Alternative to Fomadon LQN ?

Felinik · Sep 5, 2012

I tried using Fomadon LQN the other day here for a bunch of rolls of Fomapan Action 400 (35mm). It looks great, I like it, though I can imagine the formula is far from unique, and would like to know if there's some other developer out there that is quite the same?

Thanks!

Cheers
/J.F. Felinik

Gerald C Koch · Sep 5, 2012

Ilford Ilfosol 3 Generally the same ingredients (Dimezone-S, hydroquinone. carbonate), same dilutions, same pH.

Felinik · Sep 5, 2012

Gerald C Koch said:
Ilford Ilfosol 3 Generally the same ingredients (Dimezone-S, hydroquinone. carbonate), same dilutions, same pH.

Where did you find a full spec with quantities etc. for the content in Fomadon LQN and the Ilfosol 3 ?

Gerald C Koch · Sep 5, 2012

Since both developers are proprietary you're not going to get exact formulas. However the published MSDS's compare favorably for the main ingredients. Both use Dimezone-S and hydroquinone as the developing agents with sodium carbonate for the alkali. The pH values are also comparable. Ilfosol also uses ascorbic acid and is therefore a bit more environmently friendly. I think the two are a good match but you might find a better one with some searching.

Check the following links.

http://www.freestylephoto.biz/pdf/msds/foma/Fomadon_LQN_Film_Developer.pdf

http://www.chemcas.com/msds_archive/part2/cas/gf_msds/edu400_com---ILFOSOL-S.asp

Felinik · Sep 5, 2012

Gerald C Koch said:
Since both developers are proprietary you're not going to get exact formulas. However the published MSDS's compare favorably for the main ingredients. Both use Dimezone-S and hydroquinone as the developing agents with carbonate for the alkali. The pH values are also comparable.

Check the following links.

http://www.freestylephoto.biz/pdf/msds/foma/Fomadon_LQN_Film_Developer.pdf

http://www.chemcas.com/msds_archive/part2/cas/gf_msds/edu400_com---ILFOSOL-S.asp

Thanks!

Looks indeed quite similar, found this one as well:

http://www.ilfordphoto.com/Webfiles/2012427133025745.pdf

Felinik · Mar 1, 2013

After having developed a cpl of dozen rolls with the Fomadon LQN, I'm not amazed by the result, it's okay, but feels like there's more to get here, so after consulting the big great interweb I will do a bunch of rolls in XTOL 1:1 as that seems to be a fairly common, and quite suitable, developer for this film (and I happen to have a cpl of litres mixed in accordion bottles just waiting to be used before it gets too old)...

Anyone else that have experience in this combo? I shoot the Fomapan 400 @320, but I'm under the impression that probably it wouldn't be any problems going all the way down to 200 with this emulsion.

Роберт · Mar 2, 2013

FP 400 and also FP 200 are doing very wel in Xtol 1+1. Expose on E.I. 250 resp. E.I. 160.

Felinik · Mar 2, 2013

Ah, you go all the way down to 250 on 400, I've stayed at 320 and I guess 250 wouldnt be a big difference though. Will first try to soup a cpl of rolls shot @320 in X-Tol 1:1, the recipe I found says 12 mins, can you confirm this?

Роберт · Mar 3, 2013

Well FP 400 has a lack of speed. And the grain is pretty big. Therefore Xtol 1+0 has my preference. Less grain but a tick less sharp. 8:30 minutes at 20C. When you want a full seperation of the (grey) test chart strips FP 400 in Xtol expose on E.I. 250. When you want to do 1+1 around 12 minutes is OK.
But to optimize your result you have to do your own experience in FP 400 development.

Felinik · Mar 3, 2013

Роберт said:
Well FP 400 has a lack of speed. And the grain is pretty big. Therefore Xtol 1+0 has my preference. Less grain but a tick less sharp. 8:30 minutes at 20C. When you want a full seperation of the (grey) test chart strips FP 400 in Xtol expose on E.I. 250. When you want to do 1+1 around 12 minutes is OK.
But to optimize your result you have to do your own experience in FP 400 development.

I don't mind the grain as long is it's even and consistent, I will try 1+1 12 mins. for a dozen rolls or so, and if that doesn't feel right I'll test your 1+0 8.30 mins. instead, and then I'll take it from there.

Alternative to Fomadon LQN ?

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