After baby steps with Caffenol - suggest a "classic" developer..!

[jay moussy]

Update: I dev'd with R09 for the first time, using a stand development method posted by a forum member.
My 120 HP5+ came out great, it being a test roll off a Yashica A, bought here on the forum!

Hooray!

 

[Donald Qualls]

Looks like you're on your way, Jay! Rodinal clones are a good start, economical and easy to use. They tend to emphasize grain, however (which won't matter as much in that TLR as it would in 35mm). Other options are so-called "fine grain" developers -- D-76 is the classic, but D-23, while not commercially available, is the simplest developer formula there is: metol, sodium sulfite, and water. And it will trade off a little acutance (appearance of sharpness) to reduce appearance of grain. D-23 can be used as stock, or diluted as far as 1+3, though I've never used it diluted myself.

 

[KenS]

For the past number of years my developer of 'first' (and only) choice has been Pyrocat HD which I 'make up' from'scratch' and pour into small plastic containers such that I may 'squeeze' to get rid of any 'air' to reduce/eliminate the chances of oxidation after the 'required' volume has been 'used'.

Ken