Thank Goddness for Rodinal

theyankeesnapper · May 6, 2006

Thank goodness for Rodinal.

This week we’ve seen several posts regarding the use of Rodinal developer, at several different dilutions by several different people around the globe. Some people like 1+25, 1+50, 1+75 and others love the 1+100. Take me for instance, I don’t have the time or the patience to be a zonie* and being the pseudo technocrat that I am, I just like what Rodinal does for me. I like all the dilutions for different reasons, the 1+25 for revving up a low contrast rainy day to 1+50 for most normal stuff and 1+75, 1+85, or even 1+100 to either tame a high contrast scene or to smooth out a portrait.

Although I had stock piled 12 500ml bottles I was happy to read in the rec.photo.darkroom news group that Agfa USA will have Rodinal available in the near future. in the meantime J and C (an apug sponsor) has the former East German Version available now.

Am I the only one that feels this way?

Regards.

Bob McCarthy

* no disrespect intended

mawz · May 6, 2006

I love Rodinal. I use it for everything except modern emulsions (TMZ and Acros) and pushing tri-X to 6400. It's wonderful stuff and so flexible.

Did 4 rolls of Silvertone 400 in 1:25 and Tri-X at 1600 in 1:100 stand earlier today.

david b · May 6, 2006

Agfa Rodinal is available already at one of our sponsors.

www.freestylephoto.biz

df cardwell · May 6, 2006

Look to some of the former Agfa distributors: they never ran short of Rodinal.

jim appleyard · May 6, 2006

Robert T McCarthy said:
Thank goodness for Rodinal.

Am I the only one that feels this way?

Regards.

Bob McCarthy

Nope.

John Bragg · May 7, 2006

Hi bob,
Rodinal has always been in my limited arsenal of developers, but it is only recently since joining APUG, that Don Cardwell in particular, and others with "THE KNOWLEDGE", of how to use it in the correct manner have enabled me to realise its full potential.
Regards J.B.

gnashings · May 7, 2006

mawz said:
I love Rodinal. I use it for everything except modern emulsions (TMZ and Acros) and pushing tri-X to 6400. It's wonderful stuff and so flexible....

This is strictly a matter of taste - but I found that Acros absolutely shines in Rodinal. I didn't think that something so sharp could be so creamy smooth and full of life! Of course, this is one person's opinion - but I would suggest giving it a shot. You may find yourself pleasantly surprised!

And as to the topic of the thread - definitely agreed 100%! I love the stuff for many, many reasons. I don't subscribe to the "magic bullet" school of thought, therefore I don't think that there is one superior way to do absolutely everything - but so far I have found Rodinal to be just so darn good at so many things that its the closest thing to it. Perhaps because I learned, took my first steps with Rodinal - perhaps because I am rather fond of the look it gives me (and the variety of looks even an amateur like myself can get from it!) - but Rodinal is definitely my "go to guy" and the one bottle I hope to never find myself without.

Peter.

Harry Lime · May 8, 2006

I've settled on two developers. Rodinal and DD-X.

Rodinal is amazingly flexible. It delivers gorgeous tonality and razor sharp negatives. I adored APX100 in Rodinal, it just glowed...

I love the flexibility of Rodinal. You can achieve very different looks, by adjusting the dilution or amount of agitation. It really is the voodoo brew of developers.

As you probably know Salgado is a Rodinal / Tri-X user. I recently saw some original prints from his "Workers" project (the giant gold pit) and they were quite stunning. Grain the size of golf balls, but the delicacy of the tonality was just beautiful.

Harry Lime

tony lockerbie · May 8, 2006

Rodinal is amazing for it's edge effects and zappyness (is that a word?) One great feature of this dev is it's keeping qualities, you can still ues it even when it turns black like tar. I use it mostly with FP4+ these days but used to use it with APX100. The only down side is that it can cause fairly coarse grain with some emulsions(HP5+ springs to mind).

mcgrattan · May 8, 2006

Re: Salgado.

He doesn't use Rodinal any more. He uses Calbe A49 (aka Adox ATM49). I don't know how recent that switch was -- his recent stuff, the world-travel/wildlife stuff was shot in tri-x pro 320 with A49, apparently.

I like Rodinal a lot although I use it less than I did as the films I have been using recently with it work slightly better in other developers -- especially Adox ADX.

I still use it for very contrasty scenes though -- diluted a lot and with minimal agitation/semi-stand.

mario Ag+ · May 8, 2006

I love Rodinal. It's a developer that has never let me down with any film. That hallmark combination of grain and sharpness it gives is delicious!

David Lingham · May 8, 2006

I've used Rodinal for a number of years. I use it for HIE, Tri-X, FP4 and HP5. When the news came that production was ceasing, I did spend a while trying to get used to HP5 in IDII. But I prefer Trix/Rodinal, and I am so glad it will still be available.

Dave L

reellis67 · May 8, 2006

I use Rodinal as my primary developer (%85), along with Perceptol for faster films and I've never had problems getting the results that I want from Rodinal, be it 'regular' or stand development. Love the stuff!

- Randy

John Bragg · May 8, 2006

It amazes me just how the best results are obtained with Rodinal. It does its thing most efficiently when you let it go at its own pace,and don,t try to force the issue with high concentration, or excessive agitation.......... Just let it be, and it works with you. less is definitely more !!!!!!!!!

zenrhino · May 8, 2006

Hear, hear!

And big props to guys like DF Cardwell (and the others whose names elude me at the moment) for leading the way.

Thank Goddness for Rodinal

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