Response to Agfa APX 25 - poor shadow detail & latitude

Unfortunately, there is still confusion about 'emulsion speed' and developers. Everyone should remember the first rule of B&W: Expose for the shadows; develop for the highlights. No developer can increase shadow detail. Xtol is an excellent developer for several reasons, but mainly because it doesn't block up the highlihts (due to rapid local exhaustion.) Rodinal is an excellent developer, but it results in high grain when used with anything but slow film. You should always perform your own personal film speed and development time tests. They are quite easy. See Ansel Adams' book The Negative for how to do these tests. If you don't have a densitometer, all one hour labs have one and are usually willing to measure your speed test form a small fee.

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