Response to 2 bath developer emofin -- speed increase?

Emofin does give a high speed output, BUT you cannot turn an ISO 400 film into a TRUE ISO 800 or even 1600 film that way. I refer to true film speed which is 0.1 density above base fog level according to the ISO standard. You can achieve a true ISO rating of about 500 with HP 5 in Emofin, which is more than you can get with most other developers. The most you can achieve with other developers is about ISO 320 or even lower, if you use a densitometer. Without this speed measurements are not possible and purely subjective. Emofin is not a soft working developer. It compensates by loading the emulsion with developer. The developing process will be started in the second alkali bath. Since only a defined amount of developer can be used there will be more development on the shadows than on the highlights thus limiting the contrast. In fact you can get quite high contrast with Emofin. To the acutance: If you want high(er) acutance then I would not recommend using the 3s method, but a 1 minute agitation mode with longer developing time. The positive effects of Emofin can best be seen in the highlights at high contrast situations.

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