Adonal - The ultimate guide to the black and white developer

In the world of film photography, developers play a crucial role in the final aesthetics and quality of the developed film. Adox Adonal is one such developer that has significantly shaped the landscape of black and white film photography. It is a black and white film developer of German origin, essentially a modern version of the classic Rodinal developer.

A bit of history

Adox Adonal was developed by the German company Adox, which can look back on a long history dating back to the early 20th century. Originally, the company was founded in 1860 as a manufacturer of photographic paper. In 1949, the company released a film that was very popular with professional photographers: the Adox R 17, followed by Adox KB 17, Adox KB 14, and Adox KB 21.

During the division of Germany, Adox faced significant challenges and was split into two units, one in West Germany and one in East Germany. After reunification, the Adox brand was finally revived in 2003 by Fotoimpex, a company dedicated to preserving classic photographic methods.

What is Adox Adonal?

Adox Adonal is essentially the same formula as the classic Rodinal developer. After the bankruptcy of AgfaPhoto GmbH in 2005, Fotoimpex acquired the Rodinal formula and began manufacturing under the Adox brand and the name "Adonal".

Like Rodinal, Adox Adonal is a highly concentrated liquid developer. It is known for its excellent shelf life and cost efficiency, attributable to its one-time usage and the high dilution rates, which typically range between 1:25 and 1:100.

Development times for different films

These times refer to development in Rodinal.

Film	Dilution	ISO	Time	Temperature
Adox CHS 100 II	1+25	ISO 100	5:30 - 6 min	20 °C
Adox CHS 100 II	1+50	ISO 100	12:30 - 13:30 min	20 °C
Adox Silvermax	1+25	ISO 100	8 min	20 °C
Adox Silvermax	1+50	ISO 100	12 min	20 °C
Agfa APX 100	1+25	ISO 100	8 min	20 °C
Agfa APX 100	1+50	ISO 100	13 min	20 °C
Agfa APX 100	1+50	ISO 200	21:30 min	20 °C
Agfa APX 100	1+50	ISO 400	29 min	20 °C
Agfa APX 400	1+25	ISO 320	10 min	20 °C
Agfa APX 400	1+50	ISO 320	30 min	20 °C
AgfaPhoto APX 100	1+25	ISO 100	8 min	20 °C
AgfaPhoto APX 100	1+50	ISO 100	13 min	20 °C
AgfaPhoto APX 100	1+50	ISO 200	21:30 min	20 °C
AgfaPhoto APX 100	1+50	ISO 400	29 min	20 °C
AgfaPhoto APX 100 New	1+25	ISO 100	5:30 min	20 °C
AgfaPhoto APX 100 New	1+50	ISO 100	10 min	20 °C
AgfaPhoto APX 400	1+25	ISO 320	10 min	20 °C
AgfaPhoto APX 400	1+50	ISO 320	30 min	20 °C
AgfaPhoto APX 400 New	1+25	ISO 400	7:30 min	20 °C
AgfaPhoto APX 400 New	1+50	ISO 400	20 min	20 °C
Arista EDU Ultra B&W 100	1+25	ISO 100	4 min	20 °C
Arista EDU Ultra B&W 100	1+50	ISO 100	8-9 min	20 °C
Arista EDU Ultra B&W 200	1+25	ISO 200	5 min	20 °C
Arista EDU Ultra B&W 200	1+50	ISO 200	8 min	20 °C
Arista EDU Ultra B&W 400	1+25	ISO 400	5:30 min	20 °C
Arista EDU Ultra B&W 400	1+50	ISO 400	11 min	20 °C
ars-imago IMAGO 320	1+25	ISO 320	7:30 min	20 °C
ars-imago IMAGO 320	1+50	ISO 320	13 min	20 °C
Bergger Pancro 400	1+25	ISO 400	8 min	20 °C
Bergger Pancro 400	1+50	ISO 400	22 min	20 °C
Bones B&W Film	1+50	ISO 100	1 min	20 °C
Bones B&W Film	1+50	ISO 400	2:30 min	20 °C
Bones B&W Film	1+50	ISO 800	3:30 min	20 °C
Bones B&W Film	1+50	ISO 1600	4 min	20 °C
Bones B&W Film	1+50	ISO 3200	5 min	20 °C
CFP Kiki Pan 320	1+25	ISO 100	8:30 min	20 °C
CFP Kiki Pan 320	1+25	ISO 100	6:15 min	24 °C
CFP Kiki Pan 320	1+50	ISO 100	21:00 min	20 °C
CFP Kiki Pan 320	1+50	ISO 100	16:00 min	24 °C
Dubblefilm Glitch	1+50	ISO 200	8-10 min	20 °C
Ferrania Orto 50	1+50	ISO 50	14 min	20 °C
Ferrania P30 Alpha	1+50	ISO 80	14 min	20 °C
Flic Film UltraPan 100	1+50	ISO 2	8:30 min	20 °C
Flic Film UltraPan 100	1+100	ISO 1	18 min	20 °C
Flic Film UltraPan 200	1+25	ISO 200	3:30 min	20 °C
Flic Film UltraPan 200	1+50	ISO 200	8:30 min	20 °C
Flic Film UltraPan 200	1+100	ISO 200	18 min	20 °C
Flic Film UltraPan 400	1+50	ISO 400	11:45 min	20 °C
Flic Film UltraPan 400	1+100	ISO 400	30 min	20 °C
Flic Film Wolfen 100	1+25	ISO 100	6:30 min	20 °C
Flic Film Wolfen 100	1+50	ISO 100	8-10 min	20 °C
Flic Film Wolfen 100	1+100	ISO 100	25 min	20 °C
Fomapan 100	1+25	ISO 100	4 min	20 °C
Fomapan 100	1+50	ISO 100	8-9 min	20 °C
Fomapan 200	1+25	ISO 200	5 min	20 °C
Fomapan 200	1+50	ISO 200	8 min	20 °C
Fomapan 400	1+25	ISO 400	5:30 min	20 °C
Fomapan 400	1+50	ISO 400	11 min	20 °C
Fotoimpex CHM 100 Universal	1+50	ISO 100	9 min	20 °C
Fotoimpex CHM 400 Universal	1+25	ISO 400	7:30 min	20 °C
Fotoimpex CHM 400 Universal	1+50	ISO 400	20 min	20 °C
Fujifilm Neopan 100 Acros	1+25	ISO 100	7 min	20 °C
Fujifilm Neopan 100 Acros II	1+25	ISO 100	7 min	20 °C
Fujifilm Neopan 100 Acros II	1+50	ISO 100	16 min	20 °C
Holga 400	1+25	ISO 400	5:30 min	20 °C
Holga 400	1+50	ISO 400	11 min	20 °C
Ilford Delta 100	1+25	ISO 50	7 min	20 °C
Ilford Delta 100	1+50	ISO 50	10 min	20 °C
Ilford Delta 100	1+25	ISO 100	9 min	20 °C
Ilford Delta 100	1+50	ISO 100	14 min	20 °C
Ilford Delta 3200	1+25	ISO 400	5:30 min	20 °C
Ilford Delta 3200	1+25	ISO 800	7 min	20 °C
Ilford Delta 3200	1+25	ISO 1600	9 min	20 °C
Ilford Delta 3200	1+25	ISO 3200	11 min	20 °C
Ilford Delta 400	1+25	ISO 200	6:30 min	20 °C
Ilford Delta 400	1+50	ISO 200	11 min	20 °C
Ilford Delta 400	1+25	ISO 400	9 min	20 °C
Ilford Delta 400	1+50	ISO 400	20 min	20 °C
Ilford FP4 Plus	1+25	ISO 125	9 min	20 °C
Ilford FP4 Plus	1+50	ISO 125	15 min	20 °C
Ilford FP4 Plus	1+25	ISO 200	13 min	20 °C
Ilford FP4 Plus	1+50	ISO 200	20 min	20 °C
Ilford HP5 Plus	1+25	ISO 400	6 min	20 °C
Ilford HP5 Plus	1+50	ISO 400	11 min	20 °C
Ilford HP5 Plus	1+25	ISO 800	8 min	20 °C
Ilford Pan F Plus	1+25	ISO 50	6 min	20 °C
Ilford Pan F Plus	1+50	ISO 50	11 min	20 °C
JCH Street Pan 400	1+25	ISO 400	10:30 min	20 °C
JCH Street Pan 400	1+50	ISO 400	22 min	20 °C
Kentmere 100	1+50	ISO 100	9 min	20 °C
Kentmere 400	1+25	ISO 400	7:30 min	20 °C
Kentmere 400	1+50	ISO 400	20 min	20 °C
Kodak Eastman Double-X 5222	1+25	ISO 250	5:30 min	20 °C
Kodak Eastman Double-X 5222	1+50	ISO 250	9 min	20 °C
Kodak T-Max 100	1+25	ISO 100	6 min	20 °C
KONO! Monolith 64	1+25	ISO 64	6 min	20 °C
KONO! Monolith 64	1+50	ISO 64	10 min	20 °C
KONO! Rekorder 100-200	1+25	ISO 100	6 - 6:30 min	20 °C
KONO! Schwarz-Weiß 100	1+25	ISO 100	8 - 9 min	20 °C
Kosmo Foto Mono 100	1+25	ISO 100	3:30 min	20 °C
Kosmo Foto Mono 100	1+50	ISO 100	8-9 min	20 °C
Lomography Black and White Berlin 400 120	1+50	ISO 400	17:30 min	20 °C
Lomography Black and White Fantôme 8 35mm	1+50	ISO 8	8 min	20 °C
Lomography Earl Grey B&W 100 120	1+25	ISO 100	4 min	20 °C
Lomography Earl Grey B&W 100 120	1+50	ISO 100	8 min	20 °C
Lomography Earl Grey B&W 100 35mm	1+25	ISO 100	4 min	20 °C
Lomography Earl Grey B&W 100 35mm	1+50	ISO 100	8 min	20 °C
Lomography Lady Grey B&W 400 120	1+25	ISO 400	5 min	20 °C
Lomography Lady Grey B&W 400 120	1+50	ISO 400	10 min	20 °C
Lomography Lady Grey B&W 400 35mm	1+25	ISO 400	5 min	20 °C
Lomography Lady Grey B&W 400 35mm	1+50	ISO 400	10 min	20 °C
Lomography Orca B&W 100 110	1+50	ISO 100	9 min	20 °C
Lomography Orca B&W 100 110	1+100	ISO 100	25 min	20 °C
Lucky SHD 100 New	1+25	ISO 100	6:30 min	20 °C
Lucky SHD 100 New	1+100	ISO 100	60 min	20 °C
Maco ORT 25c	1+25	ISO 25	4 min	20 °C
Marix Ortho 400	1+50	ISO 100	7 min	20 °C
Marix Ortho 400	1+50	ISO 200	11 min	20 °C
Marix Ortho 400	1+25	ISO 400	5:30 min	20 °C
Marix Ortho 400	1+50	ISO 400	11 min	20 °C
Marix Ortho 400	1+25	ISO 800	10 min	20 °C
Marix Ortho 400	1+50	ISO 800	19 min	20 °C
Marix Ortho 400	1+25	ISO 1600	20 min	20 °C
Marix Ortho 400	1+50	ISO 1600	24 min	20 °C
Marix Ortho 400	1+25	ISO 3200	25 min	20 °C
Marix Ortho 400	1+50	ISO 3200	52 min	20 °C
ORWO UN 54	1+25	ISO 100	6:30 min	20 °C
ORWO UN 54	1+50	ISO 100	8-10 min	20 °C
ORWO UN 54	1+100	ISO 100	25 min	20 °C
Polypan F	1+25	ISO 50	6 min	20 °C
Polypan F	1+50	ISO 50	6 min	20 °C
Polypan F	1+50	ISO 100	17 min	20 °C
Rollei Ortho 25	1+25	ISO 25	4 min	20 °C
Rollei Ortho 25	1+50	ISO 25	6 min	20 °C
Rollei R3	1+25	ISO 400	12 min	20 °C
Rollei Retro 100	1+25	ISO 100	8 min	20 °C
Rollei Retro 100	1+50	ISO 100	13 min	20 °C
Rollei Retro 100	1+50	ISO 200	21:30 min	20 °C
Rollei Retro 100	1+50	ISO 400	29 min	20 °C
Rollei Retro 100 Tonal	1+50	ISO 100	13 min	20 °C
Rollei Retro 400	1+25	ISO 320	10 min	20 °C
Rollei Retro 400	1+50	ISO 320	30 min	20 °C
Rollei Retro 400S	1+25	ISO 400	10:30 min	20 °C
Rollei Retro 400S	1+50	ISO 400	22 min	20 °C
Rollei Retro 400S	1+100	ISO 400	60 min	20 °C
Rollei Retro 80S	1+50	ISO 80	14 min	20 °C
Rollei RPX 100	1+25	ISO 50	7 min	20 °C
Rollei RPX 100	1+25	ISO 100	9 min	20 °C
Rollei RPX 100	1+25	ISO 200	13 min	20 °C
Rollei RPX 100	1+50	ISO 100	18 min	20 °C
Rollei RPX 100	1+50	ISO 200	20:30 min	20 °C
Rollei RPX 25	1+25	ISO 25	6 min	20 °C
Rollei RPX 25	1+50	ISO 25	11 min	20 °C
Rollei RPX 400	1+25	ISO 400	8 min	20 °C
Shanghai GP3 100	1+25	ISO 100	10 min	20 °C
Shanghai GP3 100	1+50	ISO 50	15 min	20 °C
Silberra PAN100	1+25	ISO 100	6 min	20 °C
Silberra PAN200	1+25	ISO 200	8 min	20 °C
Silberra U200	1+50	ISO 200	9 min	20 °C
Silberra U400	1+50	ISO 400	7:30 min	20 °C
Silberra ULTIMA100	1+25	ISO 100	6 min	20 °C
Silberra ULTIMA200	1+25	ISO 200	8 min	20 °C
Street Candy ATM 400	1+25	ISO 400	6 min	20 °C
Washi A 12	1+50	ISO 12	12 min	20 °C
Washi B 125	1+25	ISO 125	6 min	20 °C
Washi D 500	1+25	ISO 500	6 min	20 °C
Washi F	1+25	ISO 100	9 min	20 °C
Washi G 80	1+25	ISO 80	5:30 min	20 °C
Washi I	1+63 (H)	ISO 80	6 min	20 °C
Washi K 100	1+25	ISO 100	6 min	20 °C
Washi P	1+25	ISO 100	9 min	20 °C
Washi S 50	1+25	ISO 50	11 min	20 °C
Washi V	1+25	ISO 100	9 min	20 °C
Washi Z 400	1+25	ISO 400	7 min	20 °C
WonderPan 400	1+25	ISO 400	14 min	20 °C

A bit of history

What is Adox Adonal?

Development times for different films

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