Limitations or weaknesses in 510 Pyro

[swmcl]

Hi,

I'd like to ask about any issues to do with 510 Pyro now that the photographic community has been able to use it for some time. Things like "don't use it for rotary processing at 1:100" or "it is a bit unpredictable at high dilutions on T-grained films" or "make sure you use a minimum of 5ml of stock solution" etc, etc.

Obviously, those with repeated experience are most qualified to speak to this. I'm asking to focus on 510 Pyro specifically. I'm hoping to not get involved in comparisons with other developers. This is a genuine attempt to collate findings I guess. No need to be defensive; I'd like to not hide issues but be honest about things please.

I guess if there are no responses then we've found the perfect developer! :-)

Cheers,

Steve

ps. Why is there a smiley in the title?!?!

[muihlinn]

Never had any issue, been using it for several years now but times out there looks like too short to me. Rotation, stand, manual agitation worked well. Subjectively speaking, I'd use catechol for 135mm but 510 also worked ok with it

[muihlinn]

Oh, never tried T grain with it

[Regular Rod]

Hi,

I'd like to ask about any issues to do with 510 Pyro now that the photographic community has been able to use it for some time. Things like "don't use it for rotary processing at 1:100" or "it is a bit unpredictable at high dilutions on T-grained films" or "make sure you use a minimum of 5ml of stock solution" etc, etc.

Obviously, those with repeated experience are most qualified to speak to this. I'm asking to focus on 510 Pyro specifically. I'm hoping to not get involved in comparisons with other developers. This is a genuine attempt to collate findings I guess. No need to be defensive; I'd like to not hide issues but be honest about things please.

I guess if there are no responses then we've found the perfect developer! :-)

Cheers,

Steve

ps. Why is there a smiley in the title?!?!

There are no weaknesses as far as I'm concerned. I like it for semi-stand development and the way it compensates when developing roll films with a mix of subjects and lighting conditions. The tonal range is remarkably good and it doesn't clump the grain up, which for my pictures wouldn't be appropriate (might be different if I started portraits of Jazz musicians performing in night clubs)...

It seems to keep for ever and needs no change to time and temperature even when it has turned almost black at the bottom of the bottle. If it wasn't for OBSIDIAN AQUA, which I like when I want extra sharpness but still with fine grain, I'd use nothing else.

RR

[mikoyan]

Hello
The agitation scheme has to be "minimal" to avoid too fast oxidation, or fog can be a bit high.
Very toxic.

[swmcl]

Thanks guys,

I received a 'special order' of 510 Pyro yesterday and I made a new film order too so when that gets in I'll give it a go. I do admit that different developers will give a different 'look' but this thread was to look at the mechanics of using this developer in particular and you've answered that well for me. I probably plan to use it with a slow hand rotation in various Jobo tanks but I will probably try some semi-stand as well looking for the tanning and edge effects that everyone speaks about. Although I'm not in a position to fully understand or evaluate my Pyrocat-HD negatives they certainly don't look too stained so I'm hoping to see something a bit different with 510 Pyro.

I saw a post somewhere out there where someone claimed to have found a 'bug' with the developer and I was hoping to see a gotcha or two come up in this thread. It is mighty hard to find things a second time on the internet especially when it doesn't involve a specific search phrase or term.

I'd like to take the opportunity to thank Jay for his work with this developer and for his extremely polite and helpful responses to my queries over the past few weeks. It is very easy to be a pig when communicating digitally and Jay has been very much a delightful person to deal with.

It occurs to me that B&W film developers are an evolving technology and Jay's achievement here is, it seems, a significant step forward in my view. If anyone else has any further comments I'd appreciate if they'd speak about them here.

Cheers all

[swmcl]

I haven't opened the new containers yet but it occurs to me that the slightly thick stock solution might be somewhat difficult to mete out in small quantities. I use a syringe and some small diameter clear PVC tubing with PyroCat-HD...

[muihlinn]

Hello
The agitation scheme has to be "minimal" to avoid too fast oxidation, or fog can be a bit high.
Very toxic.

I never got too fast oxidation with this developer. Stain and fog are even from run to run, even with a rotary jobo set at 24C. Ascorbic acid keeps it from it pretty well, sometimes too well

On toxicity, as long as you don't sip it, or fancy a dip, I won't say it's much worser than most developers.

[muihlinn]

I'm not in a position to fully understand or evaluate my Pyrocat-HD negatives they certainly don't look too stained so I'm hoping to see something a bit different with 510

Catechol stain is weak, but also renders beautiful, crisp negatives, usually easy to print. Pyrogallol stain is much heavier

[muihlinn]

I haven't opened the new containers yet but it occurs to me that the slightly thick stock solution might be somewhat difficult to mete out in small quantities. I use a syringe and some small diameter clear PVC tubing with PyroCat-HD...

Heat it slightly and it will become more fluid. Watch the flashpoint of Tea, it can end in a real mess. For measruring I ended turning down syringes, pipes, etc. and just drop the syrup slowly in a 25 ml graduate. 5 or 10 ml, then add water, dilute and mix with the rest of water. Refill until the graduate doesn't show traces of undissolved syrup. IMHO it's faster and cleaner.