What am I to do without my Rodinal?

get_me_a_gun · Apr 9, 2006

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 · Apr 9, 2006

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 · Apr 9, 2006

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

get_me_a_gun · Apr 9, 2006

dolande said:
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 · Apr 9, 2006

dolande said:
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 · Apr 9, 2006

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 · Apr 9, 2006

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 · Apr 9, 2006

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 · Apr 10, 2006

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 · Apr 10, 2006

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 · Apr 10, 2006

get_me_a_gun said:
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 · Apr 10, 2006

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 · Apr 10, 2006

pnance said:
... 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 · Apr 10, 2006

wildbill said:
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 · Apr 10, 2006

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 · Apr 10, 2006

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

get_me_a_gun said:
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 · Apr 10, 2006

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

avandesande · Apr 10, 2006

Thanks ed you nailed that one.

titrisol · Apr 10, 2006

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)

t_nunn said:
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 · Apr 10, 2006

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 · Apr 10, 2006

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

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

tom_bw · Apr 10, 2006

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 · Apr 11, 2006

Ed Sukach said:
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 · Apr 11, 2006

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 · Apr 11, 2006

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.

What am I to do without my Rodinal?

get_me_a_gun

JBrunner

Moderator

dolande

get_me_a_gun

JBrunner

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butterflydream

gnashings

pnance

Wayne

gnashings

dolande

wildbill

Ed Sukach

get_me_a_gun

Travis Nunn

titrisol

lowellh

avandesande

titrisol

Claire Senft

avandesande

tom_bw

Gerald Koch

titrisol

JBrunner

Moderator

What am I to do without my Rodinal?

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