Densitometer for Pyrocat negs

[Fred Braakman]

I am considering going to Pyrocat HD development of my negatives. I understand that a color densitometer is required to read the negatives. Is that correct? I have a black and white densitometer.

Is there any particular model (X-Rite) that would be suitable? e.g X-Rite 810? I see that they are available on e-bay.

Thanks!

Fred

[sanking]

I am considering going to Pyrocat HD development of my negatives. I understand that a color densitometer is required to read the negatives. Is that correct? I have a black and white densitometer.

Is there any particular model (X-Rite) that would be suitable? e.g X-Rite 810? I see that they are available on e-bay.

Thanks!

Fred

Some black and white densitometers may read the stain density for silver printing when fitted with an appropriate blue-violet absorbing filter such as the Schott BG-28 or a Wratten 47 or 47B.

X-rite 810, used in Blue mode, reads stained negatives OK for silver printing. For alternative printing you need a densitometer capable of UV reading.

Sandy King

[Rob Vinnedge]

Bob Herbst wrote a very good article on the X-Rite model 361T and its ability to read Pyro negatives. You might check Unblinking Eye for the article.

[Andrew O'Neill]

I use Heiland's TRD-2, which is a b/w densitometre. I pyrocat-HD negs through #47 kodak wratten filter. A colleague of mine has a colour densitiometre and I've been meaning to check my readings with it. I am quite satisfied with a plane old b/w densitometre and a blue filter.

[sanking]

I use Heiland's TRD-2, which is a b/w densitometre. I pyrocat-HD negs through #47 kodak wratten filter. A colleague of mine has a colour densitiometre and I've been meaning to check my readings with it. I am quite satisfied with a plane old b/w densitometre and a blue filter.


Most B&W densitometers work fine with the Wratten #47 or #47b filter.

Remember that the blue filter is most accurate for reading negatives that are to be printed on graded silver papers that are only sensitive to blue light. A negative DR of about 1.2 is about right for many graded papers.

VC papers have sensitivity to both blue and green light so a densitometer reading can be misleading. The best procedure in my opinion is to develop the negatives to a higher contrast than would be needed for printing on graded silver papers and then lower print contrast if necessary by using VC filters #3 or less. A negative DR of about 1.4 - 1.5 should work ok for most VC papers using a VC filter 2.5 or the equivalent filtration from a color head.

Sandy King

[Andrew O'Neill]

'tis true but I still get consistent results. Besides, I can't afford a colour densitometre.

[William D. Lester]

Fred

I use an Xrite 810 for checking densities with Pyro negatives. I have a spare that I am willing to sell if you're interested.

[Rob Vinnedge]

There are two used X-Rite 361T densitometers in excellent condition available on ebay (I am not connected in any way). Buy It Now price is $575. I paid over $600 for mine, and they retail for more than $2000.

[sanking]

There are two used X-Rite 361T densitometers in excellent condition available on ebay (I am not connected in any way). Buy It Now price is $575. I paid over $600 for mine, and they retail for more than $2000.


The X-Rite 361T is a fine instrument that has a UV mode, pretty much essential if you want to do sensitometry with stained negatives for alternative processes that are UV sensitive.

However, for silver printing the UV mode is not necessary so a less expensive color densitometer like the X-Rite 810 will work just as well.


Sandy King