Fuji Acros 100 35mm

[edbuffaloe]

I haven't used Acros in 35mm, but use it in 120. I rate it at 50 and develop in PMK (1:1:100) for 14 minutes at 70 degrees F.

[roy]

I thank all who have chipped in. I think I have enough to keep me occupied for a while and I shall let members know should I have anything worthwhile to report.
roy.

[tommorris]

Must... try... this... film...

(I use Neopan 400 in both 120 and 135, and I really ought to try this sometime...)

[roy]

Following on from previous comments and related threads under other PMK subject headings, I developed my 35mm films over the weekend and 'suffered' mixed results. One I developed in a 2 bath dev and the result appears to be acceptable although I have not yet looked at the negs on a lightbox. The other I used PMK and have very thin negatives. I am not so much concerned about the staining aspect as I expect little with this film. Looking at the edge markings they appear to be not as black as I would expect. All this leads to my main point and that is can I have some advice please, on the advisability of selenium toning negs to give them a bit more body and contrast. Les, I have found your advice given on Colin's workshops useful, are you able to chip in here ? The moral of all this is however, listen to good advice you are given but in my defence I must say you do not know until you try for yourself and I was trying out different combinations !!

[Les McLean]

All this leads to my main point and that is can I have some advice please, on the advisability of selenium toning negs to give them a bit more body and contrast. Les, I have found your advice given on Colin's workshops useful, are you able to chip in here ? The moral of all this is however, listen to good advice you are given but in my defence I must say you do not know until you try for yourself and I was trying out different combinations !!

however, listen to good advice you are given but in my defence I must say you do not know until you try for yourself and I was trying out different combinations !![/quote]

I'd suggest 10 minutes in selenium toner diluted 1 part toner to 3 parts water at 20c. The best you can hope for is perhaps 3/4 of a grade of paper contrast. This is based on having some information on the negative, clearly if there is nothing there you cannot intensify it. There are other intensifyers, such as mercury which will give significant increases but the chemicals are probably difficult to get or not available unless you know someone who has access. one downer with mercury, other than it's nasty, is that it does significantly increase grain. Chromium is also good and is available from Fotospeed. It's similar to toning in that you bleach the negative and redevelop it in PRINT developer and get an increase of about 15% in density. You can repeat this process several times but you will increase the grain in the neg. I understand that it is proportional in that it will intensify the highlights slightly more that the shadows so some increase in contrast is likely to be the result. It's worth a try if you do have a neg that you want to print. If you want to call them their new number is 01249 714555.



I

[roy]

Thanks Les. I shall try a strip of negs in selenium. I am sure the detail is there, they just look pale but there is contrast on the film.

[Aggie]

..

[Aggie]

..

[roy]

[quote="Aggie"] I goofed a week ago, and came out with some really thin, I mean almost blank negatives.

Thanks Aggie, I have had a look at your picture. I am heartened by the fact that I have some contrast in my negs but the lack of it is not the 'pyro effect' as the edge markings show. I cannot print for a couple of months as my darkroom is in my loft and I am recovering from a hip replacement. I feel sure I can get some prints from these negatives and am looking forward to having a shot at them in the autumn.

[roy]

Further to my last post, I tempted providence and developed another Acros in PMK. It came out fine this time and I have concluded that the chemical mix was wrong. Reading 'the book' again, I realise I did not use sufficient alkali. as you have stated
Aggie, it is not the ideal combination but, one has to try.