15 years ago I managed to get very printable negs on 35mm Tech Pan at ISO 32 in HC-110 dilution F for 8 minutes at 77 degrees. (I kept good notes) Now I can't get anything but very high contrast negs. I have access to HC-110, so I'd like to try to master it instead of giving up and moving on to another, more expensive, developer. I was getting 16X20 grainless prints from my old combination. I'm baffled. Has anybody tried diluting HC-110 even farther, or should I just give up and move on to another develo

-- Randy Sweatt (jrandys58@yahoo.com), October 22, 2000

Answers

Randy,

If your main concern is with the cost of the developer, I have read many post from people developing Tech Pan in a very weak Rodinal (1:250 or 1:300) solution. They have reported getting such good results, I have been thinking about trying it. And Rodinal is about as in-expensive develper as you can find. If you are planning to shoot a lot of Tech Pan, it may be worth a shot to play around with.

best of luck, ~james

-- james sobhani (bjs@briefcase.com), October 23, 2000.

Thanks for the advice James. I used to use Rodinal for my T-max 400, but my supplier, Freestyle, out of California, started charging a "hazardous chemical fee" of $15. That's $15 added onto the price of the Rodinal-$9.69 for 17oz, plus shipping. That made it about the most expensive developer...fast. Any ideas on a source for Rodinal that doesn't charge this massive

-- Randy Sweatt (jrandys58@yahoo.com), October 23, 2000.

One way to avoid the hazmat fee is to buy the small bottles, and order no more than 3 at a time.

-- Terry Carraway (TCarraway@compuserve.com), October 24, 2000.

Randy,

I just checked the Freestyle website, according to it less than 4 small bottles do not require hazmat fees.

-- Terry Carraway (TCarraway@compuserve.com), October 25, 2000.

Try Microphen diluted 1:5, 14min., 75 deg F, EI 32.

-- tim brown (brownt@flash.net), October 25, 2000.