D-23 vs Pyro

Any idea how long this version of D23 lasts? Or is it one shot?

Raghu Kuvempunagar said:

I developed two short strips of Orwo UN54 with 1:10 dilution of D-23 spiked with 0.5g Sodium Hydroxide per liter of working solution. I used 600ml of working solution in my Patterson two reel tank. 20 minutes @20C, continuous agitation for first minute and then 10 seconds at 2, 4, 8 and 16 minutes mark. Negatives look good to my eyes.

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Here's a scan of one of the negatives - a grab shot not really intended to prove anything. Still getting used to Nikon ES-2 digitizing adapter and Sony A6000 setup for scanning film. So please bear with any scanning flaws.

juan said:

Any idea how long this version of D23 lasts? Or is it one shot?

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If you meant D-23 1:10, it's one shot only.

juan said:

Any idea how long this version of D23 lasts? Or is it one shot?

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I have a feeling but that's all it is, that John Finch from Pictorial Planet mentioned something about this in passing towards the end of his video about making D23. Have a look at it. I found it worthwhile

pentaxuser

Yeah, the 1:10. I just developed some test shots on Green XRay film. Most folks rate it 80-100. In making the test shots on an overcast day, I misread my meter and exposed some negatives at 1/2 second rather that 2 seconds, then made a couple at the correct speed. I decided to try one of the 2 second ones in the D-23 1:10. I also thought I'd see how bad the underexposed negative would be. Developed 20 minutes with one minute agitation, then three seconds at 2-4-8-16. The 1/2 second negative looks wonderful to the eye - the 2 second one is almost bulletproof. Would you expect a speed increase in this developer?

juan said:

Would you expect a speed increase in this developer?

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Unlikely that this dilution gives 2 stop speed increase - that would be fantastic if it did happen. I can only suspect that the working solution might have been more active than desired for this film. I hope you used only 0.5g of Sodium Hydroxide per liter of working solution and not more.

This film is strange. I’ve had trouble finding a good developer for it. If it ever stops raining, I’ll make more tests. And yes, 1-gram for two liters working solution.

Also, looking at the info sheet for the Ethol Blue you linked, all of the films with this developer show increased speed.

FP4+ developed in Divided D-23 can be exposed at about 80 ASA and deliver outstanding negatives.
Here is a recent example of an FP4+ negative exposed and processed this way: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51658022618_4e75490d03_h.jpg

Intrepid 5x7 with Schneider f5.6 Symmar 210, and f11, for 10 seconds.