Adotech exhaustion time?

[fotoobscura]

Hi.

I shot a roll of CMS20 about a year ago and used 12ml of solution from a 50ml bottle (I tightly capped the bottle after use, but..) to develop the roll. I forgot about it and then shot a roll recently and want to develop it. The PDF indicates the developer will keep well for 3-4 weeks. Obviously, it's been more....A whole lot more...

I was thinking of increasing the development time a bit but it seems to be a little bit silly to assume that the developer would be fully exhausted in a "mostly" air-and-light-tight 50ml glass bottle with only 12ml of "space" after a year

Am I wrong?

Should I dump the developer and buy a new bottle? Does it really exhaust that quickly?

Thanks!

 

[K-G]

I would definitely get a new bottle if it's possible. I have not tried the ability to withstand oxidising for the Adotech developer, but other developers have been completely ruined after about half ayear in a 2/3 ful bottle. I know that ADOX recommend that you fill up a partially used bottle with water to create a more "dilute concentrate" . In this way you can avoid the oxidising problem.
From this new concentrate you have to recalculate how to mix a new working solution, but as far as I know there is a guide for that in the instructions. Increasing the development time may work, but you never know how mutch more you need. Good luck with a great film !
Karl-Gustaf

 

[fotoobscura]

Hi Karl,

Thanks for the suggestions. I think I'll do a clip test with a working dilution and see how it works and go from there.

 

[fotoobscura]

For future reference, I did a clip test and developed a few images at ~5m, 20c and the images came out fine. The images came out a bit thin so it may be necessary to increase development by 5-10% (but this may not be exhausted developer so much as personal preference).

In other words, the developer works just as well newly opened or a year later.

 

[K-G]

It´s good to hear that the developer lasts that long , especially as the CMS20 isn´t for everyday photography. For me, there may be a half or one year between every CMS20 development so the bottle use to collect some dust in the meantime. If you ever fill up the bottle with water, be sure to make very detailed notes on how much you add. Don´t trust your memory ! I did and had to order a new bottle.
When it comes to the negatives, it may also be that you need to use a lower exposure index. Normally I use ISO 16 , but I have heard that some use even 12. ISO 16 has given me excelent result so far.
The last batch that I developed looked really fine with some sunny winter motives, but I also experienced light and dark streaks from the sprocket holes on some of the negatives. As I have understood from another thread that is active right now I may have been to slow with starting the agitation after filling up the tank.
There may be a risk in this case as the developing time is rather short. Have you experienced a similar problem ?
Best regards from
Karl-Gustaf

 

[fotoobscura]

Hey Karl,

The developer exhausted far more than I had imagined (I didn't account for the fact that the clip test was only developing two images instead of 34!) By the looks of the negatives adding 20% to the development time should produce good results. I've also thought that it may be wiser to lower the ratio to more like 1:15 for the recommended time. Agitation was 5s every 30s, didn't use an acid stop as recommended (does anyone?), and fix for 1m; wash 5.

I have another roll to develop (the last of the developer) which should lock things in better...Will be back..

 

[fotoobscura]

Karl,

I did the rest of the roll at 6m45s (~25% increase) and the images came out fine.

 

[K-G]

An excellent test work. I wish more CMS20-users would read this as it could help many af them. One problem that I have experienced with the Adotech developer is the volume of the bottle. With the recommended dilution and the ammount of concentrate you will get 1,25 liter of working solution. Yes, this may be enough to develop five rolls if you use a stainless steel tank, but for example the Paterson tanks require at least 290 ml per roll in order to cover each spiral completely. I think it may be a good idea to allways have a spare bottle so you never need to use to little developer per roll of film. According to Steve Anchel in "The Darkroom Cookbook", a to small developer volume is one of the most common developing errors. Personally I never use less than 300 ml working solution per roll of 135-film.
It´s good to se through your tests that leftover concentrate can be used over a considerable time. The CMS20 is not an easy film to handle, but treaded correctly it is certainly rewarding. When I have more experience I will let you know, but it may take some time as I have run out of film and I have to order it from Fotoimpex in Berlin, Germany. Thanks for your efforts and good luck.
Best regards from
Karl-Gustaf