The black & white transparency process and dr5 - who's used it/them?

[Corran]

large format positive as the final display medium

That's what I'm curious about. Which of course LF is uniquely suited for, as opposed to smaller negatives.

Richard - true enough, but I'm over paying big bucks to labs when I can do things myself. But dr5 is supposedly a proprietary thing. Anyway, I'll have to order some thiosulfate and try it myself, and report back, maybe...

[Doug Herta]

I used to do this process quite a bit 5-10 years ago. The technique is not difficult, but I found it hard to get consistent results. The basic develop, bleach, clear, 2nd exposure, 2nd development, fix is pretty well covered here:

http://www.ilfordphoto.com/Webfiles/20061291034093.pdf

If I remember correctly, dr5 has a proprietary process that uses a chemical reversal process instead of re-exposing the film to light and has profiled the process to different films. I think this is where some of the inconsistency comes in (consistent intensity and timing of the light exposure) and where dr5 will give consistently good results rather than the hit-or-miss I have experienced. If there is interest, we could start a new thread with recipes and techniques and even show off some reversal slides from the process.

[Kirk Gittings]

Yea being as we shoot large format here unless your going to use the large format positive as the final display medium it just seems like a unneeded extra cost.

Hmmmm yep, don't really feel the need for a transparent final display medium.

[Will Frostmill]

Pardon me if this is too basic a question, but why not contact print or enlarge onto high contrast sheet film?

[Paul Cunningham]

I just sent out two frames (4x5) of FP4+ to dr5. Looking forward to seeing them soon, there is nothing like a good slide.

[Kirk Gittings]

Curious as to whY? What are you going to use it for? With no burning/dodging or contrast control?

[Paul Cunningham]

It's a duplicate, and I'm curious. I will scan; I'm interested to know if the dynamic range is significantly different. If it doesn't pan out then it's no big deal. I still have so much to learn that everything's interesting and exciting.
The direct appeal of transparencies is unmatched by any negative or paper print, at least for me.

[Kirk Gittings]

Got it. While I agree that transparencies are beautiful (I have some 15k color in storage) and these are too, they have no use to me anymore except scanned and in b&w I don't see any advantage over scanning the a neg.

[Taija71A]

I just sent out two frames (4x5) of FP4+ to dr5. Looking forward to seeing them soon, there is nothing like a good slide.

Curious as to whY? What are you going to use it for?

___

Paul has a very good point!

Once, you get used to seeing a 4x5 or larger B&W Slide/Transparency... They become pretty 'Addictive'. (*Notice I did not say 'Inexpensive').
--
Kirk, they of course may... Not be 'suitable' for the type of Photography that you do or your present needs.

But 'say'... In a Studio (Controlled) Environment or for 'Fine Art' Images and some Alternative Processes -- They are beautiful and definitely come 'Into their Own!'

... With no burning/dodging or contrast control?

___

There actually is a large amount of 'Contrast Control'.

Depending...

1). On the Film chosen...

and

2). The ISO that is selected...

The 'scope' of potential Dynamic Range's that are achievable... Is 'Leaps and Bounds' above, what you will ever see on a Print. (*If so desired).
--
For starters... Please feel free to read the following:

Why do I need a B&W transparency?
What makes dr5 better?

http://www.dr5.com/faq.html

--
Best regards,

-Tim.
_________

[Kirk Gittings]

Tim I know all about their product and have seen a lot of the results as I visited their booth at a few VC conferences many years ago and spoke to them at length and yes they are beautiful and I considered having some made, but frankly in the end I simply couldn't see a use for them. The thing about scanning being better from a transparency over a neg is overblown sales hype. I have had thousands of color transparencies, color negs and b&w negs both done by me personally and done professionally over the years so I know of what I speak. Plus I don't want just one contrast on an image but different contrasts in different areas.