Rodinal 1:100, starting times?

[Daniel_Buck]

So I have picked up a bottle of Rodinal (Agfa) since I have read that HC-110 (my current developer) is not recommended for some of the films I am trying (Adox Ortho 25, and Arista EDU 100).

I develop my 8x10 on a roller, using 320ml of water + developer. I have read somewhere that Rodinal is best used with no less than 5-10ml of Rodinal no matter what the dilution. If I do a 1:100 with 320ml of water, that would be just over 3ml of Rodinal, less than what I have read is the suggested minimum. Has anyone used Rodinal 1:100 in a roller drum before? Could I get some suggestions for starting points on dilution and developing times? I am planning on trying 1:100 and let the roller go for about 10 minutes for the Arista 100, does that sounds like a good starting point? (temperature about 20-21 degrees C)

I have looked around on the net, but most suggestions I see for developing times refer to a mixture of 1:25. I read alot of suggestions of developing with 1:100, but haven't seen many recommendations for actual developing times with 1:100.

Thanks for any tips on a starting point! I'm wanting to use 1:100 mostly to conserve on chemicals. I know they are fairly inexpensive as it is, but I don't mind letting the roller run for a longer time.

[Clueless Winddancing]

Divide you time by 3; dump the exhausted developer 1/3 the way; add fresh developer; dump that exhausted developer at the 2/3 point and add fresh developer; factor in the dump>fill time and add that to the total new time for fresh, but highly diluted developer. Of course there may be consequences and certainly it would add excitment to the otherwise peaceful processing; but you asked "How?" to conserve chemicals with a highly diluted developer. You got it!

[Ash]

I think I found at 1:100 you're looking at times that last so long you may as well work the extra time in your day job and afford an extra bottle. I got impatient even at 1:50!

[Daniel_Buck]

Ok, at 1:100 (3.2ml dev and 320lm water) at 10 minutes the film was a bit thin. I'm trying 5ml dev to 320lm water right now for 10 minutes (1:64?), see how that looks :-)

Thanks for the replies.

[Daniel_Buck]

64:100 is much closer to what I want, at 10 minutes. So, it looks like 1:50 will probably put me right about perfect, at 10 minutes on the roller.

So my next question, is developer ratio and developing time a linear graph? I mean, does 1:50 @ 10min equal 1:100 @ 20min? 20 minutes is a little longer than I would like to let them roll (I was hoping for 10-12 minutes, my usual for HC110 is 8 minutes). I think I'll stick with 1:50. Thanks for everyone who looked and replied. :-)

[SergeyT]

Daniel, Go for 1:50, save on energy bill :)

[Daniel_Buck]

heh, money isn't really my consern, I just like to get the most out of the chemicals that I can (easilly), since I develop one sheet and dump. But after trying a few sheets, I think 10 minutes is about my tolerance for waiting, I thought I would be fine waiting longer, but I guess not. Especially when I have 8 or 10 sheets waiting to go, haha!

So here's a question, if 1:50 at 10 minutes is what I like, will 1:25 at 5 minutes be the same? (if I'm in a hurry) Or will the contrast be different? (on a roller)

[SergeyT]

I would shoot 3-4 4x5s (cut your 8x10 in the dark for more fun :) ) and give it a try with different times. I think there is a risk of uneven develpoment with short processing times.

[Daniel_Buck]

I would shoot 3-4 4x5s (cut your 8x10 in the dark for more fun :) ) and give it a try with different times. I think there is a risk of uneven develpoment with short processing times.

Yes, the un-even development is another reason (suggested to me by a few people) to run a thinner mixture for a longer amount of time. I would imagine 5 minutes would probably be adiquate though? I'll run some tests later, I'll stick with 1:50 @ 10min for now, on the Arista 100, it seems to be doing nicely.

[Paul H]

...
So here's a question, if 1:50 at 10 minutes is what I like, will 1:25 at 5 minutes be the same? (if I'm in a hurry) Or will the contrast be different? (on a roller)

Probably not - for a start, you'll likely end up with a lower EI, higher contrast and a more "gritty" grain - if you even see grain in 8x10 ;).

Rodinal can have quite a different look depending on dilutions and agitation.

[venchka]

Don't know what container you use. I have Jobo 3010 and 2553 tanks and Paterson roll film tanks. I use 800ml of developer unless I'm only devloping one or 2 sheets. Then I use 400ml in the 3010. Surely you could try 5ml + 500ml or more perhaps? I found an old Agfa development sheet on the internet. As I recall, they listed 1:100 times at 20 minutes for several films in small tanks with the usual intermitant agitation. ISO speeds were less than box speeds. Everyone I know who is using Rodinal in small tanks cuts way back on agitation.

My experience to date has been Xtol 1:3 and 8ml Rodinal in 800ml total. 120 HP5+ for 8 minutes in the Jobo 2553. The combination worked well for me.

I agree with Paul H. I have also let Pan-F+ and HP5+ sit in Rodinal 1:100 for an hour. That treatment works very well for underexposure and ok for some normal exposure scenes. The jury is still out for extreme over exposure.

[Michael Graves]

HC-110 isn't recommended primarily because of the short developing times. I develop my 8x10 EDU-100 exclusively in HC-110 diluted 1:50 (not a standard HC-110 dilution). In a Jobo, I give it 7 minutes at 68 degrees.

[Toyon]

The massive development chart at www.digitaltruth.com has some 1:100 developing times. They may not be worth much, but they are there.

[venchka]

I found the Agfa Rodinal development chart PDF file. I hope this helps.

[Daniel_Buck]

Thanks for the additional replies :-)

[Jim Ewins]

Kodak Techpan, shot at iso50, develops well 1:125 for 14 min

[venchka]

Thanks Jim. I have one roll of 120 Tech Pan and I have been wondering what I could develop it in.

[mcfactor]

Is there a problem with using more than the recommended amount? Like Venchka said, you could use 5ml rodinal, 500ml water.