Thoughts from a first time Rodinal user....

jimgalli · Mar 28, 2005

I never would have given Rodinal a second thought except for the good press it gets on this site. So I found myself in Freestyle the other day and bought a bottle to give it a try. Since I shoot a fair amount of Panatomic X which can be hard to tame, the idea of one shot highly diluted Rodinal sounded plausible. The Pan X is Aerial film and I cut 5" rolls for the 5X7 and occasionally the 4X5. I began at 1:100 / 9 minutes @ 75 degrees and the first neg up in the tray was lovely. I tried some other dilutions and less time but the first guess is the winner. Gorgeous neg that prints perfectly on J&C Museum weight Normal which requires a good long negative. I'll post a scan of the print in a while when it's dry.

But things went downhill when I rolled some FP4+ in a Jobo tank. I used 1 + 25 dilution for the FP4, and gave it 9 minutes also. Same temp. Density and curve seem quite acceptable but yipes!! Do you guys who like this stuff really tolerate that kind of grain?? And that's with a medium speed film. I can't imagine this stuff with Tmax 400. Unless I wanted the rock star with grain on purpose look.

In any case, I'm pleased that I found a specialty niche developer for my Pan X and you can feel free to flame me for the other opines. Pcat HD is far FAR superior in my ever so humble opinion. Oh, I'll give it a go on APHS also. Usually anything that will work well on the Pan X can be cut in half and work OK for continuous tones with the Lith film.

jim appleyard · Mar 28, 2005

Yes, we do like films like FP-4 in the super elixir! I've done weddings with Tri-X and Rodinal. Great tones and yes, grainy, but with med. format it was quite acceptable even with 16x20 prints.

You might try the 1+50 dilution. It might cut the grain a bit for you.

Now I will admait that Rodinal really is at its best with slow films like your Pan-X, but it's quite nice with most films.

I'm glad you found the "Great Liquid"; you're one step closer to the "Church"!

david b · Mar 28, 2005

To me, 9@75 seems wrong. A bit too long and a bit too hot.

Try the 1+50 mix and let us know what you think.

Pan F+ and Rodinal are a beautiful combo.

joeyk49 · Mar 28, 2005

I'll second the motion on the PanF and Rodinal....

Agfa 100 works looks pretty well in it too...

1:50 in both cases.

jimgalli · Mar 28, 2005

Thanks to all. 1:50 eh? If I liked 9 min at 1:100 I suppose 5 minutes at 1:50 would be a good place to begin? Thanks Jay for the tea formula. I may give that a try sometime. I have a 9 1/2" wide roll of the Kodak stuff and indeed it behaves almost identically to the APHS. Jim

photomc · Mar 28, 2005

Jim, have done a few rolls/sheets of FP4+ in Rodinal 1+100, but used stand development ... just loaded films, did a 1 min constant agitation and then let the suckers sit - for at least 40 min. .. no other agitation (I suspect the developer is exhausted after 40 min) and must say the negatives do not show any grain at all..this is up to 78F..if temp is lower have let it stand for at least 60 min. Just 2cents worth, as always YMMV...

jimgalli · Mar 28, 2005

Sandman Motel, Old Hwy 40, Reno, Nevada

jimgalli said:
I'll post a scan of the print in a while when it's dry.

titrisol · Mar 29, 2005

IIRC higher dilutions of Rodinal produced finer grain and softer tonality, i.e. 1+50 would produce coarser grain than 1+100.

jim appleyard said:
Yes, we do like films like FP-4 in the super elixir! I've done weddings with Tri-X and Rodinal. Great tones and yes, grainy, but with med. format it was quite acceptable even with 16x20 prints.

You might try the 1+50 dilution. It might cut the grain a bit for you.

Now I will admait that Rodinal really is at its best with slow films like your Pan-X, but it's quite nice with most films.

I'm glad you found the "Great Liquid"; you're one step closer to the "Church"!

9 minutes in 1+25 seems excesive, specailly since you are using a Jobo. It probably works fine in a hand agitated tank. Cut either the dilution or the time. The more you process the more visible the grain will be. Also going easier on the agitation helps lowering contrast and grain is less apparent.

I have used it for FP4 and HP5 and finde the grain not objectionable.
I have settled lately in 1+100 dilutions, for about 30 minutes (agitating every 5) for Ei100/125 35mm and 120 films

jimgalli said:
But things went downhill when I rolled some FP4+ in a Jobo tank. I used 1 + 25 dilution for the FP4, and gave it 9 minutes also. Same temp. Density and curve seem quite acceptable but yipes!! Do you guys who like this stuff really tolerate that kind of grain?? And that's with a medium speed film. I can't imagine this stuff with Tmax 400. Unless I wanted the rock star with grain on purpose look.

ggriffi · Mar 29, 2005

Having done all of my other pan f in whatever the school used ( don't even remember now) I too just used rodinal for the first time, too am very pleased with the way they turned out. I used 1:50 for 8 mins. at 70. I am curious though has anyone tried the R09 that J and C sells?

G

jamnut · Jul 7, 2005

I can't imagine this stuff with Tmax 400. Unless I wanted the rock star with grain on purpose look.

Actually, Tmax 400 in Rodinal can look very smooth; you must have a contrasty subject to start with, or develop a little longer to get a harder neg . Using a harder grade of paper will bring out grain, in the sky, in particular, especially if burned in.
I use 120 Tmax400 @ ISO 320, in Rodinal 1:100 @ 70 F for 20 min. Pretty darn nice for such a fast film.

gainer · Jul 7, 2005

There is a thing about Rodinal that is not always appreciated. It has a limited contrast index with HP5+ and perhaps with FP4+ as well at higher dilutions. I could not get any more than 0.61 out of HP5+. Extending development may build up density, but it may also cause grain clumping which leads to excessive grain. I am not referring to stand development, which if done well is not extended development. The upshot may be a fine looking negative as far as density is concerned, but a grainy one. This is a suggestion, not a pontification. It is something to look out for. If that is what is causing the excess grain on FP4+, reducing development time will help, and wont have much effect on contrast.

jjstafford · Jul 7, 2005

jimgalli said:
[...] Do you guys who like this stuff really tolerate that kind of grain??

Yes, Jim. I freak out if I can't see grain in the enlarging scope. Grain is our friend when it is sharp, and Rodinal makes sharp grain. (Speaking of MF and LF. In 35mm with Tri-X the grain is just too much.)

garryl · Jul 7, 2005

you know what is amazing? That Modafoto hasn't posted, "I told you so"

Hey Photomc! This is the third posting about your "stand" technique. Could you post one so I can see it--- pretty please?

Has anyone the curiousity to try the 1:200 dilution listed in some of the data books?

jjstafford · Jul 7, 2005

This is all I have on this laptop. There's more at work. AXP 100 stand processed. It did not downsample well. Sorry.

jimgalli · Jul 7, 2005

Cool! Almost makes me wish I didn't give my bottle away to the kids at Deep Springs college I've got a bottle from 1971 un-opened upstairs. I'll soup something this weekend in the 34 year old stuff and report back.

david b · Jul 8, 2005

Take a look at this (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

This was done with APX 100 and Rodinal 1+100. Great combo. The scan hardly matches the actual print.

NikoSperi · Jul 8, 2005

garryl said:
you know what is amazing? That Modafoto hasn't posted, "I told you so"

True! Maybe someone should check if he isn't trapped under something heavy?

NikoSperi · Jul 8, 2005

david b said:
Take a look at this (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

This was done with APX 100 and Rodinal 1+100. Great combo. The scan hardly matches the actual print.

David - Complimenti! That's a beautiful scale; the print must be quite something. I'm off to try some stand dev't!

Soeren · Jul 8, 2005

Nah, I think July is the high season for baptism in COR

argus · Jul 8, 2005

Soeren said:
Nah, I think July is the high season for baptism in COR

That's the single month when the seawater is 20 degr. in Danemark

G

Soeren · Jul 8, 2005

argus said:
That's the single month when the seawater is 20 degr. in Danemark

G

Seawater ?

argus · Jul 8, 2005

Not for developing, for the baptism!

BTW, some ancient greek photographers still use seawater for washing their films.

G

Soeren · Jul 8, 2005

argus said:
Not for developing, for the baptism!

BTW, some ancient greek photographers still use seawater for washing their films.

G

Yes and COR use Hot Rod for the babtism ofcource Our seawater is to clean.
Regards Søren

modafoto · Jul 8, 2005

garryl said:
you know what is amazing? That Modafoto hasn't posted, "I told you so"

I TOLD YOU SO

titrisol · Jul 8, 2005

Been there! It works great!
1+200 Rodinal for 1 or 3 hours, it owrked great with APX100
Agitate at beginning and then once or twice in the 2 hours

garryl said:
you know what is amazing? That Modafoto hasn't posted, "I told you so"

Hey Photomc! This is the third posting about your "stand" technique. Could you post one so I can see it--- pretty please?

Has anyone the curiousity to try the 1:200 dilution listed in some of the data books?

Thoughts from a first time Rodinal user....

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