Dektol question

[MattKing]

You should reach out to both B&H and the new licensee and manufacturer, Photo Systems: https://kodak.photosys.com/pages/contact-psi
And yes, they are moving away from many of the old product names for Kodak chemicals.

 

[mshchem]

I bought a new package of Dektol in February 2026 and just opened it:
- the powder is BROWN, almost the color of sugar-in-the-raw brown
- nowhere on the package does it state “Dektol”, only “Kodak Professional Paper Developer” (I was assured by B&H that it is Dektol)
- it is manufactured by Photo Systems inc
- I didn’t bother mixing it as it looks so bad
- anyone else encountering this?
View attachment 421746

That stinks!!!
Oh and welcome to Photrio

 

[mshchem]

Boy B+H is saying it's DEKTOL in bold type, probably getting tired of answering the phone. Biggest issue is sourcing raw materials (at a low price). Good way to drive away customers.

 

[Bill Burk]

Don’t be afraid of brown Dektol. Just use it

 

[mshchem]

Don’t be afraid of brown Dektol. Just use it

Yeah, that's not what I'm going to do. I've got options. It's just low-grade stuff.

 

[Don_ih]

Don't use the brown Dektol. Don't drink the purple KoolAid, either.

 

[Don_ih]

Oh, and don't drink the Dektol - even if it's clear.

 

[mshchem]

This really ticks me off. I smell Cinestill and their half-ass*d bull**it. Used to be Kodak was the Gold Standard. I still believe in Eastman Kodak Company. Not sure what to say about the chemistry other than someone has made a "business decision " boy I hope Ilford stays clear of this. Next boat from Adox arrives in June, I hope Freestyle has ordered plenty.

 

[Don_ih]

I still believe in Eastman Kodak Company.

Keep believing in the quality of the film, because that's top notch. Consider any chemicals licensed products - they're pretty much hands off - no different from a T-shirt with Kodak written on it.

 

[mshchem]

Keep believing in the quality of the film, because that's top notch. Consider any chemicals licensed products - they're pretty much hands off - no different from a T-shirt with Kodak written on it.

Absolutely!

 

[MattKing]

This really ticks me off. I smell Cinestill and their half-ass*d bull**it. Used to be Kodak was the Gold Standard. I still believe in Eastman Kodak Company. Not sure what to say about the chemistry other than someone has made a "business decision " boy I hope Ilford stays clear of this. Next boat from Adox arrives in June, I hope Freestyle has ordered plenty.

CineStill are involved because they have the means to distribute product worldwide, and to provide internet store front and customer service resources.
Photo Systems doesn't so they hire CineStill to do it.
And the name change stuff is all tangled with what the bankruptcy of Sino Promise did to all the IP rights out there, so is frustrating, but understandable.
If there is a problem with the product, the best thing you can do for everyone is to bring it to the attention of the manufacturer and the retailer.
FWIW, at least early on, when I made enquiries using that contact form the response came quite promptly from CineStill, and it was clear that they were invested into bringing Photo Systems into the discussion.
As for whether brown Dektol like developer is a problem, I've successfully developed lots of prints in print developer of various consistencies. Brown developer may be less convenient, but not necessarily non-functioning. With print developer, it is relatively quick to check whether it still works properly, while you wait for replacement.
The other thing that can lead to brown print developer is damaged packaging that lets air and moisture in. Are their any signs of that?

 

[mshchem]

CineStill are involved because they have the means to distribute product worldwide, and to provide internet store front and customer service resources.
Photo Systems doesn't so they hire CineStill to do it.
And the name change stuff is all tangled with what the bankruptcy of Sino Promise did to all the IP rights out there, so is frustrating, but understandable.
If there is a problem with the product, the best thing you can do for everyone is to bring it to the attention of the manufacturer and the retailer.
FWIW, at least early on, when I made enquiries using that contact form the response came quite promptly from CineStill, and it was clear that they were invested into bringing Photo Systems into the discussion.
As for whether brown Dektol like developer is a problem, I've successfully developed lots of prints in print developer of various consistencies. Brown developer may be less convenient, but not necessarily non-functioning. With print developer, it is relatively quick to check whether it still works properly, while you wait for replacement.
The other thing that can lead to brown print developer is damaged packaging that lets air and moisture in. Are their any signs of that?

Opinions.

"Mommy are these green pork chops still good?" WKRP in Cincinnati. c. 1978

Kodak PSI are on my watch list. Same with Cinestill.

I don't really like Dektol much, if I need some I'll bust out a can.

I'm not sure what's happening with Ilford's chemistry, they've certainly handled the post Tetenal period better than most.

I have chemistry. Next time I'm going to be giving a run at Adox via Freestyle.

I'm certain PSI can make proper stuff, at least they have for 50 years. Brown Dektol, Nope!

My tolerance for baloney is very low due to, well for a lot of reasons

 

[MattKing]

I'm not sure what's happening with Ilford's chemistry,

I'd be willing to wager that much of it is manufactured by Photo Systems too - it now apparently says made in the USA.

 

[mshchem]

CHEMICALS.

WHAT DO THEY MEAN? HOW
HAVE THEY TOUCHED YOUR LIFE?

Child: MOMMY, ARE THESE
GREEN PORK CHOPS STILL GOOD?

Man: A FEW SHORT YEARS AGO, THE ANSWER
WOULD'VE BEEN AN UNFORTUNATE "NO,"

BUT TODAY, GREEN MEAT IS...

(WKRP in Cincinnati)

 

[tparuy]

I heartily thank everyone for your responses and input, I greatly appreciate it.

I’ve been using Dektol since 1981. A few years back there was a chronic problem with compromised batches: I’d occasionally get a packet that had tan-tinged powder… I’d return it and receive a replacement pack that was normal. It seemed clear that there was a production problem.
- This is the first time in a while that I’ve received a bad batch; it’s brand new and it’s BROWN- not light tan.
- I am not wary simply because it's brown (I use Rodinal for film and with its long shelf life it can become very discolored) but there’s simply no way I can trust this stuff. What sufficiently explains this radical of a change if it’s still ’normal dektol’?
- Matt: no sign of package damage / moisture

I print on Ilford MultiGrade FB Classic
Anyone have suggestions for a Dektol-like paper developer they love?

 

[mshchem]

I'd be willing to wager that much of it is manufactured by Photo Systems too - it now apparently says made in the USA.

Well I picked up quite a few boxes of Bromophen (Made in Germany) when the news broke, here, that Tetenal was defunct. So thanks to the finest grades of chemistry and the packaging I'm good until I can qualify any changes.

And I bet that Ilford, or Ecopro, or Freestyle house brands won't be brown.

 

[mshchem]

I heartily thank everyone for your responses and input, I greatly appreciate it.

I’ve been using Dektol since 1981. A few years back there was a chronic problem with compromised batches: I’d occasionally get a packet that had tan-tinged powder… I’d return it and receive a replacement pack that was normal. It seemed clear that there was a production problem.
- This is the first time in a while that I’ve received a bad batch; it’s brand new and it’s BROWN- not light tan.
- I am not wary simply because it's brown (I use Rodinal for film and with its long shelf life it can become very discolored) but there’s simply no way I can trust this stuff. What sufficiently explains this radical of a change if it’s still ’normal dektol’?
- Matt: no sign of package damage / moisture

I print on Ilford MultiGrade FB Classic
Anyone have suggestions for a Dektol-like paper developer they love?

LegacyPro B&W Powder Paper Developer (Makes 1 Gallon)

LegacyPro B&W Powder Paper Developer (Makes 1 Gallon) - LegacyPro chemicals are brand name black and white chemicals with the same or similar formulations as Kodak chemicals. They produce the same high quality results at a great value, so compare…

www.freestylephoto.com

 

[mshchem]

Metol, chemically known as p-methylaminophenol sulfate, is a developing agent commonly
used in black and white photography and as a reagent in various chemical assays. In aqueous
solutions, Metol is susceptible to oxidation, a process where it loses electrons, leading to the
formation of colored and inactive degradation products. This degradation can compromise
experimental results by altering the effective concentration of the active reagent and
introducing interfering substances.

 

[MattKing]

I heartily thank everyone for your responses and input, I greatly appreciate it.

I’ve been using Dektol since 1981. A few years back there was a chronic problem with compromised batches: I’d occasionally get a packet that had tan-tinged powder… I’d return it and receive a replacement pack that was normal. It seemed clear that there was a production problem.
- This is the first time in a while that I’ve received a bad batch; it’s brand new and it’s BROWN- not light tan.
- I am not wary simply because it's brown (I use Rodinal for film and with its long shelf life it can become very discolored) but there’s simply no way I can trust this stuff. What sufficiently explains this radical of a change if it’s still ’normal dektol’?
- Matt: no sign of package damage / moisture

I print on Ilford MultiGrade FB Classic
Anyone have suggestions for a Dektol-like paper developer they love?

The brown colour isn't normal.
The bag you have has an issue.
Absent the issue, It will be functionally and substantially the same as D72 - which is Dektol - although the various practical additions that Kodak and other manufacturers past and present incorporate into D72 to deal with the realities of packaging and distribution as well as the need to be able to deal with a wide variety of tap waters will probably differ slightly from the product that has been sold as Dektol over the decades, despite being manufactured in many different locations - continents even - by many different corporations including many different "Kodaks".

 

[mshchem]

Well USA manufacturing supremacy once again
Film developer?? Oh brother! I have enough stockpiled until I can get this sorted. And nothing beats making your own, provided you can get the purest chemicals. I have old 5 pound bottles of Kodak Sodium sulfite, beautiful stuff.

 

[Bill Burk]

Yeah, that's not what I'm going to do. I've got options. It's just low-grade stuff.

More for me. Last weekend I mixed a batch of brown Dektol I bought a couple years ago from Freestyle. I had asked them if they had the new batch that isn’t brown and they assured me it was. Well it wasn’t. It’s the brown stuff.

I used one gallon and it was “just fine.” It doesn’t stain the paper. So I plan to make my way through this batch and then hopefully the new stuff isn’t brown.

Today I purchased two bags of D-76 and one of “paper developer”. I just wasn’t in the mood to buy two of each.

 

[mshchem]

Brown (partially oxidized metol and hydroquinone), the paper developer formally known as Dektol will develop prints. Just sloppy stuff. Not for me, Not gonna do it. Wouldn't be prudent!

 

[c41]

I bought a new package of Dektol in February 2026 and just opened it:
- the powder is BROWN, almost the color of sugar-in-the-raw brown
- nowhere on the package does it state “Dektol”, only “Kodak Professional Paper Developer” (I was assured by B&H that it is Dektol)
- it is manufactured by Photo Systems inc
- I didn’t bother mixing it as it looks so bad
- anyone else encountering this?
View attachment 421746

Identical issue here (purchased in March 2026.)
I did bother mixing it out of desperation to make a batch of what seems to be deep brown wort for brewing beer. I haven't pitched the yeast in it yet and I haven't made any darkroom prints with it either.

Mine was Lot 2025/11/07 expiry 2028/11. I contacted Kodak with the details this weekend, no reply as yet.