Developer comparison

[chiller]

Does anyone have an opinion on either of these developers based on actual usage.

Ilford's LC29 and !D11

[1] Image quality

[2] storage life

[3] similarities/differences

[4] best dilution to use

The films for use with these are Efke 100, 25 Apx 100 [roll and sheet film]

Please note I have asked specifically about these two developers and no others.

 

[gbroadbridge]

G'day Steve,

Have you looked at the data sheet for the developers available at ilford.com? That provides some useful insight into your questions, and agrees pretty much with my experience.

LC29 is a long life developer that works at quite high dilutions. I've never had a bottle go bad even 12 months after opening. It's downside is it's not a particularly pretty developer, rather rough grain (having said that I use it if I'm after it's particular look). It's very convenient having a bottle sitting on the shelf.

ID11 is almost Kodak D76. Both are considered to be the reference against which all others are compared. I really like ID11 stock for portraiture, but will use 1+1 for typical shooting. If sharpness is really important I'll use 1+3 but the development times irritate me a bit . Stock ID-11 doesn't last that long, 6 months in a squeeze bottle, but no more than a month if the bottle isn't full to the brim. Then again if you are like me and only mix up a litre at a time you'll probably use it up faster than it goes off. A disadvantage is you need to remember to mix it up the day before if you're getting low. Of course it lasts forever dry on the shelf.

Hope this helps

Graham