HC110 as a replacement for Rodinal

mawz · 07-02-2009, 08:38 PM

I'm down to my last bottle of Rodinal, can't seem to source any of the replacement versions locally and am unwilling to mail-order chemicals for various reasons.

I'm looking for a good low-cost high dilution developer. Preferably available in liquid concentrate with moderate to high accutance. The ability to push is unneeded as I already use TMax for that (Great stuff, but not cheap).

The developer should work well with HP5, PanF, Acros and Tri-X (both 400TX and 320TXP).

I was thinking of going with HC110 as a replacement. Will it live up to my needs as described?

Robert Hall · 07-02-2009, 09:02 PM

Are you looking for cheap or good?

jim appleyard · 07-02-2009, 09:04 PM

HC-110 can be your source for low-cost, high-dilution, and it does last forever, but that's about all it has in common Rodinal. Rodinal is an accutance dev, HC-110 is for moderate to fine grain.

aluk · 07-02-2009, 09:19 PM

If you are in Toronto, most Henry's branches have Rodinal; it has been re-labeled in Canada as Blazinal, but is the same stuff. If the name matters, I think that the one downtown (Church) still had a couple of 'original' Rodinal bottles as of last week.

rusty_tripod · 07-02-2009, 10:39 PM

I have been very happy with HC-110 but I am using Rodinal right now.

Colin Corneau · 07-02-2009, 11:04 PM

If I can find Rodinal/Blazinal here in the sticks, I'm positive you'll be able to find it in the Centre of the Universe.

Thomas Bertilsson · 07-02-2009, 11:15 PM

I would say that the look of both developers is dissimilar. Rodinal, to me, is a very powerful developer, but fairly slow working. You can really build contrast with it while maintaining glorious midtones. Sharp, rather obvious grain that you may or may not like.
HC-110 is finer grained, has a tendency to pronounced highlights (in my experience) and muted mid-tones.
Out of the two I like Rodinal best. An alternative for you is Xtol. If you use a 5L package as a replenished solution, you spend about 70ml per roll. At $9 for the kit, you can developer about 70 rolls for that cost. You do the math. Very economical and a wonderful developer that is almost as sharp as Rodinal, but has quite a bit finer grain, and has more shadow detail (film speed).

- Thomas

Phillip P. Dimor · 07-02-2009, 11:54 PM

I have both HC110 and Rodinal. I prefer rodinal. It is easier to measure and I prefer the look. That being said, it does seem to last a long time.

WGibsonPhotography · 07-03-2009, 12:13 AM

I'm assuming you regularly develop the films you listed in Rodinal. correct me if i'm wrong.

Rodinal is my developer of choice, but I have never used HC110, so I'm really not much help (as usual). I shoot mostly HP5+ and FP4+ (35mm for both). I find the grain of HP5+ and Rodinal quite nice, though I've heard a lot of people complain that it's horrible.

From what I understand, HC110 is a finer grain developer. I cant say anything other than that :/

Just out of Curiosity, why are you unwilling to mail-order chemicals? I've ordered a few bottles of Rodinal, some Dektol, and paper from Freestyle with no problems at all.

Morry Katz · 07-03-2009, 12:28 AM

HC110 is dilutable many ways - just check the Kodak web site for information. And it's very versatile, with nice grain and reasonable times. I found Rodinal too contrasty and grainy for my taste. Have experimented with many other formulae and have just returned to HC 110 and D-76. Old standbyes. For more information see "The Negative" by Ansel Adams. He loved HC.
Cheers
Morry Katz - Lethbridge, Alberta