What are the benefits of Pyrocat over Rodinal or HC-110?

**stradibarrius** · 15-Jan-2013, 06:12

Is the main reason to use Pyrocat the staining properties? Sharpness?

**Gem Singer** · 15-Jan-2013, 08:40

The main reason I now use Pyrocat-HD developer is that I can give enough exposure to my B&W film maintain details in the shadow areas without loosing

details in the highlight areas.

When using a standard B&W developer, I was blowing out the highlights and experiencing difficulty printing the resulting high contrast negatives.

Also, Pyrocat-HD developer, and a semi-stand development technique, resulted in increased acutance (sharpness).

**Ken Lee** · 15-Jan-2013, 08:46

See An Introduction to Pyro Staining Developers, With Special Attention to the Pyrocat-HD Formula

and http://pyrocat-hd.com/

**photobymike** · 15-Jan-2013, 11:22

Not sharper but more dynamic range

**Scotty230358** · 15-Jan-2013, 11:43

I sometimes find that Pyrocat does its job too well. Many of the subjects I shoot only have a 4 stop brightness range and Pyrocat can sometimes diminish the "brightness" at the high end of the range obliging me to print on around grade 31/2 as standard. I can get round this by increasing the solution strength when the need arises.