Homebrews and Home mixes can also be MORE practical and cheaper than commericial compounds that can require the uncommon 5-liter size container and even encourage what proved in my case to be bad habits - like re-use. And just because something comes in a commercial package doesn't always mean it's more difficult to mix than many of the homebrew recipes.
And while I can't say per se that re-use was a problem except that at the time that I eliminated it (with the exception of E6 and C41), I solved a lot of problems.... in which the adoption of 1-shot development was a component. If you mix for use and use 1-shot "always fresh", then this may work for you as it's done for me. Karl's own PC512-B answers a lot of my needs this way but so might D76-H which I was headed to begin experimenting with. But I've used D23 this way too. And then Karl published his thread... and the rest was history. These are very similar.... with Karl's PC512-D aimed at comprising an XTOL replacement.... or at least similar which is "good enough" for a kid like me who's been rather fastidious up to this point of not using pyro.
That said, FX-15 as a homebrew replacement for a Paterson product therefore has a place. But if Microphen or Diafine have similar results is it still needed? I have unmixed boxes of both as well as an unopened bottle of Rodinal - which speaks to my generic needs. But as the youtube points out, there are needs that general purpose developers don't meet, and simple compounds or commercial developers won't solve either. Maybe FX-15 would? In my case, it might be too many compounds involved.... and like I said, I have unopened boxes of similar. FX-15 results look good in the youtube... even amazing given 35mm film's own limits, and I've been pretty impressed with results from Diafine, too. Yet all that said, speed enhancing developers are indeed on my bucket list.
And while I can't say per se that re-use was a problem except that at the time that I eliminated it (with the exception of E6 and C41), I solved a lot of problems.... in which the adoption of 1-shot development was a component. If you mix for use and use 1-shot "always fresh", then this may work for you as it's done for me. Karl's own PC512-B answers a lot of my needs this way but so might D76-H which I was headed to begin experimenting with. But I've used D23 this way too. And then Karl published his thread... and the rest was history. These are very similar.... with Karl's PC512-D aimed at comprising an XTOL replacement.... or at least similar which is "good enough" for a kid like me who's been rather fastidious up to this point of not using pyro.
That said, FX-15 as a homebrew replacement for a Paterson product therefore has a place. But if Microphen or Diafine have similar results is it still needed? I have unmixed boxes of both as well as an unopened bottle of Rodinal - which speaks to my generic needs. But as the youtube points out, there are needs that general purpose developers don't meet, and simple compounds or commercial developers won't solve either. Maybe FX-15 would? In my case, it might be too many compounds involved.... and like I said, I have unopened boxes of similar. FX-15 results look good in the youtube... even amazing given 35mm film's own limits, and I've been pretty impressed with results from Diafine, too. Yet all that said, speed enhancing developers are indeed on my bucket list.
