Delta400/Rodinol - Back to the Future.

Tony Evans · 03-13-2010, 11:45 AM

After a long absence I am going back to my film roots of the 80's, at that time, Pan F and Rodinol. Hand-holding, dictated by time, now requires ISO 400. I am starting with Delta 400, DDX and Ilfosol, but I am drawn back to the very lovely Rodinol images of the past. Should I try Rodinol (if I can find it) with the D400 or would I be wasting my time? Comments, advice, appreciated. B&W negs are for scanning. Thank you.

Clicker · 03-13-2010, 02:40 PM

From what i remember when using Agfa, Rodinal was the standard just like D76 is for Kodak, just mix the right ratios the other solutions are for more finer grained film, no?

GeneV · 03-13-2010, 02:46 PM

I'm with you on the same journey. I am exploring Rodinal again, and with slower, fine grained films, I found the results very pleasing. I'm not sure I'd go there with fast film and a small format--unless you are intentionally going for a grainy look. Scanning seems to emphasize grain and so does Rodinal. My Acros in Rodinal starts to look like Neopan 400 in graininess, which is not too bad. On the other hand, I have also not tried Rodinal with any of the new T-grain emulsions.

brkl · 03-13-2010, 05:46 PM

Rodinal with new types of films such as Delta 400 is a bad call. Expect lots and lots of big fat grain. Rodinal is good with medium format films and old emulsions, new emulsions like Delta 100 and 400, Tmax films and such need more modern developers.

Tony Evans · 03-13-2010, 06:07 PM

O.K. guys, thanks for that. Will give up on that dream!

brkl · 03-13-2010, 07:02 PM

Example:

Still, perhaps my own favourite out of anything I've shot. But another developer would have been nice.

GeneV · 03-13-2010, 08:10 PM

Originally posted by brkl

Example:

Still, perhaps my own favourite out of anything I've shot. But another developer would have been nice.

Maybe not. The tonality of that shot screams Rodinal. I wonder if that lovely rendering would have lost something in another soup.

Still, I have heard from many sources that Rodinal and T-grain was a bad mix. I haven't had an expensive roll of Delta or TMX that I wanted to sacrifice to try it out.

titrisol · 03-14-2010, 05:43 AM

D400 works fine in Rodinal.
When the formula of D400 changed it became an outstanding film.
The old D400 workd fine as 200 in 1+25; and the new one worked fine as 320 in 1+25 or 1+50.

GeneV · 03-14-2010, 06:40 AM

I haven't actually tried the Ilford Deltas yet, but so far, I'm not a huge fan of the new grain Kodak emulsions for MF. My local camera store ran out of 120 Acros last week, and so I tried a 5-pack of TMX 100 for the first time in many years. Yesterday, I shot a roll of this film in the 645, and it just didn't grab me. I keep having the feeling that it had the look of a chromogenic film, but the chromogenics did that look better.

titrisol · 03-14-2010, 08:29 AM

Well, Rodinal is quite good for the T/epi/sigma grain films. Since there is almost no grain the long tonality range of Rodinal works in your favor.

Years ago I learned that TMX100 (Exposed as 50) developed in Rodinal 1+50 for 12 minutes was the best low speed film ever.
Same applies for Delta100(EI 64) and Acros100 at full speed.

Give it a try

GeneV · 03-14-2010, 09:46 AM

Originally posted by titrisol

Well, Rodinal is quite good for the T/epi/sigma grain films. Since there is almost no grain the long tonality range of Rodinal works in your favor.

Years ago I learned that TMX100 (Exposed as 50) developed in Rodinal 1+50 for 12 minutes was the best low speed film ever.
Same applies for Delta100(EI 64) and Acros100 at full speed.

Give it a try

I use Rodinal on Acros at full speed, and I am quite happy with it. It is my favorite soup for Acros right now. I won't say that it yields negatives with no grain, but the grain is pleasing.

I'll downrate give it a try on TMax. I wasn't that sure what I wanted to do with the other 4 rolls anyway.

Agnostic · 03-15-2010, 03:39 PM

I like Rodinal stand development, at least for Efke 25, Rollei Retro 100 and Neopan 400 in Medium Format. I don't have much experience with Delta 400 but I recently pushed a roll of Ilford Delta 400 to 1600 iso and developed in Rollei RHS. The results were very pleasing. Haven't tried it in Rodinal though.

Rolleicord Vb, Ilford Delta 400 at 1600 in Rollei RHS

GeneV · 03-15-2010, 05:05 PM

Originally posted by Agnostic

I like Rodinal stand development, at least for Efke 25, Rollei Retro 100 and Neopan 400 in Medium Format. I don't have much experience with Delta 400 but I recently pushed a roll of Ilford Delta 400 to 1600 iso and developed in Rollei RHS. The results were very pleasing. Haven't tried it in Rodinal though.

Those emulsions on which you use Rodinal all, to my knowledge, have a traditional grain structure rathre than a T-Grain.

03-13-2010, 11:45 AM	#1
Tony Evans Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Edmonton Photos: Gallery Posts: 61	Delta400/Rodinol - Back to the Future. After a long absence I am going back to my film roots of the 80's, at that time, Pan F and Rodinol. Hand-holding, dictated by time, now requires ISO 400. I am starting with Delta 400, DDX and Ilfosol, but I am drawn back to the very lovely Rodinol images of the past. Should I try Rodinol (if I can find it) with the D400 or would I be wasting my time? Comments, advice, appreciated. B&W negs are for scanning. Thank you.

03-13-2010, 06:07 PM	#5
Tony Evans Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Edmonton Photos: Gallery Posts: 61 Original Poster	D400/Rodinol O.K. guys, thanks for that. Will give up on that dream!

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03-13-2010, 02:40 PM	#2
Clicker Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,241	From what i remember when using Agfa, Rodinal was the standard just like D76 is for Kodak, just mix the right ratios the other solutions are for more finer grained film, no?

03-13-2010, 02:46 PM	#3
GeneV Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Albuquerque NM Photos: Albums Posts: 9,830	I'm with you on the same journey. I am exploring Rodinal again, and with slower, fine grained films, I found the results very pleasing. I'm not sure I'd go there with fast film and a small format--unless you are intentionally going for a grainy look. Scanning seems to emphasize grain and so does Rodinal. My Acros in Rodinal starts to look like Neopan 400 in graininess, which is not too bad. On the other hand, I have also not tried Rodinal with any of the new T-grain emulsions.

03-13-2010, 05:46 PM	#4
brkl Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 497	Rodinal with new types of films such as Delta 400 is a bad call. Expect lots and lots of big fat grain. Rodinal is good with medium format films and old emulsions, new emulsions like Delta 100 and 400, Tmax films and such need more modern developers.

03-13-2010, 07:02 PM	#6
brkl Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 497	Example: Still, perhaps my own favourite out of anything I've shot. But another developer would have been nice.

03-13-2010, 08:10 PM	#7
GeneV Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Albuquerque NM Photos: Albums Posts: 9,830	Originally posted by brkl Example: Still, perhaps my own favourite out of anything I've shot. But another developer would have been nice. Maybe not. The tonality of that shot screams Rodinal. I wonder if that lovely rendering would have lost something in another soup. Still, I have heard from many sources that Rodinal and T-grain was a bad mix. I haven't had an expensive roll of Delta or TMX that I wanted to sacrifice to try it out.

03-14-2010, 05:43 AM	#8
titrisol Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: In the most populated state... state of denial Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,854	D400 works fine in Rodinal. When the formula of D400 changed it became an outstanding film. The old D400 workd fine as 200 in 1+25; and the new one worked fine as 320 in 1+25 or 1+50.

03-14-2010, 06:40 AM	#9
GeneV Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Albuquerque NM Photos: Albums Posts: 9,830	I haven't actually tried the Ilford Deltas yet, but so far, I'm not a huge fan of the new grain Kodak emulsions for MF. My local camera store ran out of 120 Acros last week, and so I tried a 5-pack of TMX 100 for the first time in many years. Yesterday, I shot a roll of this film in the 645, and it just didn't grab me. I keep having the feeling that it had the look of a chromogenic film, but the chromogenics did that look better.

03-14-2010, 08:29 AM	#10
titrisol Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: In the most populated state... state of denial Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,854	Well, Rodinal is quite good for the T/epi/sigma grain films. Since there is almost no grain the long tonality range of Rodinal works in your favor. Years ago I learned that TMX100 (Exposed as 50) developed in Rodinal 1+50 for 12 minutes was the best low speed film ever. Same applies for Delta100(EI 64) and Acros100 at full speed. Give it a try

03-14-2010, 09:46 AM	#11
GeneV Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Albuquerque NM Photos: Albums Posts: 9,830	Originally posted by titrisol Well, Rodinal is quite good for the T/epi/sigma grain films. Since there is almost no grain the long tonality range of Rodinal works in your favor. Years ago I learned that TMX100 (Exposed as 50) developed in Rodinal 1+50 for 12 minutes was the best low speed film ever. Same applies for Delta100(EI 64) and Acros100 at full speed. Give it a try I use Rodinal on Acros at full speed, and I am quite happy with it. It is my favorite soup for Acros right now. I won't say that it yields negatives with no grain, but the grain is pleasing. I'll downrate give it a try on TMax. I wasn't that sure what I wanted to do with the other 4 rolls anyway.

03-15-2010, 03:39 PM	#12
Agnostic Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Netherlands Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 414	I like Rodinal stand development, at least for Efke 25, Rollei Retro 100 and Neopan 400 in Medium Format. I don't have much experience with Delta 400 but I recently pushed a roll of Ilford Delta 400 to 1600 iso and developed in Rollei RHS. The results were very pleasing. Haven't tried it in Rodinal though. Rolleicord Vb, Ilford Delta 400 at 1600 in Rollei RHS

03-15-2010, 05:05 PM	#13
GeneV Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Albuquerque NM Photos: Albums Posts: 9,830	Originally posted by Agnostic I like Rodinal stand development, at least for Efke 25, Rollei Retro 100 and Neopan 400 in Medium Format. I don't have much experience with Delta 400 but I recently pushed a roll of Ilford Delta 400 to 1600 iso and developed in Rollei RHS. The results were very pleasing. Haven't tried it in Rodinal though. Those emulsions on which you use Rodinal all, to my knowledge, have a traditional grain structure rathre than a T-Grain.