Found film help needed

rover · 03-28-2005

I have a roll of found film, 120 Ilford HPS Panchromatic. "Chromatic" means slide film right?

This is from the Super Ricohflex my father's friend gave him. If I can develop it and return the photographs to him that would be nice.

I wonder if 40yo slide film can be developed?

FrankS · 03-28-2005

I'm pretty sure that Panchromatic means that it is B+W film that is sensitive to all colours of the spectrum as opposed to orthochromatic which has no sensitivity to red. You've got yourself some B+W film there, Ralph!

rover · 03-28-2005

Now I have to figure out how long to let it swim in the D76. It isn't listed on the Massive Development Chart. Any other ideas?

back alley · 03-28-2005

rover,

time/temp for pan f would be a place to start.

i think pan f is rated at 50 and my guess is your film was rated at 32.

joe

FrankS · 03-28-2005

Go to thsi site: http://website.lineone.net/~mauricef...hronology.html

rover · 03-28-2005

1956 puts it right where I think I am looking.

"Ilford HPS roll film (120 size) and 35mm film introduced "the fastest film in the world". Fast panchromatic, 400ASA in daylight, 320ASA in tungsten light. "

So it is a fast film.

FrankS · 03-28-2005

http://www.toptown.com/nowhere/kypfe...etteGuide3.htm

scroll down a bit until you see a subtitle: 35mm B+W films
It lists HPS as 800 ASA

rover · 03-28-2005

Too tired to think anymore.

Right now I am thinking D76 1:1 for 13 minutes.

I will search more tomorrow.

FrankS · 03-28-2005

That sounds good.

Some developers are called compensating developers, that is, they are not too aggressive but just develop as much as they should and then additional time does not result in more development. I think D76 is a more aggressive developer used to maximize film speed. You may be better off with Ilfosol S or some other less aggressive developer.

rover · 03-28-2005

Thanks for the help Frank.

T_om · 03-28-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by rover

Now I have to figure out how long to let it swim in the D76. It isn't listed on the Massive Development Chart. Any other ideas?

With film that you know nothing about I would recommend Diafine, not D76.

There is ABSOLUTELY no more forgiving developer. It is a two part compensating developer. You do not have to monitor either time, about 4 minutes (more or less) for part A, then 4 minutes (more or less) for part B, or temperature (as long as parts A&B are even remotely close to the same temperature when you start.).

You will find Diafine to be a somewhat 'flat' developer, not nearly as contrasty as others but with a large dynamic range. However, this is a GOOD characteristic nowadays in that scanned negatives let you do a lot with the information you scan whereas in the paper/chemical based darkroom, you sometimes had to use some pretty contrasty paper to get the best from Diafine.

Check it out. There is info available on the net about this great old developer. I use it all the time. Ilford HP/FP films loves the stuff and it is perhaps the best developer for Tri-X ever made.

Tom

FrankS · 03-28-2005

That's what I was talking about. Good one, Tom!

T_om · 03-28-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrankS

That's what I was talking about. Good one, Tom!

I am amazed more people do not know about Diafine. I have been using it for 35 years.

Got one roll each of Tri-X, HP5, T-Max, Plus-X and Agfa APX 100?

Throw them ALL in the soup at the same time... 35mm or 120 makes no difference either.

Great stuff and it lasts FOREVER. You can keep using the developer for as long as you have enough part A left to cover the film roll. I have used the same gallon batch for over a year with several hundred rolls put through it. Part B gets a bit grungy looking but it keeps on working. Seems to get even better after a dozen or so rolls have been put though it too, just like the old 777 formulation did.

It is the only developer I use any more. Truly the lazy and frugal man's dream.

Tom

back alley · 03-28-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by rover

1956 puts it right where I think I am looking.

"Ilford HPS roll film (120 size) and 35mm film introduced "the fastest film in the world". Fast panchromatic, 400ASA in daylight, 320ASA in tungsten light. "

So it is a fast film.

amazing how 'close' i was!

aggghhhh.......!!!!!!!!!!!!!

joe

tedwhite · 03-28-2005

I used to use both Acufine and Diafine back in the '60's. Also Rodinal. I can't recall why I quit the three and went to D76.

I probably used them in the first place because, as a newbie, I had been told they worked better when you pushed TriX.

rover · 03-29-2005

This is a good start to the morning.

Thanks guys

rover · 03-29-2005

Wow, this Diafine sounds great, now I have to find some.

Ok, from my lunch time reading, do you shot your films at the film box speeds or at the speeds recommended on the Diafine box?

Has anyone developed fast film, Delta 3200 or TMax 3200 in it?

GeneW · 03-29-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by rover

Wow, this Diafine sounds great, now I have to find some.

You can click through to Adorama -- they stock it.

I've been looking for months for a Canadian supplier, with no luck. It's not economical for me to pay cross-border shipping for a box of chemicals ...

Gene

Doug · 03-29-2005

Hi Rover -- I'm a fan of Diafine, now my only silver-B&W developer. Since varying the time/temp of development (within broad limits) has no effect on the image density, the only remaining variable element is exposure. Diafine is a super compensating developer that, by increasing the density of shadow areas of the image, truly increases the film speed of some films. Some films like Pan F are not boosted in speed, while Tri-X is, for instance. Though the Diafine box may be a little optimistic on the suggested film speeds, that's your best guide. I think they say 1600 for Tri-X, whereas 1000-1200 is more realistic, but that's only down half a stop or so. I also run Ilford FP4 at EI 250...

I have shot Delta 3200 at EI 1600 and developed in Diafine, but I have not printed or scanned it to be able to share samples. But the negs look excellent.

FrankS · 03-29-2005

Diafine not available in Canada? Pity.

rover · 03-29-2005

I read that although the Diafine box recommends higher speeds, because it is a low contrast developer to rate film at the recommended ISO for better shadow detail without blowing out the highlights. Really interesting.

www.dunnamphoto.com/diafine_developer.htm

Gene, I am going to call, or click Adorama now. I called the local retailers who would be some what convenient for me, and no one has it.

The most likely shop says they occationally have it in stock, but not today. I wonder if it can be shipped through the mail? I will find out I guess.

Doug · 03-29-2005

But, getting to the current found-film situation... the reason Tom's suggestion is so reasonable is in the nature of the way Diafine works. Developing agent soaks into the emulsion in Part A, but no development occurs. Part B activates the development process, but of course the only developer present is carried over by the film. When it's exhausted, development must stop. Minimal agitation in Part B is best. That's because you want to localize Diafine's activity, such that denser areas of the image exhaust their local supply of developer and then stop developing to keep the highlights from blocking up. At the same time, low-density (shadow) areas can keep developing to completion, when there's no more exposed silver salts to work on. Too much agitation undermines the localization of this compensating activity.

So, here Diafine is a good choice because it will operate pretty well on the image regardless of the exposure... When the highlight or overexposed areas exhaust their developer, they stop developing. Where the film got less exposure, it gets continued development to compensate, bringing up whatever detail is possible. For the found film it may not give ideal results, but it's the best chance for decent usable results for an unknown film with unknown exposure.

rover · 03-29-2005

Not in stock at Adorama. I never trust their web site, I called and they don't have it.

rover · 03-29-2005

Diafine found, and it may be availible in Canada too.

It seems this is a Canadian Company.

http://www.freestylephoto.biz/sc_main.php?cat_id=301

FrankS · 03-29-2005

I'd love to get me some of that.