The opposite of Rodinal

Doug Bennett · Nov 9, 2004

Since I started shooting seriously a few years ago, I've tended towards slow film and acutance developers, typically Rodinal. I've used HC-110; it's OK. I've played with staining developers with WD2D+; great when it works out, but I have trouble with consistency.

If I want to try the opposite of Rodinal, i.e. a lower acutance, very fine grain developer, what does everyone like? My typical films are FP4 and APX100, with an occasional Efke thrown in.

Jorge · Nov 9, 2004

I really like Pyrocat HD, and unlike the pyrogallol developers it is not as prone to uneven stainning and it is the most consistent of the stainning developers I have used. OTOH, the middle tone separation is not as good as that with Rodinal, but it is not far off, I think you would like it.

garryl · Nov 9, 2004

Doug Bennett said:
If I want to try the opposite of Rodinal, i.e. a lower acutance, very fine grain developer, what does everyone like? My typical films are FP4 and APX100, with an occasional Efke thrown in.

Do you want it in kit form, or pre-mixed liquid, or mix it from scratch?

Doug Bennett · Nov 9, 2004

Thanks, Jorge, that was one that I was thinking about. As I said, I liked the WD2D+ when it worked out, but my experience was that, with film, exposure, and processing being apparently equal, I got wide swings in negative density. I'm a condenser guy, so I prefer a thinner negative.

I have no complaints about Rodinal or HC-110. They're easy to use, and especially with Rodinal, I get negs that are blazing sharp. But, I'm starting to do more people photography (as opposed to landscape), and unless the subject has flawless skin, an acutance developer can be brutal. I'd like to find something with smoother tonality.

Doug Bennett · Nov 9, 2004

Do you want it in kit form, or pre-mixed liquid, or mix it from scratch?

Garryl: any of the three is fine.

modafoto · Nov 9, 2004

To clear things out. The Church of Rodinal will just ignore this thread and pretend the question was never asked.

*sad priest*

Morten

titrisol · Nov 9, 2004

Microdol-X in kit form is the closest IMHO

PPD developers (old stuff) should be what you need.

Tom Hoskinson · Nov 9, 2004

Doug Bennett said:
Thanks, Jorge, that was one that I was thinking about. As I said, I liked the WD2D+ when it worked out, but my experience was that, with film, exposure, and processing being apparently equal, I got wide swings in negative density. I'm a condenser guy, so I prefer a thinner negative.

I have no complaints about Rodinal or HC-110. They're easy to use, and especially with Rodinal, I get negs that are blazing sharp. But, I'm starting to do more people photography (as opposed to landscape), and unless the subject has flawless skin, an acutance developer can be brutal. I'd like to find something with smoother tonality.

I am a big fan of Pyrocat-HD. However, given your requirements, another developer worth serious consideration is Agfa 8. It is similar to Rodinal but is finer grained and gives excellent skin tones. The shelf life is very good, as well.

Agfa 8

Water (125 F or 52 C) - 50.0 ml
Sodium Sulfite (anhy) - 12.5 grams
Glycin - 2.0 grams
Potassium Carbonate (anhy) - 25.0 grams
Water to make - 1.0 liter

roteague · Nov 9, 2004

modafoto said:
To clear things out. The Church of Rodinal will just ignore this thread and pretend the question was never asked.

What if we just put it in Rodinal bottles?

modafoto · Nov 9, 2004

roteague said:
What if we just put it in Rodinal bottles?

Pure blasphemy to the One!

Doug Bennett · Nov 9, 2004

Morten,

I'm not leaving the church, I'm just gonna visit a different service for a Sunday. Besides, I've got way too many of those little white-and-red bottles around!

modafoto · Nov 9, 2004

Doug Bennett said:
Morten,

I'm not leaving the church, I'm just gonna visit a different service for a Sunday. Besides, I've got way too many of those little white-and-red bottles around!

Now I'm relaxing...when you are done fooling around with other developers, come back and confess

I myself must admit that I have bought D76 for some testing...

"Let the one who is purely grainy cast the first bottle of Hot Rod"

(Sorry, if I seem to hijack your thread).

Doug Bennett · Nov 9, 2004

Morten,

Those young women in your personal gallery are a perfect example of what I'm talking about. They're young, with nice skin; detail is their friend. However, I recently shot some photos of my dear old gray-haired mother, devved in Rodinal. She was none too happy............

modafoto · Nov 9, 2004

Doug Bennett said:
Morten,

Those young women in your personal gallery are a perfect example of what I'm talking about. They're young, with nice skin; detail is their friend. However, I recently shot some photos of my dear old gray-haired mother, devved in Rodinal. She was none too happy............

I get your point...

This is what I say to the girls:

"I have got this developer that I have pledged allegiance to, and it only works with young and pretty girls...so you HAVE to come into my studio now"

TPPhotog · Nov 9, 2004

modafoto said:
"I have got this developer that I have pledged allegiance to, and it only works with young and pretty girls...so you HAVE to come into my studio now"

I must remember that line I could do with some more portrature and current fashions in my portfolio

rbarker · Nov 9, 2004

Doug Bennett said:
. . . I've got way too many of those little white-and-red bottles around!

I kinda miss the old brown glass bottles with the rubber stopper that had to be breached with a hypodermic syringe. ;-)

Have you tried Ilford's DD-X (liquid concentrate) developer, Doug? I think it provides a nice balance between fine grain, sharpness and smooth tonality. I haven't tried it with APX100, but it's nice with FP4+ and PanF.

clay · Nov 9, 2004

Well, ya know, good old D-23 has so much sulfite in it that it smooths and reduces the grain quite well. It is one of the simplest formulas around.

TPPhotog · Nov 9, 2004

rbarker said:
Have you tried Ilford's DD-X (liquid concentrate) developer, Doug? I think it provides a nice balance between fine grain, sharpness and smooth tonality. I haven't tried it with APX100, but it's nice with FP4+ and PanF.

Good point I was happy using Ilfords Pan F; FP4+; HP5+ and Delta 3200 souped in DD-X until I found I prefered the look of Rodinal. Again not tried it with any other makes of film.

Doug just tell her how much the Rodinal has captured her character and wisdom

titrisol · Nov 9, 2004

DDX is great for pushing and works very well with Deltas (3200 mainly)
is my 2nd developer in the darkroom.....

garryl · Nov 9, 2004

Have you gone to unblinkingeye.com to catch the article about adding Ascorbate to Rodinal to reduce grain?

Flotsam · Nov 9, 2004

I have always liked Tri-X in FG-7 mixed with a 9% Sodium Sulfite solution. Relatively sharp with smooth grain.

bjorke · Nov 9, 2004

I was an advocate of FG-7 for a long while too (until I couldn't get it in Hawaii for hazmat issues -- JUST LIKE RODINAL!!!). There's also a variant for tabular-grain films, it was a longtime favorite with Delta (my standard kits in the early 90's: rodinal/tg-7/hc-d)

bmac · Nov 9, 2004

modafoto said:
To clear things out. The Church of Rodinal will just ignore this thread and pretend the question was never asked.

*sad priest*

Morten

I thought for sure Morten's answer to this question would simply be "death"

Lee Shively · Nov 9, 2004

"If I want to try the opposite of Rodinal, i.e. a lower acutance, very fine grain developer, what does everyone like?"

Not that I like it much but Microdol-X used full strength is definitely a finer grain, less sharp developer. I don't know if it's still available--I haven't used it in many years.

Ole · Nov 9, 2004

clay said:
Well, ya know, good old D-23 has so much sulfite in it that it smooths and reduces the grain quite well. It is one of the simplest formulas around.

I'm with you on this. D-23 - with optional borax afterbath - is has the simplest of all formulas (opposite of Rodinal), gives very low acutance (unlike Rodinal), smooth "mushy" grain (unlike Rodinal) and is very, very cheap (unlike Rodinal). If used with the borax afterbath it lasts just about forever (as working solution, unlike Rodinal)...

The opposite of Rodinal

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