Hello everybody!

IBm a big user of AGFA APX 400 film for three main reasons: 1) ItBs cheap;half the price of other films, so I can shoot twice as many. 2) ItBs a beautiful film. 3)I like fast films such as the 400 because I can hand hold the camera and donBt have to use the tripod all the time as is the case with slower films.

When developing my films I like a combination of sharpness, good gradation and as little grain as possible. This is not always an easy combination to achieve. I have tried Rodinal at dilutions of 1:50 and find it to have too much grain but the contrast was beautiful. I have also tried Xtol at dilutions of 1:1, 1:2 and 1:3 with relatively satisfying results but lacking contrast with the times given by Kodak. IBm starting to be afraid to use Xtol because a lot of people are complaining of inconsistant results even when used as Bone shotB only. IBve had some problems with caked Xtol chemicals (1 LT ), but never used them and returned them for exchange.

What are the major differences in the negative when using Xtol 1:1 vs 1:2 vs 1:3? Which is best?

I keep reading that Xtol is a great revelator and wouldnBt mind sticking to it. Is there something better out there or can someone suggest the best way to use Xtol?

-- Richard Gingras (gingrasr@sympatico.ca), October 28, 2000

Answers

In general, the greater the dilution, the slower the development action, and in turn the finer the grain.

I have been very pleased with Xtol at 1+3 dilutions. I have also been even more pleased with a dilution of Xtol with a dash of Rodinal added. For Tri-X I expose at E.I. 200 and develop for 9 minutes at 24 degrees C. with the following fomula: 100 mL Xtol, 400 mL water, 4 mL Rodinal.

I would suggest you try this Xtol/Rodinal blend with APX 400 and see if it gives you the contrast you want. I have used this fomula with not only Tri-X, but also T-Max 400 as well as Ilford Delta 100 and Delta 400. However, you will have to experiment to get the ideal time for APX400... start maybe around 10 minutes at 24 degrees.

-- Sam (sselkind@home.com), October 28, 2000.

I don't have an answer for your main question (What is the best developer for Agfa APX 400?),but just wanted to correct what Sam said about the effect of dillution above.

The higher the dillution,the slower the developer action of course,but this doesn't result in finer grain.On the contrary.especially with developers like Xtol and D-76,it will give you slightly increased grain.This is because dillution reduces the solvency of these developers, and extended development time does not fully compensate for it.

In your exemple,the advantages of dilluted Xtol are better,gradation,better shadow detail,slightly more sharpness.The penalty is slightly more grain,which is quite negligible at 1:1.That's why 1:1 is the favorite of many.For maximum shadow detail,1:3 is best.

I had 1 or 2 caked Xtol packages,but otherwise i did not have a consistency problem.

-- Cem Topdemir (tacuma@earthlink.net), October 29, 2000.

Hi Richard, I like Agfapan 400 (EI 320)in Rodinal 1+50 and cut down on the apparent grain with GENTLE agitation. After initially banging the developing tank several times to eliminate bubbles, tilt the tank about 45 degrees SLOWLY about once per second or one and a half seconds. DO NOT INVERT. This should give less apparent grain than Tri-X in D76 1+1, or TMax 400 in TMax. Also, I find the grain pattern unobtrusive in character.

-- Bill Mitchell (bmitch@home.com), October 29, 2000.

Hello!

I will soon try Agfapan films with the older Agfa developer recipes like Agfa 8 and 14. Developer 8 is Glycin based, and 14 is a solvent Metol developer. I will post the results on this forum.

-- Patric (jenspatric@mail.bip.net), October 30, 2000.

I get great results with Xtol but the manufacturer's recommend times (Kodak and any other company) are intended to be a starting point only. You have to adjust development time to get the results you desire, using your equipment and techniques.

-- Tim Brown (brownt@ase.com), October 30, 2000.

Greetings,

Just a comment on XTOL. Regardless of dilution, make sure you're using 200mL of stock developer per roll.

Regards,

-- Pete Caluori (pcaluori@hotmail.com), November 02, 2000.