What do you think is Rodinal's 'muse' film...the film it has most 'chemistry' with...star crossed lovers?

[sperera]

.......I have what they call Agfa's original formula.

So....let the match up begin.....swipe left or swipe right.....Rodinal seeks it's perfect partner.....

 

[bernard_L]

Original APX-100.

 

[Film-Niko]

Original APX-100.

+1.
And Agfa APX 25.

 

[koraks]

Maybe TMX100.

Although...can't you make wonderful images with just about any film/dev combination? A matter of taste, competence, subject matter and perhaps a good dose of luck...

 

[Don_ih]

Maybe TMX100.

That's what I was thinking when I read the question. I like it with 4x5 Tmax100.

 

[Henning Serger]

Although...can't you make wonderful images with just about any film/dev combination? A matter of taste, competence, subject matter and perhaps a good dose of luck...

Generally yes........but :
I have tested almost all films which have been on the market in the last 20 years under standardised, scientific test conditions.
And I also worked with more than 40 different developers.
And looking at all these test results and experiences I can definitely say that there are sometimes certain film-developer combinations which work really very well together, in very good harmony, and with above-average results.

Best regards,
Henning

 

[Ian Grant]

Tmax 100 in the absence of the original Agfa AP/APX 25 & 100, I used these films for years with Rodinal or replenished Xtol. In hindsight, it's impossible to see any differences in quality, the results were remarkably similar, with excellent fine grain, even with 35mm.

Ian

 

[Fatih Ayoglu]

Ilford Pan 50

 

[M-88]

Generally yes........but :
I have tested almost all films which have been on the market in the last 20 years under standardised, scientific test conditions.
And I also worked with more than 40 different developers.
And looking at all these test results and experiences I can definitely say that there are sometimes certain film-developer combinations which work really very well together, in very good harmony, and with above-average results.

Best regards,
Henning

Ohh how can you make such a tempting statement without naming a few examples. My hands are itching to try something new

 

[koraks]

there are sometimes certain film-developer combinations which work really very well together, in very good harmony, and with above-average results.

Certainly, no doubt and no contest!
And the opposite is true just as well. Some combinations are just...difficult.

 

[Henning Serger]

Ohh how can you make such a tempting statement without naming a few examples. My hands are itching to try something new

Because these certain film-developer combinations I have referred to are some which fit my personal needs best .
I have tested them for my personal workflow, and my photography needs and special cases.
Your needs are probably very different!

O.k. some examples :
- Delta 100 in SPUR HRX (gives outstanding detail rendition - resolution, sharpness, fineness of grain; a good curve shape for my needs and a compensating effect)
- Delta 100 in ADOX XT-3 1+1 (very well balanced performance / compromise of speed, good curve shape, fineness of grain and sharpness)
- TMY-2 in SPUR HRX (again: excellent detail rendition, surpassing even some classic emulsion film types of the ISO 100/21° class)
- TMY-2 in FX-39 II 1+14 (excellent sharpness and resolution, have used it mainly in 120 format).
- Agfa APX 25 in Rodinal 1+50 (excellent sharpness and resolution)
- ADOX Ortho 25 in SPUR Acurol-N (excellent sharpness, very fine grain)
- ADOX HR-50 in ADOX HR-Dev. (excellent sharpness, the extremely fine grain of this film is obtained, better curve shape compared to most other developers)
- ADOX HR-50 in FX-39 II (very similar to the results in HR-Dev., but about 1/3 stop less effective film speed).

Best regards,
Henning

 

[John Wiegerink]

I don't use Rodinal as my everyday developer, but always have it on hand. The two films that worked extremely well with Rodinal for me were Fuji Acros (haven't tried the II version with Rodinal) and PanF+. If it worked as well with all other films, Rodinal would be the only developer I'd probably use.

 

[brian steinberger]

FP4 and Tmax 400.

 

[pentaxuser]

Just a thought but are we not in danger of getting close to demonstrating to newcomers that there is a "magic bullet" of certain films and developers which when we see a newcomer strayíng into we advised her/him that there is no such thing?

pentaxuser

 

[sperera]

Indeed there is no such thing as a proven combination my post was for a bit of fun and some suggestions.....I'm gonna try it with 4 X 5 film Fuji Acros (first Version) and Tmax 100. My fave combination in 6x6 from my Hasselblads is Tmax 400 with Xtol

 

[Don_ih]

Just a thought but are we not in danger of getting close to demonstrating to newcomers that there is a "magic bullet" of certain films and developers which when we see a newcomer strayíng into we advised her/him that there is no such thing?

I wouldn't worry about it. Most film users don't ever stray much from one or two developers and do just fine. While there may be no magic bullets, there are still plenty of normal bullets that shoot just fine.

 

[Alex Benjamin]

While there may be no magic bullets, there are still plenty of normal bullets that shoot just fine.

Just want to let you know that this quote is now officially borrowed, and will get good use in the future .

 

[Mark J]

I don't use Rodinal as my everyday developer, but always have it on hand. The two films that worked extremely well with Rodinal for me were Fuji Acros (haven't tried the II version with Rodinal) and PanF+. If it worked as well with all other films, Rodinal would be the only developer I'd probably use.

Interesting you should say that, John. I've been looking at this site a lot in the last 2 days -

filmPanF

Fremkallertabell for Ilford Pan F film

fotoimport.no

I was struck by how Pan F+ does vary quite a lot, and it's notable that Rodinal gives it an interesting upswept response curve, but doesn't seem to accentuate the grain very much unlike with most films.
Are you a fan of highlight detail ?

 

[Keith Tapscott.]

Because these certain film-developer combinations I have referred to are some which fit my personal needs best .

O.k. some examples :
- Delta 100 in SPUR HRX (gives outstanding detail rendition - resolution, sharpness, fineness of grain; a good curve shape for my needs and a compensating effect)
- TMY-2 in SPUR HRX (again: excellent detail rendition, surpassing even some classic emulsion film types of the ISO 100/21° class)

Best regards,
Henning

This is strongly tempting me to try the Spur HRX and Delta 100 combination, but I will try to resist.
I have been very pleased with FP4 Plus and HP5 Plus films with D76 for more years than I care to remember.

 

[Milpool]

Anything really, depending on format/magnification and/or feelings about graininess. I’ll say Royal Pan.

 

[Pioneer]

I wouldn't worry about it. Most film users don't ever stray much from one or two developers and do just fine. While there may be no magic bullets, there are still plenty of normal bullets that shoot just fine.

For what little it is worth, over the years I have pretty much settled on home brewed Parodinal and D-23 with some Caffenol stirred in occasionally when I get bored.

Of course, on the flip side, I primarily use three different films with the occasional odd man out, just for the fun of it.

But I could probably live with either of the three developers mentioned above if something happened and I were restricted to just one developer.

 

[loccdor]

HP5+ looks good in Rodinal 1+100 on a 6x6.

I also like the tonality 1+100 gives Tri-X. The grain is not unpleasant for me in 35mm. These both were stand developed for an hour and shot at box speed. I think the lack of agitation helped balance the shadows with the highlights. It did produce a bit of a gradient though.

I took a break from using Rodinal but I want to get back to it. The accutance is nice. I think it can look bad if you are sharpening your grain in post.

 

[Film-Niko]

Just a thought but are we not in danger of getting close to demonstrating to newcomers that there is a "magic bullet" of certain films and developers which when we see a newcomer strayíng into we advised her/him that there is no such thing?

pentaxuser

As really no one here has talked about a "magic bullet", I don't see any danger at all.
That some developers work very well in combination with certain films (for certain applications) is neither new, nor should it make any newcomers insecure.
Keep calm, carry on .

 

[Film-Niko]

I was struck by how Pan F+ does vary quite a lot, and it's notable that Rodinal gives it an interesting upswept response curve, but doesn't seem to accentuate the grain very much unlike with most films.

This upswept curve shape in the highlights sometimes happen with Rodinal in 1+25 dilution, and normal (or too much agitation).
If you want, you can completely avoid it by
- higher dilution of 1+50, 1+75, 1+100 (in dilutions of 1+75 and 1+100 you often get already a flattening, (semi)compensating curve)
- less agitation (e.g. 1x per minute).

 

[Ian Grant]

There are some film/developer combinations that yield exceptional results, but it's also the case of fine-tuning.

An exanple is Pan F in Perceptol, Bill Spears used to produce exceptional prints with his 6x7 camera and Pan F in Perceptol 1+2., but there is a downside Pan F is a slow film and Perceptol reduces film speed further.

When I first shot Agfa AP100 in my Leica M3, (the day I bought it) I was blown away by the quality processed in Rodinal, and a friend who only shot MF assumed I'd bought a new MF camera. My fallback film was Tmax100, I had to shoot this at 50EI to get similar results to AP/APX100 at 100EI. same development time, and they printed same grade.

While there's no magic bullets, there are film & developer combinations that we can exploit to greatly increase potential image quality, and consistency.

Ian