Ansco 130 vs Pyrocat M experiment

[esearing]

In a recent post here or at LFF jnantz suggested using Ansco 130 as a film developer. I happened to have some stock laying around so I mixed it his suggested 1:10. I had made two identical exposures on a recent outing so used them for a comparison. I have also switched to Pyrocat M recently and am still dialing in my dilution and times. Details below

iphone capture of negatives side by side on light box. Color adjusted in PSCC to remove blue cast of lightbox.

Film HP5 @400 4x5 f32 1/2second , chamonix 45N2, 135mm
Scene low contrast waterfall on cloudy day mid morning. About 4 stops
Processing
Single sheet in SP445 tank
Presoak - 5 minutes
> Ansco 1:10, 69degrees for 10minutes (1minute initial + 3minute intervals)
> Pyrocat-M 4.5A:4B:500W 70 degrees 12:30 minutes (2minutes initial+3:30 intervals)
Water Stop 1 minute
TF5 Fixer
12+ minute wash

The Ansco 130 negative has much more contrast which is ok for this scene but would need more dilution or other adjustments to get to what I consider Normal or use for a larger number of sheets. The pyro negative has an odd flare or fogging in upper left near the overhanging branches. When inverted to positive the foreground water and rock has better sharpness and detail on the pyrocat negative but the increased contrast on the Ansco negative works well in the distant trees. The Pyro negative edges out the Ansco negative for shadow detail, but just barely. The color difference is obviously due to pyro staining , and the pyro stain would have an effect on contrast filter used for VC paper.

If you have further recommendations for dilution or times or specific film uses for Ansco I would like to hear them. Unless my self mixed Pyrocat M starts failing I doubt I would switch, but might consider using Ansco to expand really low contrast scenes.

 

[removed account4]

hi eric

i don't really have any further recommendations. I have used ansco 130 ( or dektol when i was low on cash ) on and off in one form or another as my main film developer since the 1990s.
i've used it with pretty much every film i could get my hands on whether they were fresh/expired small rolls or big sheets, i've used it pretty much every which way i could and just stuck to 1:6 for about 6mins. ( the contrast didn't bother me ) ..

 

[jim appleyard]

It looks to me like a light-leak in your upper left on the Pyro devved neg?

 

[cjbecker]

Try it at 75 degrees, 75 vs 68 made a huge difference for me. Might have to adjust times, but I have stuck with the 1-10 since the start with a130, and never tried any other dilutions for film.

I do flips the first 30 sec or min constant then 2 flips every min after that.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I believe the light leak on the Pyrocat-M negative has fogged the trees that you mention. Overall, I prefer the P-M look. Pyrocat developers just seem to work very well with HP5. Please do post more Ansco 130 negs once you've nailed it!