I just processed a few rolls of 35mm APX100, hoping to find a sharp (acute) and fairly grainy look. I EI'ed at 64 for some rolls and 80 for others. I processed them all, in several batches, in Rodinal at 1:150 for 10 to 16 minutes (started with 10, last rolls up to 16).

They barely came up (thin...but not too thin, even the 16 minutes were only approx 2/3 stop more dense), and they are not sharp compared to what I was expecting--they were OK, but nothing special.

I thought getting a sharp, grainy negative would be quite easy, but could someone give me some advice with APX? Would PMK be a better choice? maybe pushing it a little (160-ish)? Hummm...

-- shawn (shawngibson_prophoto@yahoo.com), May 24, 2000

Answers

APX 100 may be too much a fine-grain film if you are looking for grain. But you might try an EI of 50 with Rodinal (1:50) for 8 minutes at 68 degrees.

-- Ed Buffaloe (edbuffaloe@unblinkingeye.com), May 24, 2000.

Are you sure that there is enough developing agent in the solution at that extreme dilution? This may be the source of the underdevelopment.

-- Ian Binnie (iab@blakes.ca), May 24, 2000.

Try EI125, and develop in Rodinal 1:50 for 22 or 23 minutes at 21oC. Be careful where you place your mid-tones, as you do not want to blow your highlights. The relatively long development time may enable you (i) to get rather more grain, and (ii) to try to get some edge effects to increase perceived sharpness. For example, for a moderate edge effect, try increasing time by 10%, and reducing agitation to once every 2 minutes, or for additional effect, try increasing the time by 15-20%, and reducing agitation to once every 3 minutes.

-- fw (finneganswake@altavista.net), May 25, 2000.

Shawn...I think your time\temps are off but I can't be sure as you do not provide the temp you used. I don't know what your looking for as far as grain goes, but if you want great sharpness, wonderful tone and, for the APX 400, the best looking grain Ive ever seen, follow the directions that I got from an Agfa rep several years ago. Those direction are for Rodinal at 1+50 and 1+100 at 68 degrees. The times are 20 minutes for 1+100 and 15 minutes for 1+50. The only variable is what you rate the films EI at. Agitation is constant for the first minute...about 20 inversions, then 1 or 2 inversions every 30 seconds for the remaining time. I develop, using Rodinal 1+100, Agfa 400 shot at EI 250 for 20 minutes. With the film rated at 200 you develop it for 15 minutes. Agfa 100 shot at EI 100 is developed for 20 minutes. If you shoot it at EI 64 you use 15 minutes. In both cases I use the 1+100 version. I have never used the 1+50. With the 1+100 you will get negs that are very easy to print. I have processed more then 100 rolls of Agfa 400 and at least 50 rolls of the 100 this way. The APX 400, especially in 120, must be tried. Another very good combo is 120 Tri-X, not the pro, shot at 400 in Rodinal at 1+100. Again, great grain. Dont use HP5+ for this. If you do it must be rated at 160 for 1+100 or 100 for 1+50..cheers....jim

-- Jim Vanson (primary_colors@hotmail.com), May 27, 2000.