DK-50 metol free alternative?

[removedacct3]

Does anybody know of a replenishable metol free DK-50 alternative? By DK-50 I mean a film developer with a decent up sweep in the highlights. To be used with HP5+.

 

[john_s]

HC-110 would suit, but the replenisher is discontinued, i think.

 

[Donald Qualls]

HC-110 would suit, but the replenisher is discontinued, i think.

Long gone. One of the first film products to fall when digital started getting market share (if not before).

 

[John Wiegerink]

Crawley's FX-37 is pretty much the PQ equivalent of DK-50. If you like DK-50 results, you'll probably like FX-37. As for a replenisher for FX-37, I'm sure one could be figured out. When I used FX-37, I just used it one shot. Mixing your own makes it pretty cheap and fairly easy, but you might not be up to home-brewing your own.

 

[removedacct3]

Mixing your own makes it pretty cheap and fairly easy, but you might not be up to home-brewing your own.

No, quite the contrary. I'm looking for a recipe to mix myself. Thank you for the suggestion, I will have a look at it.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

May I ask why you are looking for a Metol-free alternative? Sorry, just curious... I've used DK-50 with HP5 for an upswept curve specifically for Carbon Transfer printing...

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

...forgot to add that I also replenished it.

 

[Ian Grant]

It's probably relatively easy to mix a PQ version of DK50, getting a replenisher right would be harder. DK50 is one of the spin-offs from Kodak's progression from the Wellington MQ Borax Fine Grain developer and D76.

Ian

 

[removedacct3]

May I ask why you are looking for a Metol-free alternative?

I think, but I am not quite sure, that I have a Metol allergy or at least it manifests itself as allergy-like irritation. All is good when developing films, it is the mixing that caused a problem once.

 

[John Wiegerink]

I have to agree with Andrew above. You might gain just a little speed with a PQ developer, but DK-50 is nothing to sneeze at. When I used DK-50 I found that I liked the honest, sharp grain I got with it, but I was only using it with a ISO100 film at the time. I did try some TMY2 120 at ISO400 and thought the results were very good. I then went back to using Xtol. I'm going to be shooting some 4X5 Shanghai GP3 and HP5+ and might just mix up some DK-50 to see what I get.

 

[removedacct3]

It's probably relatively easy to mix a PQ version of DK50, getting a replenisher right would be harder. DK50 is one of the spin-offs from Kodak's progression from the Wellington MQ Borax Fine Grain developer and D76.

Ian

An alternative could be Agfa 17 (and Agfa 17A replenisher) with Metol replaced by Phenidone, that is 0.15 grams of Phenidone for 1.5 grams of Metol. Do you have any thoughts on this Ian?

 

[John Wiegerink]

I think, but I am not quite sure, that I have a Metol allergy or at least it manifests itself as allergy-like irritation. All is good when developing films, it is the mixing that caused a problem once.

The concentration of Metol when mixing it might have been too high for your system to tolerate. Diluted to working strength might be fine. Also, latex gloves are always a safe route for any darkroom work.

 

[John Wiegerink]

An alternative could be Agfa 17 (and Agfa 17A replenisher) with Metol replaced by Phenidone, that is 0.15 grams of Phenidone for 1.5 grams of Metol. Do you have any thoughts on this Ian?

Why not just use something like ID-68?

 

[Doremus Scudder]

Contact dermatitis from Metol is frequent and a well-known risk. I can develop over time, but once you have it, the sensitivity usually does not go away.

It's a good idea to handle all developers carefully, using tongs and/or gloves, especially the ones with potential irritants.

Doremus

 

[removedacct3]

Why not just use something like ID-68?

Two years ago I did a summer project on Fomapan 100 in replenished D-23 and I really liked to look I got. By chance a Czech photographer saw my work and recommended DK-50. It will enhance your portraits he said. Hence, DK-50.

When googling DK-50 and portraits I found out that the up swept curve is, more or less, solely responsible for the great portrait look.

I had a look at ID-68 and Autophen, but I could not find anything about their curves. That's why I figured a Metol free DK-50 variant would be ideal.

 

[Henning Serger]

Does anybody know of a replenishable metol free DK-50 alternative? By DK-50 I mean a film developer with a decent up sweep in the highlights. To be used with HP5+.

Maybe ADOX Rodinal in 1+25 or 1+50 dilution and one-turn agitation every 30s can give you your wanted up sweep. I have seen exactly that with Rodinal with some other films, but I have not tested it with HP5+.
Rodinal is also metol free (but not replenishable; what on the other side is not needed given its excellent shelf life and very low costs).

Best regards,
Henning