Great to see someone else using Adox CMS 20! I’ve exposed three rolls so far but haven’t developed them yet. I’m waiting until another two are finished and intend developing them all at once. The results you’re getting seem to confirm what I’ve read – that this film is pretty special. I’ve been told that you should use filtered or de-ionised water when making up the developer otherwise there could be a lot of trouble from muck on the negatives. Have you experienced anything like that?
Thanks for the note, Bruce. I used Diafine and tap water to develop these (and still do). I’m still playing with different ISO settings and lighting conditions to get the most out of this rather difficult and rewarding film
If you’re going to use Adox’s recommended developer, Adotech, I would definitely use distilled water to mix it. I’ve never used it, though. I did not get any unusual results (muck, deposits, difficulty rinsing, etc.) from using NYC tap water in my developer.
I think I get great results with Diafine. And it means I don’t have to stockpile developed rolls, as you are, just waiting to use that special developer. I use Diafine as my go-to developer, Rodinal for special cases, and once every couple of years I’ll mix up a new developer, try it out, and watch it go bad as I return to Diafine. It’s just too convenient.
I love Diafine with Tri-X but didn’t know how it would react with the Adox film. Does it give a speed increase at all? Is the grain still very fine? It’s sort of academic now for me I suppose as I’ve used up my Diafine stock and it’s not the easiest developer to get hold of in the UK.
I love the tones you’re getting with Adox/Diafine. From what I can see on my computer screen they look like they were made for each other.
I don’t think it gives any significant speed increase. The grain is super fine, and the images are really sharp. I have a detail crop here http://www.flickr.com/groups/diafine/discuss/72157615634333098/ that shows the level of detail I got.
If only it didn’t curl so badly!
That cropped portion is amazing! I’m going to give Adotech a go since I already have it but it would be interesting to know what advantages, if any, it has over Diafine. I’ve always preferred two-bath developers and have the chemicals to mix my own (the Barry Thornton recipe http://www.photosensitive.ca/wp/archives/115). I’ll give CMS 20 a whirl in that as well.
And I’ve just realised that you’re the guy I asked to submit pics to the CMS 20 group I set up recently on Flickr! It’s a small world. Please feel free to upload more when you have some time.
David Shoots Film 
Hi David,
Great to see someone else using Adox CMS 20! I’ve exposed three rolls so far but haven’t developed them yet. I’m waiting until another two are finished and intend developing them all at once. The results you’re getting seem to confirm what I’ve read – that this film is pretty special. I’ve been told that you should use filtered or de-ionised water when making up the developer otherwise there could be a lot of trouble from muck on the negatives. Have you experienced anything like that?
Cheers,
Bruce
Thanks for the note, Bruce. I used Diafine and tap water to develop these (and still do). I’m still playing with different ISO settings and lighting conditions to get the most out of this rather difficult and rewarding film
If you’re going to use Adox’s recommended developer, Adotech, I would definitely use distilled water to mix it. I’ve never used it, though. I did not get any unusual results (muck, deposits, difficulty rinsing, etc.) from using NYC tap water in my developer.
I think I get great results with Diafine. And it means I don’t have to stockpile developed rolls, as you are, just waiting to use that special developer. I use Diafine as my go-to developer, Rodinal for special cases, and once every couple of years I’ll mix up a new developer, try it out, and watch it go bad as I return to Diafine. It’s just too convenient.
David,
I love Diafine with Tri-X but didn’t know how it would react with the Adox film. Does it give a speed increase at all? Is the grain still very fine? It’s sort of academic now for me I suppose as I’ve used up my Diafine stock and it’s not the easiest developer to get hold of in the UK.
I love the tones you’re getting with Adox/Diafine. From what I can see on my computer screen they look like they were made for each other.
Bruce
I don’t think it gives any significant speed increase. The grain is super fine, and the images are really sharp. I have a detail crop here http://www.flickr.com/groups/diafine/discuss/72157615634333098/ that shows the level of detail I got.
If only it didn’t curl so badly!
That cropped portion is amazing! I’m going to give Adotech a go since I already have it but it would be interesting to know what advantages, if any, it has over Diafine. I’ve always preferred two-bath developers and have the chemicals to mix my own (the Barry Thornton recipe http://www.photosensitive.ca/wp/archives/115). I’ll give CMS 20 a whirl in that as well.
And I’ve just realised that you’re the guy I asked to submit pics to the CMS 20 group I set up recently on Flickr! It’s a small world. Please feel free to upload more when you have some time.