Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 30

Thread: Need advise on home processing

  1. #1

    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Posts
    82

    Need advise on home processing

    Hey everyone,
    I arrived to the decision to develop my negatives at home.
    Being totally beginner I need some advise.
    I use Foma 100 and Adox 100/50/25 (4X5) films and thought to use Pyrocat-HD developer. Does this developer suit these films? I chose this developer because 1. it is cheap, 2. if I understood correctly the posts over here it is possible to store for quite some time (which is important because I would develop a few negatives once per month). I have no drum or xxx dollar amount to buy one, so I will be using trays or try the 'bag' method as was supposed here in an other thread (see Film processing in a small apartment).
    What is the correct N, N-1, N+1 developing time for this developer? And what about the agitation? How long time should I have the negatives in the stop bath and in the fixer? Any suggestions what fixer or stop bath to use?
    Thank you in advance for every reply.
    B

  2. #2
    Greg Greg Blank's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Central Maryland
    Posts
    1,099

    Re: Need advise on home processing

    my advice is not buy thing because they are "cheap" that is an asshole approach to
    doing what you ultimately hope to care about. I have never done "cheap" I have done less, and have done thing not so desirable, but cheap is not a word I bandy about.

    People want instant glory - it does not come cheap. Why not show some imagery with your relative concerns before asking for a fix!


    Quote Originally Posted by bbarna View Post
    Hey everyone,
    I arrived to the decision to develop my negatives at home.
    Being totally beginner I need some advise.
    I use Foma 100 and Adox 100/50/25 (4X5) films and thought to use Pyrocat-HD developer. Does this developer suit these films? I chose this developer because 1. it is cheap, 2. if I understood correctly the posts over here it is possible to store for quite some time (which is important because I would develop a few negatives once per month). I have no drum or xxx dollar amount to buy one, so I will be using trays or try the 'bag' method as was supposed here in an other thread (see Film processing in a small apartment).
    What is the correct N, N-1, N+1 developing time for this developer? And what about the agitation? How long time should I have the negatives in the stop bath and in the fixer? Any suggestions what fixer or stop bath to use?
    Thank you in advance for every reply.
    B

  3. #3

    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    914

    Re: Need advise on home processing

    Quote Originally Posted by Greg Blank View Post
    my advice is not buy thing because they are "cheap" that is an asshole approach to
    doing what you ultimately hope to care about. I have never done "cheap" I have done less, and have done thing not so desirable, but cheap is not a word I bandy about.

    People want instant glory - it does not come cheap. Why not show some imagery with your relative concerns before asking for a fix!
    Real nice Greg.

  4. #4
    MIke Sherck's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2002
    Location
    Elkhart, IN
    Posts
    1,312

    Re: Need advise on home processing

    There are other developers with extended keeping ability, including Rodinal and Kodak's HC-110, so perhaps you could do some additional research before chosing. Or, you can do what I did and chose the products the stores local to me carried. Very convenient, if you have local sources. Personally, I've never tried Pyrocat so I can't help you with that.

    Development times are always "suggestions" because none of us shoot or process film in exactly the same way. There are subtle variations, especially when developing only occasionally or with low-tech techniques such as trays, which make someone else's results a product of their own approach, technique, or even quality of water supply. Times and film speeds suggested by manufactures work well in their settings and can be considered to be good enough to start from, but you really should test your film exposure and developing numbers in order to understand your own personal quirks. There are quite a few methods (or really, lots of alternative explanations of the few methods which work,) on the web.

    Mike
    Politically, aerodynamically, and fashionably incorrect.

  5. #5
    SF Bay Area 94303
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    SF Bay Area
    Posts
    433

    Re: Need advise on home processing

    What Mike said. HC-110 tends to be very forgiving and used as a one shot. I use it in CHEAP pans, same way AA did. The concentrate keeps longer than I am likely to be alive. Don't go for the exotic stuff first. Kfry

  6. #6
    David de Gruyl's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Philadelphia
    Posts
    278

    Re: Need advise on home processing

    Quote Originally Posted by Greg Blank View Post
    my advice is not buy thing because they are "cheap" that is an asshole approach to
    doing what you ultimately hope to care about. I have never done "cheap" I have done less, and have done thing not so desirable, but cheap is not a word I bandy about.

    People want instant glory - it does not come cheap. Why not show some imagery with your relative concerns before asking for a fix!
    I disagree with how you said this, but agree with what you are saying. To that end, I am going to paraphrase:

    being cheap costs more. Specifically, buying crappy tools costs more. You end up having to buy the right ones eventually.

    Now, there are certain ways to develop film that cost far less than other ways. They are equally valid. (Using a staining developer because it costs less is not one of them. Typically Pyro is not a first time developer.) Using inexpensive trays is certainly cheaper than a Jobo drum. And arguably better.

    If you do not mind standing around in the dark, trays work great.

    Personally, I would suggest using HC-110 or Rodinal if you are only developing a couple of shots a month. Both of those can be used once through, and in very low concentrations. Or in higher concentrations to get shorter developing times. They are also insanely easy to mix.

    On the other hand, you can't really go wrong with D76 1+1 (or ID11). And at <$5 / gallon it is not very expensive.

  7. #7

    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Somerset, England.
    Posts
    69

    Re: Need advise on home processing

    Quote Originally Posted by Greg Blank View Post
    my advice is not buy thing because they are "cheap" that is an asshole approach to
    doing what you ultimately hope to care about. I have never done "cheap" I have done less, and have done thing not so desirable, but cheap is not a word I bandy about.

    People want instant glory - it does not come cheap. Why not show some imagery with your relative concerns before asking for a fix!
    Greg, this is an asshole approach to a set of questions. Especially if the author of the thread admits to being a 'total beginner'.

    "People want instant glory - it does not come cheap".......idiotic and pointless statement.

    If you are developing once a month and only putting through a few negatives at a time, then cost should not be an issue. Shelf life is the greater issue. I wouldn't consider any developer to be expensive if used as little as once a month.
    You will want a developer that will last and work well over a long period of time. The last thing you want is to buy a developer that is cheap, only to discover that it exhausts after using only half a bottle. So paying a little more will prove helpful in the long run.

    I use Rodinal and I couldn't agree more with what was said about it's shelf life and ease of use. I haven't used hcc-110 so I can't comment, but I totally agree with Mike and Davids recommendation of Rodinal to suit your needs. As the others said, you need to do your own tests for development times.

    I'm happy to admit that I hate film testing, but it's a necessary and crucial evil i'm afraid....

  8. #8

    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    New Hampshire
    Posts
    482

    Re: Need advise on home processing

    Some of the less expensive sheet films are more fragile, more easy to scratch, and will tolerate less tray handling. So, finding best economy may be calculated as a "whole system" equation, not just film, but film + survival rate + the cost of going out to shoot. What comes out cheapest when you figure the cost per sheet that survives the development process? What is the best film brand when you ask what film gives you the most usable negs per shooting session? Going out to shoot is not free.

    Developer is not free... Every incremental cost of shooting is lost if a negative fails during processing.

  9. #9
    David de Gruyl's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Philadelphia
    Posts
    278

    Re: Need advise on home processing

    Another thing that I forgot to mention is that tray processing is only doable with a good darkroom.

    If you do not have a darkroom you can stand up in (or, better, sit on a stool) in front of your trays, get a daylight tank and a changing bag (for 4x5). If you want to do more individual processing, use the btzs tubes, but you run a risk of gouging the negatives on the way in or out of the tubes.

    Personally, I use the HP Combi-plan. It works, and that is the best that can be said about it. It is not pleasant, nor leak proof, nor very easy to load. After the fist hundred or so sheets, it gets much more manageable (as in: no improperly loaded sheets). But it is a daylight tank, and that is a plus. Especially if you do long developing.

  10. #10

    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Somerset, England.
    Posts
    69

    Re: Need advise on home processing

    Be careful David! The last thing anyone wants is Bob from HP marketing on their case about proper/improper use of the Combi Plan!

    I would suggest the Combi Plan for daylight work. Just as David says it takes a little getting used to, but after a few runs you realise that it's a really simple yet great bit of kit.

    Going back to developing, I would suggest looking at the recommended shelf life of stock solutions then doing the sums; The amount of stock solution made from one packet/bottle divided by the amount you would estimate using each month, this will give you a VERY ROUGH idea of how long you will need the developer to last.

Similar Threads

  1. large format colour photography home processing
    By numnutz in forum Darkroom: Film, Processing & Printing
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 10-Jun-2009, 10:08
  2. E6 chemicals: unhealthy for home processing?
    By niubi in forum Darkroom: Film, Processing & Printing
    Replies: 15
    Last Post: 14-Sep-2007, 03:50
  3. QuickLoad - home processing tips?
    By Jim Graves in forum Darkroom: Film, Processing & Printing
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 17-Aug-2007, 14:40
  4. E6 Processing
    By Doug Dolde in forum Resources
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 21-Mar-2006, 10:24
  5. Black &White reversal processing
    By David Carney in forum Darkroom: Film, Processing & Printing
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 5-Jul-2000, 16:27

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •