Matus Kalisky
2-Nov-2010, 16:24
I have a few questions concerning Pyrocat HD used together with 120 BW films and Jobo drums. As I use the Pyrocat HD as my main developer (everything apart from HP5+, actually) over last 2 years I feel that these questions below are a bit overdue.
My main question goes towards film speed, developer dilution, developing times and agitation.
I mostly use FP4+, Delta 100 and Delta 400 (I like the films and I somehow feel some affiliation to Ilford. Other films are indeed as good). On occasion I shoot some PanF+.
All below applies mostly to 120 film although I also use Jobo drums to develope 4x5 (but with constant agitation rolling the drum on the table). I do wish the Delta 400 would come in 4x5 but that is a different story.
I use the Pyrocat HD (in glycol) in 1:1:100, temperature is mostly between 20 - 21 degrees Celsius. I do continuos inversions first 45 - 60 seconds and then 4 inversions every minute. I have come to developing times of about 8 minutes for Delta 100 and Ilfor FP4+ and about 9 minutes for Delta 400.
I do 4 minutes presoak and use 4 minutes water stop followed by 5 - 10 minutes long fixing in Ilford Ilfofix (1:4) and of course washing (flowing water, 10 minutes)
To the point:
The film speed - while with Delta 400 the above procedure seems to deliver results about EI400, for Delta 100 and FP4+ it is closer to 80. I am still unsure about the PanF+ (25 - 50).
My question
- do you find my procedure sensible?
- if you have different way - how you proceed?
- I had uneven development when I tried agitation every 3 minutes instead of every minute - what is your experience?
- what is your experience with film speed with Pyrocat HD?
- does the relative ratio of A and B solutions influences film speed or contrast?
- how long can the open bottles of Pyrocat HD (glycol) - stock A and B solutions - be stored at room temperature?
- how does the aging of stock solution shows? (important)
My main question goes towards film speed, developer dilution, developing times and agitation.
I mostly use FP4+, Delta 100 and Delta 400 (I like the films and I somehow feel some affiliation to Ilford. Other films are indeed as good). On occasion I shoot some PanF+.
All below applies mostly to 120 film although I also use Jobo drums to develope 4x5 (but with constant agitation rolling the drum on the table). I do wish the Delta 400 would come in 4x5 but that is a different story.
I use the Pyrocat HD (in glycol) in 1:1:100, temperature is mostly between 20 - 21 degrees Celsius. I do continuos inversions first 45 - 60 seconds and then 4 inversions every minute. I have come to developing times of about 8 minutes for Delta 100 and Ilfor FP4+ and about 9 minutes for Delta 400.
I do 4 minutes presoak and use 4 minutes water stop followed by 5 - 10 minutes long fixing in Ilford Ilfofix (1:4) and of course washing (flowing water, 10 minutes)
To the point:
The film speed - while with Delta 400 the above procedure seems to deliver results about EI400, for Delta 100 and FP4+ it is closer to 80. I am still unsure about the PanF+ (25 - 50).
My question
- do you find my procedure sensible?
- if you have different way - how you proceed?
- I had uneven development when I tried agitation every 3 minutes instead of every minute - what is your experience?
- what is your experience with film speed with Pyrocat HD?
- does the relative ratio of A and B solutions influences film speed or contrast?
- how long can the open bottles of Pyrocat HD (glycol) - stock A and B solutions - be stored at room temperature?
- how does the aging of stock solution shows? (important)