I saw a posting in the Large Format Forum a few days ago that mentioned using Ansco 130 as a film developer. I have some stock of Ansco 130 which I use for a Paper developer and love the results with Ilford and Bergger Fiber papers. The recommendation was use the developer 1:10 for 10 minutes. So based on my experiences with HC-110 and a couple of Pyro formulas it sounded reasonable and worth a try.
During last weeks outing I took a backup shot of a particular scene since it was old stock of HP5 that I bought from someone else. The scene was fairly low contrast but had parts in shade and parts exposed to the overcast sky and ranged from EV 9.2-13.3 with meter set for HP5@EI400. 1/2 @ f32.
My tank holds right at 500ML for a single sheet of 4×5 so I made the Ansco dilution at 1:9 or 50ml+450ml. Temperature was 69 degrees F and chose a minimal agitation technique. One minute initial agitation then 3 minute intervals for 30 seconds each (in 0-1:00, 3:45-4:15, 6:45-7:15, 10 out). Pyrocat M negative was developed in 4.5ml A + 4ml B + 500ml Water for 12:30minutes at 70*. 2 minute agitation + 3:30minute intervals for 30 seconds each. Both received a 1 minute water stop , 5 minute fix (TF5 1:4), 12+ minute wash, no Photoflo.
The Ansco negative contrast looks a bit expanded to me, maybe as much as N+1.5 . So I may have to dilute more for a single sheet or reduce time. Its also very blue/gray compared to my pyrocat negatives due to pyro staining.
Image below is an IPhone capture of negatives side by side on lightbox , adjusted color tone in PS CC to remove blue light tonality, but did not alter contrast or other settings.
In the two same scene negative images below, the Ansco has much more contrast than my normal Pyrocat M negative. You can see it mainly in the trees in the upper right of both negatives. Upper left pyro negative has some odd fogging so the overhanging branch looks lower contrast and has less detail. The foreground water and rock are much better defined (maybe sharper) on the pyro negative when the images are inverted. There are possibly some minor differences due to changing light or shutter inconsistency.
Overall I am impressed for a first attempt and now know I have a backup if my Pyrocat M gets out of whack. The FP4+ Pyrocat M still offers that slight edge in tonal gradation but there is no mud in the middle on either one.
So IF you want to experiment with Ansco I would suggest more dilution than 1:10 unless your scene is 4 stops or less. I do not know how the highlights will be preserved once you get above zone 8. Please feel free to leave a comment if you have experience with either developer.
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Pyrocat Variants and Discovery
Nancytown Creek Falls
An interesting experiment. I wonder how the prints will look?I’m sure there will be an increase in the grain and the highlights hard to take in the ansco 130 neg. Print developers are more active than film developers hence the highlight density build up.
Have you ever tried Rodinal? It works great with Fp4 and can be used as a semi-compensating developer at higher dilutions. A slightly different look than pyrocat and of high acutance if you don’t over develop. Some say it’s grainy and it is with 35 mm and if you over develop the snot out of it. That’s the key, just enough exposure for the shadows and enough development for the highlights.