Hi! Has anyone used 35mm HP5+ in PMK and had success with that combination? I use Leica M cameras,a Pentax digital spot meter and print my negs with a Beseler 45VXL enlarger,45 condenser lightsource mostly on FB papers such as Ilford Galerie or Multigrade IV FB Please tell me what is your experience and your ISO setting and developing time you use. Thanks Alain

-- Alain Degermann (degermann.alain@wanadoo.fr), July 05, 2001

Answers

Yes, HP5+ is one of the best films for PMK. It stains very well, is sharp, and comes out relatively fine-grained for its speed. I shot a lot of high school football with it last fall with very good results.

I use Hutchings' recommendation of 320 EI and developing 12 minutes at 70 degrees, inverting the tank twice every 15 seconds. I have found Agfa Multicontrast Premium paper (RC) to be a good match for PMK because it has a shorter toe, i.e., the highlights have more contrast. I think the Forte, Luminos and Sterling papers might fall into the same category.

Some papers with an extended toe and lower highlight contrast (like Multigrade IV) can look flat when printing PMK negatives.

-- Brian Hinther (brianh@onewest.net), July 05, 2001.

I shoot HP5+ in 4X5 format...

what is PMK?

I have been using full strength D-76.

Is this another option for me?? I primarly do portraits with it.

thanks

-- Pete (gregarpp@icqmail.com), July 06, 2001.

Pete, you'll never use another drop of D-76 once you see the skin tones you get with HP5+ in PMK. You can buy it from Photographer's Formulary or B&H.

-- Ted Kaufman (writercrmp@aol.com), July 06, 2001.

I shoot this film at an EI 320 with a Pentax Digital Spot Meter. I develop in Paterson tanks for 7 minutes and use a Condenser enlarger. I also use FP4+ at EI 80 and developed for 7 minutes. 12 minutes will be too contrasty for a condenser enlarger. I do one inversion (turn upside down than back up) every fifteen seconds and use a temperature of 70 degrees. I use a water stop bath, TF-4 Alkaline Fixer and wash for twenty minutes. Its best to slightly over expose with this developer because it gets grainy and lacks detail with underexposure. Overall HP5+ is very sharp, fine grain and has great gradation. I use Agfa Multigrade Classic glossy. Try getting the Book of Pyro (for all you need to know about Pyro) and the Practical Zone System (for testing your system).

-- David Payumo (dpayumo@home.com), July 06, 2001.

David, 7 minutes for HP5+ in PMK sounds like an awfully short time, while 7 minutes for FP4+ sounds okay for a condenser enlarger. I certainly can't see developing those two films for the same time. FP4+ responds vigorously to any developer. Are you sure about the HP5+ time?

-- Ted Kaufman (writercrmp@aol.com), July 06, 2001.

Yes, I am sure about MY development times. Ted if you got results that you are happy with it, it doesn't matter how hard I shake my Patterson tank ;^]. I forget to mention I shake 30 seconds at the start of the developer stage. Test to your taste.

-- David Payumo (dpayumo@home.com), July 07, 2001.