What am I to do without my Rodinal?

[get_me_a_gun]

As we all know, Agfa has gone out of business, and I am only left with a bottle and a fourth of precious rodinal.

I love rodinal for the fact that it is highly concentrated. I usually mix it 1+25. Of course, it does look best with Agfa APX 100 or 400, but I know I'll run out of that soon too...

Does anyone know what I could use as a replacement? Id like to have a high contrast film with a replacement of rodinal to bring out the intensity. Id prefer to not mix 1+4 unless it's a really cheap developer.

I appreciate the help.
-Lisa

 

[JBrunner]

Hi Lisa,

Reports of my death have been greatly exagerated.

I have gone on with the new chemical division of AgfaPhoto, and am available for purchase at APUG sponsor Freestyle Photo, among other places.

Love,

Rodinal

 

[dolande]

This store in Northern Virginia (http://www.acephoto.net/) still have some (I saw them a couple of weeks ago)

 

[get_me_a_gun]

This store in Northern Virginia (http://www.acephoto.net/) still have some (I saw them a couple of weeks ago)

Couldn't find it, which section would it be in?

 

[JBrunner]

This store in Northern Virginia (http://www.acephoto.net/) still have some (I saw them a couple of weeks ago)

Rodinal here,

No really, I'm not dead yet, really, not even mostly dead, I'm still being manufactured. So make sure your not being gouged when you buy me.

Love,

Rodinal

 

[butterflydream]

if you search this forum you could find quite some information about Rodinal source. J and C also carries Rodinal.

My problem is I can't purchase them here in Korea and these online shops don't ship Rodinal or any liquid chemicals abroad. So I buy them in Germany when I go there for biz trip.

 

[gnashings]

Here:

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

ITs back, don't worry for now. Plus there is RO9, mix your own recipies, etc. Just type Rodinal into the search window, and call in sick at work, and you may get through half the threads on the subject before you have to call in again
So, don't panic - its alright for now.

Peter.

 

[pnance]

I mixed some Rodinal like substance, used Grainer's recipe. The negatives I've done so far look good. I'm comparing 120 (iso 125) in Rodinal vs Tri-X in Microdol-X (no dilution, my normal stuff). I get the impression from others that Rodinal in not a fine grain developer, but at 18X, I can't see the grain in the tests I've done so far. I know its apples and oranges......

 

[Wayne]

The "new" Rodinal still looks like old, leftover Rodinal stock from before Agfa's demise. Also I noticed that Freestyle's latest catalog says "while supplies last" next to it. A&O says they wil be be manufacturing it but I wouldnt count on steady supplies until/if that actually happens. It doesnt sound like Freestyle is counting on it quite yet.

Wayne

 

[gnashings]

Perhaps I am just being a msart ass because I am sitting on 2L of the stuff

Seriously though, it will be ok, folks - someone will make the stuff, m'thinks, even if what's left of Agfa does not. I bet Ilford would love to have that slice of the market they plan to corner in time (and more power to them - GO ILFORD!)... If not them, someone else. And worse come to worse, the keepers of the sacred scrolls will share the knowledge of making it from dust bunnies and belly button lint

 

[dolande]

Couldn't find it, which section would it be in?

Not sure if they will sell it on their web site but I definitively saw it at the store. You may want to give them a call.

Thanks

 

[wildbill]

Freestyle only ordered 117 bottles in the 500ml size and i took a good chunk of that. That was a week ago. They also have some "substitutes" by Foma and the guy i spoke with said they'd be getting other brands in eventually as well. The color of the Foma stuff was quite different though.

 

[Ed Sukach]

... I get the impression from others that Rodinal in not a fine grain developer, but at 18X, I can't see the grain in the tests I've done so far ...

The idea that Rodinal increases grain is a myth that will never die.
It is traceable back to the days when there were all kinds of "magical additives" that would "increase film speed by 2000%!!!", "Eliminate grain altogether!!!" - and a host of other - not really false, but at the same time, not providing the entire story - claims.

Rodinal is a "clean" developer. It will develop the film AS IT IS; that is to say, each and every grain will be defined just as it is, with *no* blurring of the grain edges. High "acutance" - really high acutance (read "sharpness - close enough). You will see the grain that is in the film, as it is... NO larger than it is.

If you worship at the altar of (apparent) "grainless-ness" Rodinal would not be for you. At the same time if you value acutance, "crispness", and edges that you could carve three-dollar steaks with, together with unparalleled tonality (as I do), I'll recommend the 100+ year old formula of Rodinal, or as close to it as one can possibly come.

 

[get_me_a_gun]

Freestyle only ordered 117 bottles in the 500ml size and i took a good chunk of that.

Wanna share? ; ) Just kidding.. Freestyle says they'll get some more in April 24th.. share the wealth!!

 

[Travis Nunn]

So has anyone tried the Fomadon R09? I still have quite a few bottles of Rodinal left, but I'm curious to know how this stuff compares.

 

[titrisol]

You can also use Rodinal's bastard brother.... Calbe R09 available from JandC

As we all know, Agfa has gone out of business, and I am only left with a bottle and a fourth of precious rodinal.

I love rodinal for the fact that it is highly concentrated. I usually mix it 1+25. Of course, it does look best with Agfa APX 100 or 400, but I know I'll run out of that soon too...

Does anyone know what I could use as a replacement? Id like to have a high contrast film with a replacement of rodinal to bring out the intensity. Id prefer to not mix 1+4 unless it's a really cheap developer.

I appreciate the help.
-Lisa

 

[lowellh]

At Clayton Chemical, We have no problem shipping our products world wide, liquid or powder.

 

[avandesande]

Thanks ed you nailed that one.

 

[titrisol]

There are a few threads about this here:
(there was a url link here which no longer exists) and
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

So has anyone tried the Fomadon R09? I still have quite a few bottles of Rodinal left, but I'm curious to know how this stuff compares.

 

[Claire Senft]

Look at this as being a wonderful opportunity to upgrade to, the much better than Rodinal, Pyrocat HD.

Pyrocat HD is good enough to cause Morten and his communicants to change churches.

 

[avandesande]

Wow, pyrocat will give me more rodinal-like results than rodinal?
Amazing!

Look at this as being a wonderful opportunity to upgrade to, the much better than Rodinal, Pyrocat HD.

 

[tom_bw]

I used Rodinal for years for almost everything (except delta 3200). In a ways, the temporary absence of Rodinal turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I began experimenting with other developers (in particular with HP5+ - my most used film). I have discovered, for instance, dilute Perceptol with HP5+ provides a totally different 'look' (softer, finer grain but still apparantly sharp). Depending on the situation, I would prefer one over the other. Now that Rodinal is back, I have two very different options for the films I use. So, the rather dire Rodinal situation actually turned out to my benefit!

 

[Gerald Koch]

The idea that Rodinal increases grain is a myth that will never die. ...

Rodinal is a "clean" developer. It will develop the film AS IT IS; that is to say, each and every grain will be defined just as it is, with *no* blurring of the grain edges. High "acutance" - really high acutance (read "sharpness - close enough). You will see the grain that is in the film, as it is... NO larger than it is.

If you worship at the altar of (apparent) "grainless-ness" Rodinal would not be for you. At the same time if you value acutance, "crispness", and edges that you could carve three-dollar steaks with, together with unparalleled tonality (as I do), I'll recommend the 100+ year old formula of Rodinal, or as close to it as one can possibly come.

If you do wish to reduce the grain produced by Rodinal you can dilute it with 7.5% sodium sulfite solution rather than plain water. Development time will have to be reduced to compensate for the physical development caused by the sulfite.

 

[titrisol]

Gerald, as per p.gainer expeirments 4 g/l of ascorbate helps with that as well.
It is superaditive with Rodinal as well, so 1+50+C requires times similar to those for 1+25

 

[JBrunner]

I am a hardcore Pyrocat HD user. I also use Rodinal for certain things. I don't think the idea that one developer is the holy grail is a good one. If you haven't used Rodinal, you should try it. If you haven't used Pyrocat, you should try it. Best to have as many tools in the box as your creativity allows.