Question about Rodinol

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I started using Rodinol for TRi-X and Agfa 100 three months ago and have grown to love the stuff !! My question: it appears to get darker as it ages. Is there any problem with this ? Can I store it such that this can be retarded or diminished ? It seems that rodinol has a short shelf life. Is anybody else using it with Tri-x ? I'd like to compare my dev times to others (9 min, 1:50 three inversions once a minute. I've not heard many good things about Rodinol and Tri-X. Thanks everyone, I really appreciate this cyber "learning sight".

-- Wayne Brown (wbrown81@home.com), March 04, 2001

Answers

Although I don't use Rodinal, I'm sure that the darkening with age is normal and doesn't adversely affect the developer (some people maintain that Rodinal actually improves with age). As far as I can remember, Rodinal concentrate has an unusually long shelf life. Some photographers use the same bottle for years. So, don't throw it away! Regards, ;^D)

-- Doremus Scudder (ScudderLandreth@compuserve.com), March 04, 2001.

I am using Rodinal since 30 years. It goes brown without any effect on the results. Buy only the small bottles it is cheap anyway and use it at 1:100 rasor sharp images.

andreas

-- Andreas Frijdal (frijdal@tin.it), March 04, 2001.


The darkening won't affect the results. But I was wondering how to augment the edgw effect? Lower dilutions or higher ones? cos rodinal tends to give bigger grain with higher concentration- contrary to "normal" developers!? Agitation every one minutes seems to work better, yes. The recomended agitation every 30 seconds seems to spoil the edge effect.

-- Xosni (Xosni@gega.net), March 04, 2001.

The "buy the small bottle" advice is good--I actually had some Rodinal go bad once (it was very dark). Now I keep a small bottle in the refrigerator. Edge effects are enhanced by higher dilutions.

-- Ed Buffaloe (edb@unblinkingeye.com), March 04, 2001.

It's normal for the stuff to darken after the bottle has been opened, and it doesn't affect developer activity.

I use Rodinal 1:25 with HP5+ (Ilford's equivalent of Tri-X) for about 90 percent of my shooting. Grain is more apprent than with other developers (D-76/ID-11, Xtol), but there is a greater overall impression of sharpness.

-- Chuck Albertson (chucko@siteconnect.com), March 05, 2001.



I used Rodinal with Tri-X exclusively for over 15 years thanks to a formula from Bill Pierce. My negatives were clean and sharp, and my prints have a long tonal scale with excellent acuteness. To help with the grain, use this formula. For two reels of film, normal contrast, dilute 1:75 and add approx. 50 grams of sodium sulfite. Develop for 10 1/2 minutes @ 68 degrees. To increase contrast change dilution to 1:50. To lower contrast dilute 1:85.

-- John Rountree (john@cosmikdebris.net), March 05, 2001.

If I recall correctly what Bill wrote, the amount of sodium sulfite is 50g or "a Chock Full'o'Nuts coffee scoop."

It's also pretty much a plastic film cannister full.

With films being improved since way back then, I've cut down on the sodium sulfite to 25g/L and often use the Rodinal at 1:50. This is for HP5+; modern TX should be about the same.

-- John Hicks (jbh@magicnet.net), March 06, 2001.


I have used the same bottle of Rodinal for six years and it still works perfect. The last year I have started to use Tetenal Protectan in the bottles to prevent oxidation. Protectan contains propane and butane gas.

-- Patric (jenspatric@mail.bip.net), March 06, 2001.

I personally have been using the same open bottle of (now black in color) Rodinal for two plus years. I use my Rodinal at 1 + 100 so you would think that any deterioration would be noticeable at that dilution. BUT for what is probably the last word on Rodinal why not go to Agfa's rather good web site try this... http://www.agfaphoto.com/magazin/200003_2/index.html#03

-- Jim (p645n@yahoo.com), March 12, 2001.

I don't think it is a good idea to use oxidized Rodinal stock. You may get buy this time, or next or even next and next, but one day you will find that your film will be severely underdeveloped due to deterioation of chemicals.

The deterioration may come suddenly, and by Murphy's law, the film it destroy will be the film you value the most

Developer is dirt cheap; some images are not replaceble. My two drops of Rodinal

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), March 18, 2001.



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