Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 14

Thread: What's your EI for HP5 and PMK?

  1. #1

    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Posts
    409

    What's your EI for HP5 and PMK?

    Hi guys,

    I haven't shot Hp5+ in 120 or sheets for over 10 years, and never developed it in PMK. I just want to check what EI you guys shoot at when developing sheets in PMK.

    I've been shooting Kodak Tri-X at EI260 and it gives wonderful results. I know HP5+ is a very different film, but I want to make sure the shadow detail separation is good and I'm not getting blocked up highlights. I know it's a bit of a finicky film in this regard, and wonder if this is why Photography Formulary advises to shoot it at 320-400? But how does shadow detail look at 320 if one is exposing for the shadows?

    Thanks again,

    Tim

  2. #2
    Peter De Smidt's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2001
    Location
    Fond du Lac, WI, USA
    Posts
    8,954

    Re: What's your EI for HP5 and PMK?

    I haven't used this combo in a long time, but when I did, I used EI 160 for N development.
    “You often feel tired, not because you've done too much, but because you've done too little of what sparks a light in you.”
    ― Alexander Den Heijer, Nothing You Don't Already Know

  3. #3
    Drew Wiley
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    SF Bay area, CA
    Posts
    18,337

    Re: What's your EI for HP5 and PMK?

    I use full box speed (400). This film has a slightly long toe, and has trouble crisply resolving deep shadows, so I prefer to select TMY400 instead when high contrast scenes in open sun are encountered. That being said, I love the midtone expansion and pronounced edge effect possible of HP5 when it's a bit overdeveloped in PMK. That leaves a dilemma, because the highights become hard to manage. But I have a way to have my cake and eat it too - unsharp masking. If I did it the common way - lower ASA and reduced development or compensating development, then the midtones would end up compressed too.

  4. #4

    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Posts
    409

    Re: What's your EI for HP5 and PMK?

    Hi Peter, thanks for the info.

    Are you going that low to compensate for the long curve and the toe? Maybe a silly question, sorry! I wonder why PF state 320 or 400ISO as recommended EI? For Tri-X they recommend 260.

    Thanks again,

    Tim

  5. #5

    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Posts
    409

    Re: What's your EI for HP5 and PMK?

    Thanks Drew, helpful as always with this stuff.

    I think I'll experiment by starting at EI250, and double up with EI320.

    Thanks again,

    Tim

  6. #6
    Steven Ruttenberg's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2017
    Location
    Mesa, AZ
    Posts
    2,779

    Re: What's your EI for HP5 and PMK?

    I am certainly a novice here, but I start with the stated rating, HP5-400 or Tmax100, Across100, etc. Then figure it out from there. I am going to process some HP5 this weekend, comparing standard developing in Tmax and HC-110, then try it with bleach, bleach plus 2-bath. All at the stated EI of 400. Once, done, if anyone one wants to borrow my negatives for their own way of processing, examining, let me know and I will send them out.

  7. #7
    David de Gruyl's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Philadelphia
    Posts
    278

    Re: What's your EI for HP5 and PMK?

    Quote Originally Posted by Tim V View Post
    For Tri-X they recommend 260.
    Tri-X is non-specific. Assuming TXP (ISO 320) that is something like 1/3 stop increase in exposure, which isn't exactly earth shattering. I'm seeing a recommendation of EI 320-400 for HP5, which is also "somewhere around 1/3 stop overexposure".

  8. #8

    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Posts
    409

    Re: What's your EI for HP5 and PMK?

    Yes, it’s almost splitting hairs in some cases, it’s just that I know PMK usually requires a bit more light to get a good, full range of tones that are well separated. I’m mainly contact printing from 8x10” on CB paper, so don’t need contrasty negs however. Just want to get a good starting point consensus on the EI with standard development so I can then refine for my own look. Tri-X 400 at EI250 is great in 120 format and would use that for 8x10” except for the high price for 10 sheet box.

  9. #9
    Peter De Smidt's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2001
    Location
    Fond du Lac, WI, USA
    Posts
    8,954

    Re: What's your EI for HP5 and PMK?

    My use of this combo was from about 20 years ago. I simply exposed a scene at various EIs and made prints. I like the print from the frames with more exposure. That's easy to test if you agree.
    “You often feel tired, not because you've done too much, but because you've done too little of what sparks a light in you.”
    ― Alexander Den Heijer, Nothing You Don't Already Know

  10. #10

    Join Date
    Nov 1999
    Location
    San Clemente, California
    Posts
    3,804

    Re: What's your EI for HP5 and PMK?

    Quote Originally Posted by Tim V View Post
    ...Tri-X 400 at EI250 is great in 120 format and would use that for 8x10” except for the high price for 10 sheet box.
    One cannot use TX400 in 8x10 since it's not manufactured. The 8x10 version of TRI-X is 320TXP, an entirely different film with a very dissimilar characteristic curve.

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •