Camera Talk

Different "Darkroom"
Though I've never had a purpose built darkroom, for 30 years or so I was happy with a basement setup that wasn't exactly convenient but it worked and I had lots of space, including a large workbench top that had a clear, clean surface. Since early August we've been living in an apartment. It took me till late September to get up the gumption to start developing film in a bathroom. I've only developed 2 rolls of film (in one tank) so far and the biggest challenge I met was just finding space-- my habits were formed with lots of space available--so I have to think ahead rather than follow old routines. Largely because of limited space I'm using D-76 undiluted rather than 1:1 as I always did before; it seems to work fine though it may be responsible for some unexpected results with some negatives. Even though I did minimal processing (basically adjusting levels to the ends of the histogram), some of them seem to have more contrast than they should and some have been showing artifacts of some sort (white "clouds" on pavement). I will post a few just to see what they look like on PT-- they look ok on my computer. The photos were made on APX100 (old Agfa film, not the new one) in an Olympus Pen W (half-frame), developed in straight D76 , and scanned at home. I used "Save for Web" in PS Elements for the photos in this post and, for some reason, they seem to look better than the ones where I just adjusted the size myself. I'd be grateful for any reports about contrast or artifacts on your screen.

The one with the stump looks to have a bit too much contrast, but the others look okay to me.

PF

Phil, thanks for looking at the photos. The one that you picked out as having too much contrast is the one that first caught my attention, too. I think that I'll cut back the developing time with the undiluted D76 the next time.
Bill

Bill, I forgot how much I liked Agfa APX100. Aside from the stump photo, I think that these have very nice gradation and tones.

After all these years and exotic developers, Kodak D-76 still shines, doesn't it?

These look all right in my monitor. Hope that you keep using your new "darkroom"! You'll get used to it, I did (after the first year or so).

APX 100 was such a nice crisp film, I am glad to see it tested in half frame with D-76; BTW you should actually get less grain with stock D-76 than diluted.

Thanks, Mike and Julio, for looking at the photos and commenting. I'll keep developing film with the space I have. I've now done a roll of 120 in my Autocord and will post some results soon.
Bill Delehanty

They all look fine to me apart from WEBDiptych-Mourning-Flowers.jpg. That one I think has incorrect scanning gamma, I think. HP5 rated at 200 in D76 1:3 for 13 mins @ 68F is what many wedding photographers used in the 80's. Nice work, Bill.

Graham,
Thanks for the comments. When I'm set up for scanning the next time I'll have to explore "configurations" (I think that's what Epson calls the settings) and see what I can turn up to help that frame of APX-100. That's good information that you give about HP5 @ 200 developed 1:3 (this is in reference to the photos I referenced in "Minolta Autocord"): in cooking terms I guess that I baked it too long at too high a temperature.
Bill Delehanty