I’ve ordered both HR-dev and HR-50 film and was interested in developing using a Jobo processor. Anyone try this? Temperature + Time that worked? Did this increase contrast over standard hand development? Thanks in advance.
I’ve noticed that few shoot HR-50 and Leica Monopan 50 is vaporware. From what I have read, few use HR-dev, so no response was expected. I’ll probably be ready to give this a try in a couple of months. I have film and developer in my refrigerator, but need to move into the area where I will do the processing..
No direct experience with your specific question ...
... but I do rotary development for all of my films after 1+ year of doing standard hand development. I have also done many film curve characterizations for both methods for all the films I have used. Rotary dev will increase the contrast of the negative, but if you are scanning digitally then it really will not matter _that_ much. I sometimes get Zone 8 densities 2.1 using rotary dev (1.9 for the same film, developer, dilution, time, temperature, EXCEPT standard hand dev) and the actual files look fine when scanned with my Epson V850. Not sure if this applies to camera scans.
Of course this will change if you are doing analog prints. In that situation it is recommended that you match the curve of the negative to the curve of the paper. I have zero experience in this.
Last year I had some 4x5 film to develop (shot years ago but never developed). I ended up making a 4x5 tank out of 4" pvc thinking "how hard can it be." Well, the initial tests showed the white PVC was not light tight. (Use the 2x more expensive black stuff.) After a few coats of paint, I got a functional tank to use like a regular stainless steel 35/120 tank, except it's 4x5. Very even sky tones. I suppose I could throw it on an old Bessler rotor base (for Cibachorme), but I was worried about artifacts.
Sorry, you may be on your own on this one. Huss is the only one I'd imagine who might have something to say, and he hasn't said anything. I have used HR-50, but with a completely different developing method from what you're wanting to do.
This isn't answering your question but is somewhat related. I read somewhere that HR-50 and Afga Scala 50 are the same film (unsure if that's true), but they market the Scala to develop as a slide film (using their special chemical kit).
I bought some Scala 50 a few months ago because it was on sale and cheap, and finally shot the first roll this weekend. I developed it last night using XTOL, which is what I had on hand, with a rotary processor. On first inspection, the negatives look good. I need to scan them tomorrow since I was out hiking all day today.
Probably not very useful info, but I have developed one roll of HR-50 in HR-Dev, in a Jobo tank using the prescribed method (22 C, 11 min, 30 sec inversion + two inversions every min). Mind you, I am no expert, and my last developed film happened some years ago.
What I got as a result was a very low contrast negative. And very "thin"(?) - after "scanning" with my Sony mirrorless, I had to push the black cursors (blacks and shadow) all the way to (-) to get some contrast back. Plus almost all pictures appeared very unsharp (film was shot on M6 and C-Sonnar or 50 Lux ASPH).
I am not familiar with developing terms, but I guess I have over-developed that film.
Then this Monday I have developed a roll of T-Max 400 (120 film) in the HR-Dev, also using the timings from the "massive dev chart", and using a Rondinax 60 developing tank (with constant rotation), this time the film looked great both in sharpness and dinamic range. (But I have also managed to ruin some exposures, not sure if it happened during loading the film in the tank, or during developing - I got some "splashes of red" that ruined about 2 frames, then some "blue waves" affecting some other frames).
I presoaked my HR-50 in chilled water to lower the temperature (ambient was 26C and I wanted to develop at 20C). I left it in there for 15 minutes because I walked away and got distracted. When I poured it out, the water was purple. I have no idea what that was. I also would not know how that will affect the HR-50 development. I can say that my negatives came out dense, contrasty, and sharp.
