Not sure if I already asked this here...

I bought some Kodak 3404 Aerocon II aerial film on eBay. I intend to cut it into 4 x 5 and 5 x 7 sheets (inches) for pinhole work.

There is some data available for using HC-110 in rewind processing, but it's still oriented toward 125-250' long rolls and multiple cycle processing.

Any advise on developing small quantities (1-4 sheets at a time) with tray, tank or tube? (HC-110 or Rodinal, or whatever? Versamet chemistry is normally used, but don't know where to get it and it's not shipping-friendly anyway)?

Thank you

Murray

-- Murray Leshner (murray@uptowngallery.org), December 11, 2001

Answers

If you haven't done it already, sounds like a good time for some clip tests....you can probably sorta figure something out based on how many cycles you'd have to do if you were using one of those old tanks where'd you run the film back & forth from two reels...I can't recall what they were called exactly. The film you have is either based off a Plus-x stock or TX...anyways, Versamat chem. is for the versamat processors Kodak makes or at least used to...I think you'd be looking at a 5 gallon cube minimum, maybe even more...I'd just try the HC-110 or just about any film developer.....sounds like you have enough of it to play with anyways....good luck.

-- DK Thompson (kthompson@moh.dcr.state.nc.us), December 13, 2001.

What you need for pictorial photography is a very compensating developer. Aerial film is not comparable with "normal" B&W film, but is made for high contrast. In addition it has a much higher than normal red sensitivity, since it is intended to be shot through a dense red filter to eliminate haze. As you know, there is a vast array of developers that will "beat" high contrast films "soft". The developing times you will find on the package are for a high contrast mode and are not applicable for your use. What you basically have is a sort of large format microfilm with a high red sensitivity and a modified tonal rendition. Generally it is not advisable to use aerial film for pictorial photography, since the specific sensitation will give you some awkward results. The film is formulated not to give a natural colour rendition, but to separate well between the colours and tones that most commonly occur in pictorial use. In its overal sensitation it is somehow similar to so called "close infrared" material used in law enforcement and now sold by Agfa and Ilford for general photographic use, which is also intended to be used in combination with a dark red filter.

-- Volker Schier (Volker.Schier@fen.baynet.de), December 15, 2001.

Some other problem you might run into is the base. I have no experience with the Kodak, but most aerial films are coated on a very sturdy Estar base, due to the frictions that occur with the huge format in aerial cameras. I do not know if a normal 4x5 insert will hold this film due to the curl.

-- Volker Schier (Volker.Schier@fen-net.de), December 15, 2001.