D-76 or ID-11

[stradibarrius]

I tried doing a search before I asked this question but the search engine only likes one word searches??

Is there any functional difference in the two developers? I am just stating out processing my own film and I want to standardize as much as possible until I learn what I'm doing.

Are the two developers interchangeable??? I have read that the chemical formulas are the same?

 

[df cardwell]

They are the same.

 

[jim appleyard]

We use them in the same way, but they are packaged differently. ID-11 comes in two packets, developing agent in one, activator in the 2nd. D-76 comes in one packet and there may be some minor chems added to aid in mixing, but other that that, we usew the same times, temps, etc.

 

[PhotoJim]

In theory, ID-11 is closer to the original formula. The two-packet packaging means less additional ingredients are required.

In practice, they work very similarly. I recommend that you buy on price. All things equal, I tend to prefer Ilford because their larger packages are in metric and not awkward (to non-Americans) US gallon measurements, but at some retailers the Kodak product is significantly cheaper.

 

[Aurum]

I use the ID-11 for the simple reason that it is more widely available in the UK than D76.

I expect for our Colonial cousins, D76 may have the edge.

They're both different sides of exactly the same coin

 

[Anscojohn]

Don't choose either. Mix them up yourself from scratch. Same formula.

 

[Murray Kelly]

Which particular colonies are you referring to?
I see more ID-11 in Brisbane
Murray

I use the ID-11 for the simple reason that it is more widely available in the UK than D76.

I expect for our Colonial cousins, D76 may have the edge.

They're both different sides of exactly the same coin

 

[chriscrawfordphoto]

In the USA Kodak's version is about half the price of the Ilford and more stores sell it. Like everyone else said, buy the version that is easier and cheaper to find where you live.

 

[jovo]

In the USA Kodak's version is about half the price of the Ilford and more stores sell it.

I used ID11 for years until I realized that D76 was cheaper by a good bit when the US dollar had tanked. But I also discovered that I preferred D76 to ID11 because it more granular and mixing it is nearly dustless whereas ID11 isn't. I use a dustmask in either case, but D76 just seems safer.