Sheet Film: Favorite Film & Developer Combinations?

SPS731

Member
Joined
Jul 25, 2007
Messages
28
Location
Colorado, US
Format
Large Format
I'd like to know what the forum member's favorite B&W sheet film and developer combinations are? And why?
 

Ole

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Sep 9, 2002
Messages
9,245
Location
Bergen, Norway
Format
Large Format
There are at least as many answers as there are LF photographers...

9x12cm: APX100 in Ilfotec-HC
Slavich plates in Pextral 2-bath
4x5": FP4+ and HP5+ in Ilfotec-HC
MACO IR 820c in Pyrocat-HD
5x7", 18x24cm and 8x10": FP4+ again
Other sizes - Europan 100 in Ilfotec-HC

Lots of Ilfotec-HC: I got a huge lot of this very cheap, and it's a very nice, predictable yet flexible, and clean-working developer. Nothing "magic", it just works.
 

boyooso

Member
Joined
Mar 30, 2005
Messages
321
Format
Large Format
Yes, As much as anything 'IT' is being familiar with what you work with as "it" is ""WHAT"" you work with

Corey
 

Vaughn

Subscriber
Joined
Dec 13, 2006
Messages
10,181
Location
Humboldt Co.
Format
Large Format
8x10...Ilford FP4+ in Ilford PQ Developer. Seems to do a nice job, easy to mix (liquid). I like the prints (pt/pd and carbon) I get from the combination.

I'm just about at the end of my supply...we'll see if I stick with it...depends on how easy it is to find some more. I'm washing some new negs right now...

Vaughn

PS...back in the good old days, I liked to develop my 120 Kodak Pan-X in Microdol-X, diluted 1:3.
 

GeorgesGiralt

Member
Joined
Sep 16, 2004
Messages
523
Location
Toulouse, Fr
Format
Large Format
Hi !
I mostly use 400 iso film.
As these are scarse in 4x5, I use HP5+ and Tmax-400 and HC110 (dil H).
I also like Fortepan 200, and Efke 100, all souped in HC110 or Rodinal.
 

haryanto

Member
Joined
May 2, 2005
Messages
167
Format
4x5 Format
I use Delta 100, FP4, Tmax and TMY with Pyrocat MC (4x5), homebrew
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Mick Fagan

Subscriber
Joined
Sep 13, 2005
Messages
4,428
Location
Melbourne Au
Format
Multi Format
FP4+, HP5+ and TMAX100 all in D76 1+1.

The reasoning is simple, I mix my own developer(s) from scratch, after about 10 or so years of trying all sorts of developers, I switched back to D76 1+1 and haven't really found any other general purpose developer that was more than marginally better.

I've been using this developer at this dilution, or neat for pushing, for the last 20 odd years. The only other developer which I think is marginally better is Xtol.

When TMAX came out I used TMAX developer for a while, but went back to D76 after the few bottles I bought ran out. There is/was a difference, but realistically you had to split hairs to notice them.

Mick.
 

Maine-iac

Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2004
Messages
462
Location
Island Heigh
Format
Med. Format RF
SPS731 said:
I'd like to know what the forum member's favorite B&W sheet film and developer combinations are? And why?
Click to expand...

Delta 400 (before production of sheet film stopped), HP5+, FP4+ in PCM (Phenidone, Metaborate, Ascorbic Acid) homebrew.
 

Monophoto

Member
Joined
Aug 27, 2004
Messages
1,689
Location
Saratoga Spr
Format
Multi Format
I have an issue with the question. When you ask for our "favorite film developer combination?, there is an implication that you expect that we have tested multiple combinations in order to choose a favorite.

For me, photography is making pictures. I do test my materials to the degree that is necessary to determine a personal film speed and developing time, but I would rather devote my time to real photography than continuous testing.

Rant aside, I am currently using Efke 100, rated at EI 50, and processed in HC-110 dilution H in a slosher.
 

Ian Grant

Subscriber
Joined
Aug 2, 2004
Messages
23,286
Location
West Midland
Format
Multi Format
In 5x4
APX100 + Rodinal 1:50
Tmax 100 + Pyrocat HD
Efke PL 25 + Pyrocat HD

In 10x8
Efke PL 25 + Pyrocat HD

Occassionally processed in Xtol. All three films give excellent quality, sharpness, fine grain and tonality.

Also used for 10x8
Forte 200 + Pyrocat HD this combination is good but I prefer the EFKE PL 25

To test initially in 5x4/9x12
Fomapan 100
Fomapan 200
 

matt miller

Subscriber
Joined
Feb 11, 2004
Messages
824
Location
Iowa
Format
Multi Format
5x7 TMY in Pyrocat HD.

I use TMY for it's speed, reciprocity characteristics, straight line, and ability to expand & contract. I use P-HD for it's price, ease of use, and the beautiful, easy to print negs it gives me.
 

argus

Member
Joined
Dec 14, 2004
Messages
1,128
Format
Multi Format
4x5" all go in Rodinal 1+150 for stand development.

Anything bigger (currently my stock of Fortepan 8x1" and 7x17") are souped in Moersch Tanol 1+1+100, for contact printing.

G
 

BradS

Member
Joined
Sep 28, 2004
Messages
8,124
Location
Soulsbyville, California
Format
35mm
Kodak 320TXP in a homebrew D-23 derivative (5g Metol, 80g Sulfite, 5g Borax).
 

eddie gunks

Member
Joined
Dec 14, 2005
Messages
1,156
Location
Saugerties,
Format
Large Format
foma100 hc110 dil g (1:119) 18 min 20C. i primarily use a pinhole camera so i am using high dil. to try and get a bit more speed and sharpness. i have begun to use tmax100 as its reciprocity numbers are much better than fomas. i use dil h for tmax100. i am still dialing it in.

i have some pyro HD coming this week. any starting times and temps? foma100, tmax100, hp5 and fp4. thanks

eddie
 

Ian Grant

Subscriber
Joined
Aug 2, 2004
Messages
23,286
Location
West Midland
Format
Multi Format
eddie, there are a lot of variables when processing, depends on how you process too, ie tray, daylight tank, tube etc, also dilution, stand development, all very different options

The best place to get starting times is Unblinkingeye

Ian
 
Last edited by a moderator:

TheFlyingCamera

Membership Council
Advertiser
Joined
May 24, 2005
Messages
11,546
Location
Washington DC
Format
Multi Format
For almost all formats I shoot (4x5, 5x7, WP, 5x12, 8x10, 11x14) - three films, one developer.

FP4+, TMY400, Fomapan 200, and on rare occasions, HP5+. Developer: Pyrocat HD. I have used Rodinal 1:50 in the past, and may again as circumstances require. 90%+ of my development is rotary, with perhaps 5% deep tank if I have volumes of 8x10 to soup. The remaining 5% is trays/manual tanks for the really odd instances of shooting 2 1/4 rollfilm.
 

Neanderman

Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2004
Messages
565
Location
Ohio River Valley
Format
Large Format
100TMax in XTol, all formats. I like the results (and people who have seen my recent prints seem to agree) and both are readily available.

Other's I've tried are FP-4+ in HC-110 and, when you could get it, Plus-X in HC-110. I liked the latter, but it ain't an option anymore. I still have some FP-4+ 4x5 frozen that I want to do some tests with, I just haven't had the time. I'd like to try some glycin formulas and might give good old D-76 a shot.
 

eddie gunks

Member
Joined
Dec 14, 2005
Messages
1,156
Location
Saugerties,
Format
Large Format
Ian Grant said:
eddie, there are a lot of variables when processing, depends on how you process too, ie tray, daylight tank, tube etc, also dilution, stand development, all very different options

The best place to get starting times is Unblinkingeye

Ian
Click to expand...


thanks for the article ian,
i plan to use trays and daylight tanks. i prefer high dilutions with minimal agitation. i primarily shoot pinhole images so the extra "sharpness" is helpful at time.

thanks

eddie
 

PepMiro

Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2004
Messages
84
Location
Andorra
Format
4x5 Format
My favourite combination: HP5+ in PMK
I like also TMAX 100 in XTOL and FP4+ in Rodinal
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…