CD4-LC low contrast developer for scanning

[Alan Johnson]

Eterna RDS 4791 was a bit foggy for reasons unknown so I turned to Kodak.
I found two Eastman films which from the MTF chart have a notably high resolution.
2234- available in cassettes in UK but not ? in US.
2369- available as Film Photography Project High-Con 2369 in cassettes.
2234 was tried with CD4-LC developing 20% longer than CMS20 II above, post 72.

It appears that 2234 can be shot at EI =25 (attachment).
The results of the first test suggest it comes close to CMS20 II.

I hope to make a field trial of 2234 followed by a test of 2369.

 

[Alan Johnson]

I took photographs on different days on CMS20 II and Kodak 2234, both at EI =20 with the same lens, scanned and processed identically.

CMS20 II


Kodak 2234


Initial impression is that the resolution of fine detail and the fineness of grain come in the order:
CMS20 II better than Kodak 2234 better than Adox HR-50 (previous work, EI=50),though the latter can be developed in "ordinary" developers.

 

[relistan]

I took photographs on different days on CMS20 II and Kodak 2234, both at EI =20 with the same lens, scanned and processed identically.

CMS20 II


Kodak 2234


Initial impression is that the resolution of fine detail and the fineness of grain come in the order:
CMS20 II better than Kodak 2234 better than Adox HR-50 (previous work, EI=50),though the latter can be developed in "ordinary" developers.

That CMS 20 II looks great here. Practically grainless.

 

[Alan Johnson]

The Kodak 2369, sold as Film Photography Project Eastman High-Con 2369 has a clear base like CMS 20 II and somewhat similar shadow density at EI=20 (pic).
Another to field test.

 

[John Wiegerink]

The Kodak 2369, sold as Film Photography Project Eastman High-Con 2369 has a clear base like CMS 20 II and somewhat similar shadow density at EI=20 (pic).
Another to field test.

Alan,
You're right, those two look like they could be twins. Do you think 2369 has slightly better shadow detail?

 

[Alan Johnson]

Alan,
You're right, those two look like they could be twins. Do you think 2369 has slightly better shadow detail?

For the field test I hope to shoot 2369 and CMS 20 II both at EI=20 and compare.
There seems to be little chance that 2369, discontinued in 2011, will take over from CMS 20 II.

35mm Fuji HR-20 microfilm may continue in production but it is currently sold in bulk rolls with a minimum order number and is unperforated (will work in Canon EOS 10s/ EOS 1 maybe).
What a laugh if the EOS 10s (EOS10 in Europe) ended up being able to capture more detail than any Leica.

 

[Alan Johnson]

For comparison of CMS20 II and Eastman 2369 (=Film Photography Project High-Con 2369), photographs at EI =20 in the same camera with the same lens were taken within a few minutes. They were developed for the same time in CD4-LC and processed similarly during and after scanning.

FPP High-Con 2369


Adox CMS20II


There seems little to choose between them, 2369 may have slightly higher contrast.
It could be used if supplies of CMS20 II are discontinued first, possibly developed in Adotech IV, Rollei RLC or Photoformulary TD-3, I did not try it.

 

[Alan Johnson]

With a possible limited supply of Adox CMS20 II and FPP High-Con 2369 I tried expired unperforated microfilm.
A bulk roll of Imagelink 1461 expired 2001 was loaded into cassettes. A Computrol loader (similar to Watson) was used, with no perforations the exposure counter did not operate and the number of exposures loaded was estimated from the crank rotations. Some say that any scratches with this type of loader are mostly due to grit in the cassette. A 2 inch length of perforated film was attached to the unperforated film with sellotape and this loaded satisfactorily into a Canon EOS 10 (10s in US), one of few cameras designed to cope with unperforated film.

At EI=20 in fresh CD4-LC the results are not quite as good as those from CMS20 II on the 33 year old Imagelink which shows hardly visible tiny white specks at high magnification:

 

[Alan Johnson]

On a sunny day, Spur Ultra R 800 in CD4-LC, 3rd film in this, from post 72 Sept 15 2024, developed 10.9min +30% @20C, agitated every 3rd minute.
Water wash, fix 1 min, Tapwater wash 5min, Photoflo, dry.

 

[John Wiegerink]

wow! That's some pretty fine detail. Contrast looks pretty good also with a fair amount of shadow detail. Job well done!