Diafine Instrucions - Questions

[bvy]

I'm looking at the instructions for Diafine here:
http://www.digitaltruth.com/products/acufine_tech/acufine.pdf

I'm unclear about a few things:
1. They suggest developing film in the 70F to 85F range, but their chart lists all the temperatures as 68F.
2. Also why is roll film (120?) rated higher than 35mm film in their chart? Pan F+, for example, is rated at 80 for 35mm and 100 for roll film -- same processing times.

I was also surprised to see the mixing instructions recommending water at 75F to 85F for preparing the solutions. Does the stuff dissolve readily at these relatively cooler temperatures?

Thanks.

 

[Rick A]

It's panthermic, and may be used at any temp within the range given, for the times listed.

 

[MattKing]

It's panthermic, and may be used at any temp within the range given, for the times listed.

I haven't used Diafine in recent years, but when I did use it, I learned that it was important to make sure that the developer was indeed within the recommended temperature range. If you let it get a few degrees colder, it doesn't work well.

The different speed recommendations for different formats may reflect the fact that it is a two bath developer. Different formats use different substrates and may therefore absorb bath A in different ways.

 

[ParkerSmithPhoto]

I always tried to keep the solutions around 72 degrees, It's pretty much foolproof, and unless you shoot in extremely flat light, you'll be very pleased with the negatives. It's great stuff.

 

[danfogel]

I really love that stuff and find myself picking films at the Dianfine speeds. I don't know about the 120 vs. 35mm speeds, but as with any of this stuff, try a test roll or two and see what works for you. I have never paid attention to the temperature either. I have tried quite a few films and had good luck. https://www.flickr.com/search/?w=25237849@N02&q=diafine

 

[cmacd123]

There used to be the assumption that 35mm would be printed with a Condenser enlarger, while larger formats would use a diffusion enlarger. The ideal negative contrast is slightly different for the two methods, so perhaps that is where the difference comes from. Many developers list different times for the two even though the actual film is the same.

 

[bvy]

Interesting. Sounds like the stuff is fairly foolproof and somewhat forgiving when the usual precautions are taken. I'll process at room temperature which is about 72F.

 

[bvy]

Does anyone else notice that the developing agent (A) doesn't dissolve completely? I'm using distilled water at 85F and have stirred for over five minutes. Mine is the quart kit.

 

[Roger Cole]

I've had problems dissolving it too but just filtered the tiny bit that won't dissolve - no apparent problem.

Minimum temperature is important but just keep it in the recommended range and you'll be fine. It's the closest thing to a foolproof developer.


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[Mark Crabtree]

I worry that the undissolved bit might be Phenidone, so don't filter it out any more. I may eventually dissolve in the bottle.

 

[bvy]

I worry that the undissolved bit might be Phenidone, so don't filter it out any more. I may eventually dissolve in the bottle.

I'm reading mixed advice about this. I ended up filtering it out, but now I'm wondering if that was the right thing to do. I'll test the developer this week.

 

[Roger Cole]

It's only been a tiny amount and it still seems to work properly. But if there's some way to dissolve that last bit I'll try it next time.


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[ITKI]

Does anyone else notice that the developing agent (A) doesn't dissolve completely? I'm using distilled water at 85F and have stirred for over five minutes. Mine is the quart kit.

My (A) agent didn't dissolve completely either - left it sitting there for 2 hours and stirred three times in between, after that it was completely dissolved.

 

[bvy]

My (A) agent didn't dissolve completely either - left it sitting there for 2 hours and stirred three times in between, after that it was completely dissolved.

Three years later, I'm still using that same batch of Diafine and it works just great. Granted, I've only put a dozen or so rolls through it in that time. But still...

 

[rpavich]

Three years later, I'm still using that same batch of Diafine and it works just great. Granted, I've only put a dozen or so rolls through it in that time. But still...

Haha...that's awesome. I mixed up a batch and I have it in clear soda bottles, it's absolutely disgusting looking but it keeps on working just fine. The only thing that happens is that I lose a bit of A every roll but other than that...it should last like yours...years.

I also agree, there is a definite difference between being "close" to the temp range and being inside it.

 

[Roger Cole]

If it looks disgusting from sediment, strain it - I cut a cotton ball into about 1/4 of a full ball and stuff it into the throat of a funnel and filter through that.

If it's from color, just use it.

 

[rpavich]

If it looks disgusting from sediment, strain it - I cut a cotton ball into about 1/4 of a full ball and stuff it into the throat of a funnel and filter through that.

If it's from color, just use it.

It's just color at this point.

 

[voceumana]

...
I'm unclear about a few things:
1. They suggest developing film in the 70F to 85F range, but their chart lists all the temperatures as 68F.
2. Also why is roll film (120?) rated higher than 35mm film in their chart? Pan F+, for example, is rated at 80 for 35mm and 100 for roll film -- same processing times.

I was also surprised to see the mixing instructions recommending water at 75F to 85F for preparing the solutions. Does the stuff dissolve readily at these relatively cooler temperatures?

Thanks.

The chart lists the recommended temperature--"Diafine may be used within a temperature range of 70 to 85°F..." means that temperature range is permissible, not that it is recommended.

Many developers are recommended to be mixed at temperatures higher than room temperature. Many of the ingredients dissolve more easily at higher temperature.

 

[bvy]

The chart lists the recommended temperature--"Diafine may be used within a temperature range of 70 to 85°F..." means that temperature range is permissible, not that it is recommended.

Many developers are recommended to be mixed at temperatures higher than room temperature. Many of the ingredients dissolve more easily at higher temperature.

Thanks. It's been three years since I asked that question, and I've learned a few things about Diafine since then. Mainly that 70F is not the same as 85F when it comes to developing. I shot a roll of Tri-X in 120 at box speed or a stop under, and I developed it in Diafine at 85F. I got twelve black squares. I'm guessing that it may not respond as dramatically to three degree increments like other developers (why else would they put it out there unqualified?), but it does respond differently to the extremes in that range.

 

[Roger Cole]

Huh. I've never run it at 85, but I've run it from barely 70 to high 70s, like 78 or so in summer, with no noticeable difference. I do extend the time a bit if I'm near the bottom of the range, because you basically can't over develop (well, I have never been able to anyway, but I never ran it at 85...) it just seems to go to completion for me.

 

[bvy]

Huh. I've never run it at 85, but I've run it from barely 70 to high 70s, like 78 or so in summer, with no noticeable difference. I do extend the time a bit if I'm near the bottom of the range, because you basically can't over develop (well, I have never been able to anyway, but I never ran it at 85...) it just seems to go to completion for me.

I did some tests a while back. I was curious how Diafine responded to temperature and agitation. I took several frames of the same scene in the same light using manual exposure, and cut the film into three strips. One, I developed at 70F with agitation at one minute intervals (per the instructions); the second I developed at 85F with the same agitation; the third at 70F with constant agitation (both baths). Results are below, scanned in one pass with no scanner corrections enabled.



The only reason I was interested in using Diafine at 85F was that it corrected some issues I was having at the time with randomly appearing airbells. Room temperature is certainly more convenient (it's how I use it now) and I don't fret over a few degrees one way or the other the way I would with other developers.

 

[rpavich]

I did some tests a while back. I was curious how Diafine responded to temperature and agitation. I took several frames of the same scene in the same light using manual exposure, and cut the film into three strips. One, I developed at 70F with agitation at one minute intervals (per the instructions); the second I developed at 85F with the same agitation; the third at 70F with constant agitation (both baths). Results are below, scanned in one pass with no scanner corrections enabled.

View attachment 190352

The only reason I was interested in using Diafine at 85F was that it corrected some issues I was having at the time with randomly appearing airbells. Room temperature is certainly more convenient (it's how I use it now) and I don't fret over a few degrees one way or the other the way I would with other developers.

Well that's interesting. I'm not sure what it means; it seems like the 85deg sample is the best one though like I said....I'm not sure.

 

[Gerald C Koch]

Interesting. Sounds like the stuff is fairly foolproof and somewhat forgiving when the usual precautions are taken. I'll process at room temperature which is about 72F.

Having worked the help phone at a large technical company I learned that nothing is 'fool proof.' I think that this is true as long as there are fools. I was once asked whether software wore out Like a pair of pants wears out from use.

 

[bvy]

Having worked the help phone at a large technical company I learned that nothing is 'fool proof.' I think that this is true as long as there are fools. I was once asked whether software wore out Like a pair of pants wears out from use.

I wrote that three years ago. Back when I was still a fool...

But now that I know everything, I'm more confused than ever!

 

[Roger Cole]

Well it seems that it may make a bit more difference than some of us thought, but still far less than in a regular developer.

I am almost always between 72F and 78F though and within that range I really don't notice any difference.