best dilute devoloper for HP5

[Ian Grant]

jf I went out on a limb when I processed my HP5.

I've only used APX100 and Tmax100 & 400 for the last 20+ years, until fairly recently. I couldn't get any 120 Tmax400 when I was in Chile & Peru before Xmas, 120 film was extremely scarce, only 5 rolls of HP5 & 5 rolls of FP4 were available.

I used my dev time for Tmax400/Pyrocat-HD for the HP5 which is 15 mins @ 20°C I was lucky that this was virtually spot on. Agitation is continuous for the first 30 seconds then 2 inversions every 30 seconds.

Hope that helps

Ian

[malinmalin]

jf I went out on a limb when I processed my HP5.

I've only used APX100 and Tmax100 & 400 for the last 20+ years, until fairly recently. I couldn't get any 120 Tmax400 when I was in Chile & Peru before Xmas, 120 film was extremely scarce, only 5 rolls of HP5 & 5 rolls of FP4 were available.

I used my dev time for Tmax400/Pyrocat-HD for the HP5 which is 15 mins @ 20°C I was lucky that this was virtually spot on. Agitation is continuous for the first 30 seconds then 2 inversions every 30 seconds.

Hope that helps

Ian

Thanks Ian! Any hints on the dilution?

jf

[Ian Grant]

Dilution was the standard 1+1+100

I do vary the dilution and use 2+2+100 for dish development with my 10x8 negs, and cut the dev time to 8-9 minutes

Ian

[eddym]

I use Ilfotec HC (their equivalent to HC110) diluted 1:31. Gives excellent results, good sharpness, and I often push the film to 1600 for dance photography.

[Ulrich Drolshagen]

I've heard Rodinal's no good with HP5.

Using Rodinal at (or slightly below) 18°C will do the trick. Extend the processing time by a factor of 1.3 for every degree below 20°C as a first approach. I use it for pushing HP5 up to EI 1600. Gives me pretty fine grained results.

Ulrich

[mexipike]

Ulrich, could you give your times at 1600?

[Ulrich Drolshagen]

Ulrich, could you give your times at 1600?

Try 17' at 18°C for 1+25
Works for me! YMMV

Ulrich

[P C Headland]

If you like Xtol but want something that you can dilute with good keeping properties, and you don't mind mixing it yourself, you might like to try something like Instant Mytol or PC-TEA. I use the latter, at 1+50 or 1+100.

My friend switched from Xtol to PC-TEA (partly due to the keeping properties of PC-TEA), using inversion and continuous agitation depending on format, and is very pleased with the results.

[like2fiddle]

I'm currently using HC-110 at 1:100, 20C, 16 minutes with HP-5. Agitate first 30 seconds then 4 inversions every 3 minutes. I like results [I]almost[U as much as D76 1:1 which is my favorite with HP-5.

[Tom Hoskinson]

Another vote for Pyrocat-HD at the 1+1+100 dilution.