------------------------------ 3
Microdol-X-----27 ------------------------------------------------ 2-3
Rodinal1+50----30 ---------------- lower---------------------------3
Ultrafin1+15----30 ------------------------------------------------ 2-3

So, despite its reputation, Rodinal actually produces LOWER resolution than the average developer with fast films! As expected, Microdol-X produces less speed, but of course the graininess is lessened too. With several other fast films (discontinued since the Leica survey) resolution and speed were lower with Rodinal.

Leica would be the one to conduct such a survey. BTW, how is the efficiency of a developer measured? And how is the graininess measured?

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

Well, the differences were observable enough that Leica Fotografie magazine was able to see them too. I can send the article they ran to you in pdf form.

Here is a result of significant interest:

Kodak Tri-X Pan 27 DIN (sharpness high to very high)

Developer --- DIN speed ---- deviation from average resolution -- graininess
Acufine--------30 --------------------------------------------------3
D-76-----------30 ------------------------------------------------ 3
Diafine---------30 ------------------------------------------------ 3
Microdol-X-----27 ------------------------------------------------ 2-3
Rodinal1+50----30 ---------------- lower---------------------------3
Ultrafin1+15----30 ------------------------------------------------ 2-3

So, despite its reputation, Rodinal actually produces LOWER resolution than the average developer with fast films! As expected, Microdol-X produces less speed, but of course the graininess is lessened too. With several other fast films (discontinued since the Leica survey) resolution and speed were lower with Rodinal.

Data? Where? Certainly not in this table!
Welcome to my ignore list, Hans.

 

[modafoto]

The Rodinal Militia will not accept such blasphemy!

The almighty God, Rodinal will punish you heathen hordes on the final day of Armageddon!
May the justice be done!

We are but slaves of the One, Rodinal.

Morten!

 

[bjorke]

Rodinal has poor efficiency (the speed achieved is low, meaning more exposure must be given) and severe graininess (because of the high alkalyinity). Paterson Acutol provides better shadow detail, better sharpness, and finer grain. There is really no comparison.

Finer grain is not always the goal. If it was I'd gladly shoot larger formats or digital for everything.

I'm curious about this reported survey -- is this the Leica Fotografie test from the late 1960's? I know Erwin Puts was singing the praises of Rodinal for low-speed films in that very magazine just in the past couple of years....

 

[TPPhotog]

Hans - well if the Leica Fotografie magazine says so who are we to argue as simple blind photographers. The bottom line is that photography is our own art, pass-time, hobby, pleasure whatever and we use the materials that we like because it is our own. Surveys abound but bottom line is that it is a matter of personal perspective and to many of us it is the soup of our choice that gives us the look we want. If we all followed the magazines like sheep and only used what they said we should, this forum would not exist and we would all be shooting digital. For my pictures the salt and pepper grain together with sharp pictures is a joy to behold and Rodinal will the my choice for as long as Agfa continue to market it.

Morten - thank you my friend I wondered what you would reply and you made me laugh so much as always Btw the Rodinal single malt scotch coloured T-shirts are purchased and mine will be printed this week. Long live the revolution ... long live the Rodinal !!!

Tony

 

[Sjixxxy]

Well, I figured since my last supply order from Adorama was pushing $200, that a few more for a jar of Rodinal wouldn't hurt.

It can hang out with my 18 month old jug of dark amber Diafine and mock my D-76.

 

[titrisol]

I have just ran 3 rolls so far....
I ran Rodinal 1+50 12min @18C
Agitating the 1st 30 seconds and then once every minute (I use a Paterson tank so I just shake it a few seconds)
Water stop, rapid fixer

I'll try to get some scans on the weekend or sometime next week.
I liked the sharpness and the contrast.

How are you running the Acros? I haven't liked my Rodinal+Acros results, it's a prime reason why I keep Xtol around (which looks GREAT w/Acros, imo).

 

[modafoto]

Long live the revolution ... long live the Rodinal !!!

Please remember the stories in the Bible.

Jesus did a lot of stuff with Rodinal.

• He walked on Rodinal
• He turned water into Rodinal so he could develop the films he exposed at the wedding in Kana
• He cured the leper man with Rodinal 1+50
• The last supper was in fact the last souper

Furthermore he experimented with CROSS processing, but he never really succeeded...

Morten

 

[hansbeckert]

Leica would be the one to conduct such a survey. BTW, how is the efficiency of a developer measured? And how is the graininess measured?

How can I post these pdf's here? The best way to answer this and the others' questions is to post the article. The details of how the survey was conducted are explained therein.

 

[hansbeckert]

Data? Where? Certainly not in this table!
Welcome to my ignore list, Hans.

Well, that's your choice. Don't get confused by the facts.

 

[hansbeckert]

Finer grain is not always the goal. If it was I'd gladly shoot larger formats or digital for everything.

I'm curious about this reported survey -- is this the Leica Fotografie test from the late 1960's? I know Erwin Puts was singing the praises of Rodinal for low-speed films in that very magazine just in the past couple of years....

From 1968. The Leica Fotografie article is very thorough.

Why not try to get the best possible results from any given format?

 

[TPPhotog]

From 1968. The Leica Fotografie article is very thorough.

Why not try to get the best possible results from any given format?

Hans - We are getting the best using Rodinal as we use it because we love the results. The best for our pictures is what we like not what you think we should like based on what you read in magazines!

Morten - Watch out for the lightning it may fog your negatives

 

[modafoto]

Morten - Watch out for the lightning it may fog your negatives

Which lightning...? Multiblitz flash heads?

 

[TPPhotog]

Which lightning...? Multiblitz flash heads?

Morten LOL I prefer natural light whenever possible, can't have flasing in front of those nice innocent gothic models now can we

 

[hansbeckert]

Hans - We are getting the best using Rodinal as we use it because we love the results. The best for our pictures is what we like not what you think we should like based on what you read in magazines!

Morten - Watch out for the lightning it may fog your negatives

I though I mentioned that I had used it along with many others. My comments are not based on the magazine. I brought that up because somebody said that this was merely my own opinion. Was that not clear?

The point is that Rodinal's reputation is not warranted by its performance. Many other developers outperform Rodinal in the very areas for which it is praised. Rodinal is actually a rather primitive product.

 

[modafoto]

Rodinal is actually a rather primitive product.

So is sex, milk and cookies but I still enjoy all of it!

 

[TPPhotog]

The point is that Rodinal's reputation is not warranted by its performance. Many other developers outperform Rodinal in the very areas for which it is praised. Rodinal is actually a rather primitive product.

Hans at the start of this thread I posted a link to (there was a url link here which no longer exists), we agreed there that it's not the "magic bullet" that people make out, but there again no soup is

Morten mmmmmm ice cold MILK and cookies, being married I've forgotten what sex is

 

[modafoto]

Morten mmmmmm ice cold MILK, being married I've forgotten what sex is

I am married, too....Nice Sex and lots of Rodinal....and latex gothic girls...and milk...and cookies....ahhhhh....

 

[hansbeckert]

So is sex, milk and cookies but I still enjoy all of it!

The point is that several developers surpass Rodinal in the traits for which Rodinal is singled out.

 

[modafoto]

The point is that several developers surpass Rodinal in the traits for which Rodinal is singled out.

Ok. I order at bottle of Acutol to try it out and see if it gives my negs a good look.

 

[hansbeckert]

Ok. I order at bottle of Acutol to try it out and see if it gives my negs a good look.

What film do you prefer? Acutol works best with conventional-grain films. FX-39 is best w/Delta films.