FP4+ and developer

[Mark Sampson]

This year I bought some 4x5 FP4+ to try it out, after decades of using TXP-320 for my personal work. I ran exposure/development tests in my standard developer, PMK 1:2:200, and went to work. But I find my tray-processing times to be short, higher contrast than I like, and I'm seeing uneven tones in some of my skies. So I'm thinking of changing developers, perhaps to Pyrocat-HD in one of its variations. (I'd thought of just increasing dilution of the PMK, but the bottle is getting low... good time to make a change.) So if you are shooting FP4+, processing in trays, and getting good negatives, feel free to speak up about your (staining) developer choices.

[Andrew O'Neill]

I develop 8x10 fp4 in pyrocat-hd (10ml+10ml+500ml water) in either tubes or tray. Never had any problems with streaking or uneven development. I don't bother to presoak the film. N development I expose at EI 64, and develop 8:30, tray 10:00 (agitation 5 sec per minute), 21C. I also do semi-stand development in tubes (5ml+5ml+1200ml water). This data is for a density range of about 1.35 for printing on silver gelatin paper.

[Ken Lee]

FP4+ in Pyrocat HD is hard to beat. According to this page (http://unblinkingeye.com/Articles/PCat/PCat3/pcat3.html), it's got almost no toe, and no shoulder.

The only films I like better in Pyrocat HD, are HP5+ and TMY. According to this page (http://unblinkingeye.com/Articles/PCat/PCat4/pcat4.html), their response to changes in development time, are quite linear, when compared to other films. This makes them great for expansion and contraction, and for development by inspection.

Get the glycol-based formula, for extremely long shelf-life. Or mix it yourself. See http://www.pyrocat-hd.com.

[Richard Wasserman]

I'm another big fan of FP-4+ in Pyrocat.

[tuco]

I've used PMK with FP4+ mostly on 120 roll. But the few sheets I've done I had no problems and liked the results. I'd think any uneven development is due to your agitation profile.

[Mark Sampson]

Thanks everyone; I'll give Pyrocat a try. tuco, the uneveness I've seen is most likely due to the short (6:00) time in PMK.

[tuco]

Thanks everyone; I'll give Pyrocat a try. tuco, the uneveness I've seen is most likely due to the short (6:00) time in PMK.

I develop FP4+ (EI100) for 10 min at 1+2+100 for both 120 roll and 4x5 sheet.