FP4+, d76 1:1 - What is the "correct" developing time?

[g0tr00t]

Ok, I have been doing 11 minutes. The box says 11 minutes, the Massive chart says 11 minutes.

Now I see these vague references that it should be 8 minutes and not 11 minutes....11 minutes is too grainy...

Grrr.....what is the real deal?


FP4+, 125, 68degrees, 11 minutes - this is my current work.

I have 2 rolls to do tonight for class on Wednesday, I would love to try the 8 min. but if it doesn't work...

[Roman]

Where do these vague references come from?
Maybe the 8 min. were recommended in conjunction with rating the film at around 80 ASA instead of 125, which would give better shadow differentiation? Then the reduced dev. time would make sense...

Roman

[g0tr00t]

The dev time that I have for FP4 at 125 ASA in D76 1:1 is 8 minutes. The extra development would go some way to explaining the grain, and the grade 4 would complete the explanation.

--Chris Waller

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-...?msg_id=00A0LW

Two of my teachers in school recommed 8 over 11 minutes and also a chart in a darkroom I recently visited said 8 minutes.

ISO125, 68 degrees, 8 minutes.

When I asked the teachers and darkroom owner why...I was told that the Ilford's #'s are not correct and that 8 minutes would look better.

I am going to roll 2 rolls of 10 and do my own tests, but for this weeks project, I would like to know what the best time would be....

I may just compromise and do 9.5.

My negatives all look properly developed the FP4 and #'s across the top are clear and sharp. There is no sign of over developing so I may just stick to 11....Arghh......

[Roman]

What kind of enlarger are you using? This also makes a difference...
If you are using a condensor enlarger, you should go for lower contrast negs -> 8 min.
If you are using diffuser enlarger, like with a color head, go for contrastier negs. -> 11 min.
For scanning, less dense highlights will probably be better -> 8 min, - but I don't have that much experience with scanning trad. B&W negs myself...

[Roman]

Oh, and BTW, if you've got some spare time, and want to find the 'real' ASA values and dev. times for your film & developer, here are some links for doing so without becoming a 'zonehead':

http://www.halfhill.com/speed1.html
http://www.halfhill.com/speed2.html


Roman

[g0tr00t]

Thanks Roman. I am using a Durst M301 with a Minolta CE 50mm 2.8.

I will poke around those sites and I guess I will know once I run my side by side test in a controlled environment.

[StuartR]

The Film Developing Cookbook has it at 8.5 minutes at 68 degrees in D76 1:1 and 8min in ID11 1:1. They have never failed me. It is an incredible manual. You should check it out.

[StuartR]

Oh, those are for small tank, 135 film, intermittent agitation (5 inversions every 30 seconds) and a diffusion enlarger.

It's weird that they have ID11 and D76 with different formulas...they themselves say they should be the same. In any case, they test all their own times, so they are pretty reliable. Like I said, I have not botched a roll yet when using their formulae.

[g0tr00t]

Agh...darkroom cookbook. Very cool. Thanks for the times. I will be doing 2 rolls today. Many, many thanks!

[back alley]

ilford has long been criticized for inaccurate developing times for their film/developer combinations, although they seem to work ok for me. (but remember, i'm a lazy worker).
the best thing is to experiment and try different times and evaluate the results for yourself.

joe

[g0tr00t]

I just wanted to inform the group that I developed my film and it came out BEAUTIFUL!!! Hardly any grain!!! This is the correct time:
8.5 minutes at 68 degrees in D76 1:1

Many, many thanks to StuartR!!! I owe you one...

[doubs43]

A little late perhaps, but here's a picture taken with a Kiev-4A and Jupiter-8 lens using FP-4 developed in D76 for 8 minutes at 68 degrees.

I've used this combination for years with good results although lately I've been using Rodinal for almost everything.

Walker