Anybody not like Diafine?

CraigG4C said:

I used Diafine at one point, was not impressed. However, with TX or HP5 it produced between a half and a full stop speed increase (probably from the phenidone) without excessive grain if you use the Diafine A and the DD-76 B. Save the Diafine B for cleaning your oven.

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It is a terrific cleaner. Mine leaked out of the jug once onto a tile floor while we were on holiday---it had mostly crystallised by the time we came home. I have never seen grout so clean in my life!

I actually quite like the look of Tri-X in Diafine, though I agree that EI 1600 is *very*, um, optimistic. I also get a fair amount of use out of the stuff for long (tens of minutes) nighttime exposures, but that's mainly for the compensation and I suspect many other divided developers would work just as well.

-NT

I never used Diafine but I have use D-76 and HC-110 which work great in most applications.

Jeff

My opinion is, you should invest a few dollars in a thermometer and use D-76, or Rodinal, and monitor temps to become consistant with developing. I work with those developers and Pyrocat-HD and keep a close watch on my temps, and rarely have any issues with obtaining quality printable negatives. There is no substitute for good habits. Sloppiness of procedure leads to disappointing results.

Opinions vary

Interesting. Some folks say that Diafine is too contrasty to be useful. Others say it's good if you want a really flat negative.

Guess the best thing is to try it yourself.