ADOX XT-3 Developer: Further and Final Test Results

[MattKing]

Old Gregg and I differ on this issue - which you can already tell.
But the 1% is fighting words

 

[ericdan]

I know it’s against the rules but I’ve been using the old Xtol 1:2 dilution to push Tri-X. I just ran out of Xtol. Has anyone tried XT-3 in 1:2?
When Adox says they got the same curves as with Xtol I assume that was for the officially recommended dilutions. That does not mean XT-3 will behave like the old Xtol in all dilutions does it?

 

[radiant]

Yes, that is the German version of the very detailed original Kodak XTOL data sheet I have mentioned above.

Best regards,
Henning

From that datasheet you can find characteristic curves in real life units. I wonder why manufacturers cannot publish such things. Maybe to get away with manufacturing variances?

 

[Peter Schrager]

I know it’s against the rules but I’ve been using the old Xtol 1:2 dilution to push Tri-X. I just ran out of Xtol. Has anyone tried XT-3 in 1:2?
When Adox says they got the same curves as with Xtol I assume that was for the officially recommended dilutions. That does not mean XT-3 will behave like the old Xtol in all dilutions does it?

I very used it and no issues

 

[ADOX Fotoimpex]

From that datasheet you can find characteristic curves in real life units. I wonder why manufacturers cannot publish such things. Maybe to get away with manufacturing variances?

View attachment 303056

View attachment 303057

It is simply to costly. When Kodak printed this brochure they still had substantual market expectations and later on they never did this again. If we are to offset the costs of undertaking all these developments and sketching all these graphs against the revenue coming from a film developer product within the given short lifecycle inbetween recipe adjustments due to the ongoing banning of important substances by the EU, we are likely to be substantually impacted in our profits (and we need them to pay for a lot of stuff). We have planned however to at least do this for our own films.

 

[Jordanpereira1]

Thank you very much for this analysis.

 

[Jordanpereira1]

You are the Best

 

[Radost]

Has anybody done direct head to head comparison? Same camera stock development?
I will be traveling to Ukraine and prefer not to air travel with bags of powder Xtol bags.
Xtol is mostly out of stock in Europe but XT-3 is always available.

 

[Helge]

Has anybody done direct head to head comparison? Same camera stock development?
I will be traveling to Ukraine and prefer not to air travel with bags of powder Xtol bags.
Xtol is mostly out of stock in Europe but XT-3 is always available.

I’m still leaning towards giving XT-3 10 to 20 percent more.

 

[Radost]

I’m still leaning towards giving XT-3 10 to 20 percent more.

“10-20 percent more” what?

 

[Helge]

“10-20 percent more” what?

Time.

 

[Radost]

Time.

I hate change. ):

 

[mshchem]

It is simply to costly. When Kodak printed this brochure they still had substantual market expectations and later on they never did this again. If we are to offset the costs of undertaking all these developments and sketching all these graphs against the revenue coming from a film developer product within the given short lifecycle inbetween recipe adjustments due to the ongoing banning of important substances by the EU, we are likely to be substantually impacted in our profits (and we need them to pay for a lot of stuff). We have planned however to at least do this for our own films.

QUESTION about XT-3. I purchased 5L package in October of 2021, mixed it today June 11 2023. Dissolves great, no dust. I have noticed a tint, yellow brown color in the final 5L batch. Is this normal, something I should be concerned with??

I mixed up a 5L of Kodak brand XTOL, I just received from B&H (June 2023) made in USA, it's clear and like the original USA made XTOL, there's a few milligrams of junk that doesn't dissolve even with a propeller mixer.

Trying to understand if this is a shelf life issue with the XT-3, normal, anything I should be concerned about????

Best Regards Mike

 

[mshchem]

 

[mshchem]

Made with RO purified water.

 

[Radost]

Made with RO purified water.

I don’t see a reason to use xt-3 while xtol is available.

 

[mshchem]

I don’t see a reason to use xt-3 while xtol is available.

I have XTOL but clearly Kodak branded chemistry has been.....confused of late. I don't know why the XT-3 is colored. The powder has been stored at 20°C since I purchased.

 

[Radost]

I have XTOL but clearly Kodak branded chemistry has been.....confused of late. I don't know why the XT-3 is colored. The powder has been stored at 20°C since I purchased.

What is wrong with Kodak chemistry? I have not had any problems with flexicolor and Xtol ever.

 

[Philippe-Georges]

View attachment 341113

A light 'urine-yellow' colour (like your picture shows) is what I saw when I mixed XT-3 a few months ago, and it worked flawlessly.

BTW, I wonder who produces the X-Tol in Europe, it's made in Germany, is it TETENAL, MACO or ADOX?

 

[mshchem]

XTOL has been produced in Germany and lately in the US. The German (Tetenal?) produced material was my favorite, perfect, no particles left un-dissolved. I suspect what I have is being made in the US by the Legacy Pro Freestyle organization, packaging is very similar.

 

[mshchem]

What is wrong with Kodak chemistry? I have not had any problems with flexicolor and Xtol ever.

Neither have I. Never any problems with Kodak branded color or black and white chemistry, now or in the past.

 

[Philippe-Georges]

Neither have I. Never any problems with Kodak branded color or black and white chemistry, now or in the past.

Never had a problem with KODAK products, on the contrary these are very good, but the price (and curiosity) forces me sometimes to migrate.

Anyway, being European I lean towards Europe made products (which X-Tol seems to be )...

 

[mshchem]

Never had a problem with KODAK products, on the contrary these are very good, but the price (and curiosity) forces me sometimes to migrate.

Anyway, being European I lean towards Europe made products (which X-Tol seems to be )...

I'm curious if the Kodak XTOL brand is simply being licensed to different companies? I have some back stock of Tetenal (pre bankruptcy) made XTOL, still owned by Kodak Alaris, this made in Germany. And XTOL, Kodak Sino Promise, made in the US. I was under the impression that all current production of XTOL was back in the US????

 

[ADOX Fotoimpex]

View attachment 341113

This color is normale after several years of storage and the product should work perfectly as expected. This is no difference between our version and other versions of this devloper. It is typical for an Dimezone-S / Isoascorbat replenishing developer system.

 

[ADOX Fotoimpex]

I'm curious if the Kodak XTOL brand is simply being licensed to different companies? I have some back stock of Tetenal (pre bankruptcy) made XTOL, still owned by Kodak Alaris, this made in Germany. And XTOL, Kodak Sino Promise, made in the US. I was under the impression that all current production of XTOL was back in the US????

Europe: Kodak used to manufacture their Chemistry in France. They closed this facility right before the 2012 bankruptcy if I recall right and moved production to Tetenals. When Sino Promise took over Kodak branded photochemistry in 2019 they moved production away from Tetenal. The result were poorly packaed and performing products, (especially X-tol) for an intermediate time. This is when we came out with XT-3. Later on the production was again implemented with Tetenal and quality levels were back to normal. Now Tetenal has ceased manufacturing and currently no Kodak branded chemistry is available in Europe. This is why we also start manufacturing D-76 now.
In the US things are and were different. Since the companies who I am reporting on here for Europe all ceased or announced to cease business in the meantime I feel confident to disclose this.