[LRflex] Re: Darkroom / film-developer combinations
- From: David Simms <simmszee@xxxxxxxx>
- To: leicareflex@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 1 Jul 2010 16:49:08 -0700 (PDT)
I wouldn't trust my chemical knowledge, I'm a physics guy. So, I'm willing to
be a simple consumer insofar as developers are concerned.
Remember the Nike slogan "just do it !" . Concentrate on one step at a time;
get prepared, put the film into the tank...then, you're committed. Go for it!
Once you're in the grove, it'll be as if you had never stopped.
Dave
________________________________
From: Aram Langhans <leica_r8@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: leicareflex@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Thu, July 1, 2010 4:03:39 PM
Subject: [LRflex] Re: Darkroom / film-developer combinations
I have 4 rolls of film waiting to be developed. Can't seem to get up the
gumption to do it. One is 2 years old.
You mentioned Rodinal. That for years has been my favorite developer. The
grain is not too bad, and the sharpness is exceptional. In latter years I
got to mixing a bit of a ascorbate, or in my case ascorbic acid neutralized
with a bit of baking soda, if I remember correctly, and that decreased the
grain quite a bit. If you can find some sodium ascorbate that is easier
than the ascorbic acid approach, but with a bit of chemical knowledge it is
not too bad.. Might give that a try and see how you like it. My film of
choice was FP4. Maybe this summer I will get brave and soup my 4 rolls,
then shoot a bit more for old time sake, since I still have some in the
freezer.
Aram
--------------------------------------------------
From: "David Simms" <simmszee@xxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, July 01, 2010 9:27 AM
To: <leicareflex@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [LRflex] Darkroom / film-developer combinations
> Recently, I picked up a nearly-new 28mm f2.8 Elmarit-M ASPH to go with the
> 35mm Summicron ASPH that I had managed to get a very good deal on, several
> years ago. I thought it was time to have a look at film-developer
> combinations in order to be sure I was maximizing the potential of these
> lenses.
> Lately, my subject matter has been nature and I usually use a leica
> tabletop tripod to stabilize the camera on nearby trees, rocks or whatever
> is handy.
>
> I've done a fair bit of research and I'm willing to accept the word of
> folks who have done extensive testing of films and developers because I
> have no desire to reinvent the wheel. I simply want to have the materials
> I need and to get to know them by using them and to be assured that the
> results will be as close as possible to optimal.
>
> I've settled on Delta 100, developed in Ilfotec DDX, as my film of choice.
> I have used Delta 100 in both Ilfotec HC and in HC110 and I found the
> results to be satisfactory but I haven't done side-by-side comparisons
> because I've changed lenses too. I am more than satisfied with the Delta
> 100/DDX combination.
>
> I had been curious about Rodinal. It has the advantages of nearly infinite
> shelf life, particularly when stored in glass bottles - not plastic- and
> great edge sharpness -acuteness. It can also be used at different
> dilutions in order to achieve particular effects. Nevertheless, I decided
> to shelve Rodinal although I'd like to try using it with Pan-X or FP4.
> Although it produces remarkable edge sharpness, Rodinal is considered to
> be a grainy developer. I can appreciate that feature and I don't really
> consider it to be undesirable but, this is a matter of the subject matter
> and the photographer's taste.
>
> DDX is thought to produce amazing results with Delta 3200. I don't use
> 3200 very often but under the conditions in which I would use it, it is
> just about "the only show in town". So, i thought that standardizing on
> DDX would enhance my limited flirtations with Delta 3200.
>
> I ran across an interesting tip for maximizing the shelf life of
> developers. One individual adds glass marbles to his container of
> developer as he uses it. This reduces the amount of air in the bottle and
> slows down the oxidation of the developer. I'll try this and I'll also try
> to find a suitable glass container in which to keep my DDX.
>
> So, this is just a report on my reading of different forums. It's nothing
> earth shaking but, some may find it to be of interest. More, later.
>
> Dave, in Clearwater, BC
>
>
>
>
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