DK 50 Stock replenished vs 1:1

[Paul Howell]

In the 70s and 80s I did use DK 50 along with Polydol for 4X5 and 6X9, I have a gallon of old stock Dk 50 and a gallon of replenisher, I have a couple of boxes of Foma 400 in 4X5 and 2 1/4 by 3 1/4, question is stock or use 1:1. I must have used Dk 50 1:1, been so long don't recall the difference. If it matters will be using large tanks and handglf

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

On the practical side, if you are using a 1 gallon tank/hanger system then replenishment is the way to go (1:1 1-shot in a 1 gallon tank doesn't seem to make a lot of sense). With tray development or a Jobo 1:1 1-shot may be a better choice. FS developer in tray will become oxidized from contact with air and not be a good thing to be pouring back into a stock bottle.

On the impracticable side it may just be fun to baby along 1 gallon jar of DK-50 using replenisher.

 

[Michel Hardy-Vallée]

I've been using DK-50 1:1 mixed from scratch almost exclusively for my 120 for the last two years. Couple of observations:

• If you use it straight, it's really active, so you'll end up with either super-short developing times, or you might want to go the "season+replenish" route. I didn't feel like wasting film to season the tank, so I never tried it.
• If you use it 1:1, you can reuse it, at the approximate rate of 10 rolls per litre of working solution. It becomes pretty economical, but it's not eternal. These days, I shoot less, so I still do 1:1 but use it one-shot.
• You will have less shadow details, but brilliant highlights with slightly depressed midtones. Sharpness is excellent. It will look even better on a format larger than 120.
• I use it with HP5+ (5:15, agitate @ 30s) because it's a pretty straight-lined film that takes well the effect of DK-50. I tried it with 400TX for a while, and found I didn't have enough shadow details. FP4+ wasn't great with it either, because it already has its own S-shaped curve, so you're pushing a square peg in a round hole here. Tried it too with Fuji Acros 100, which worked OK, but I never clicked with Acros taste-wise. Can be a great choice for Ortho+, but watch your contrast.

 

[Murray Kelly]

I use DK-50 diluted 1+9 with T-grain 400 for 15m @ 20C. Very pleasing results to me. Box speed and hard to find grain even with a plustek 8100. One shot,of course.

 

[Raghu Kuvempunagar]

I use DK-50 diluted 1+9 with T-grain 400 for 15m @ 20C. Very pleasing results to me. Box speed and hard to find grain even with a plustek 8100. One shot,of course.

Interesting! Also because this is in principle similar to using D-76 at dilution 1+9 spiked with about 0.5g/l of Sodium hydroxide. TFS.

Also, if this equivalence with HC-110 dilutions holds, then DK-50 1+9 is like HC-110 dilution 1:150 aka dilution J?

Dilution A for HC-110 is often similar to DK-50 straight. Dilution B often is the same as DK-50 1:1. A good starting point for development time would be HC-110 b.

 

[Raghu Kuvempunagar]

Interesting! Also because this is in principle similar to using D-76 at dilution 1+9 spiked with about 0.5g/l of Sodium hydroxide.

There is also this:

Actually DK-50 makes a very good acutance developer when diluted 1+4 with enough metaborate added to raise the concentration to that of the undiluted developer, that is 10 g/l. Development times are 8 to 13 min @ 20C.

 

[Murray Kelly]

I will add for fun that I first ran into DK-50 when I made some FX37 using metol instead of phenidone (x10)
It wasn't until later I realized what i had done.
I agree that high dilution should still have the original pH but haven't found it necessary with 1+9 DK-50. Matbe I should.

 

[Paul Howell]

Just got the replenisher, old stock in metal can, should be fine. Today will mix both the DK50 and the replenisher, start with Foma shoot at 320 then 5 minutes stock at 68 degrees. Decided on 5 minutes as a starting time based on my trusted Kodak Master Data Guide 1962, starting time for TriX pan and TriX professional.

 

[Paul Howell]

Got around to testing Dk50 stock with Foma 400 4X5, 5 minutes at 68 degrees, shot a bracket 200, 400, 800. Without a densitometer hard to determine if I have the best shadow details, first impressions is that Foma looks good at box speed, will likely shoot at 320. Used Crown with 135mm Wally and Gossan meter in incident mode. I know that the shutter speeds on the Wally are likely, will repeat with recently serviced Kodak Ektar 150 to see if the same ball park. Next fews days I'll print grade 2.

 

[John Wiegerink]

Got around to testing Dk50 stock with Foma 400 4X5, 5 minutes at 68 degrees, shot a bracket 200, 400, 800. Without a densitometer hard to determine if I have the best shadow details, first impressions is that Foma looks good at box speed, will likely shoot at 320. Used Crown with 135mm Wally and Gossan meter in incident mode. I know that the shutter speeds on the Wally are likely, will repeat with recently serviced Kodak Ektar 150 to see if the same ball park. Next fews days I'll print grade 2.

Paul,
Keep us posted on your progress with DK-50. I want to try it with some Berger 4X5 and Shanghai GP3 when I get my new 4X5 camera. I have used it with 120 and I was impressed. It did seem to give my negatives good, sharp honest grain, but was certainly not bad grain at all in 120 format. I tried it diluted 1:6 for 35mm, but liked Xtol-R better for that size negative.

 

[Paul Howell]

I ordered 3 cans stock and a couple of cans of the replenisher. I got cans as the bag of stock I got has some discoloration the can of replenisher seemed to be as good as the day it was packed. MDC has times for Foma 1:3 but not stock. I agree that DK 50 is not my choice for 35mm.

 

[John Wiegerink]

I ordered 3 cans stock and a couple of cans of the replenisher. I got cans as the bag of stock I got has some discoloration the can of replenisher seemed to be as good as the day it was packed. MDC has times for Foma 1:3 but not stock. I agree that DK 50 is not my choice for 35mm.

I mixed mine from scratch and didn't use replenishment, just one shot. I don't know if this is the right way to describe what my negatives look, but I would use the term "clean" look. If it works fine with GP3 and Bergger Pancro 400 I might just try it with HP5+ and Delta 100 in 4X5. Still hard to beat Xtol-R and Pyrocat HDC or MC, which are my two favorites. We certainly don't lack in the department of good B&W film developers. JohnW

 

[Michel Hardy-Vallée]

I mixed mine from scratch and didn't use replenishment, just one shot. I don't know if this is the right way to describe what my negatives look, but I would use the term "clean" look. If it works fine with GP3 and Bergger Pancro 400 I might just try it with HP5+ and Delta 100 in 4X5. Still hard to beat Xtol-R and Pyrocat HDC or MC, which are my two favorites. We certainly don't lack in the department of good B&W film developers. JohnW

Yes, do try it with HP5+, it's a really nice combination I like a lot in 120. As you said, very "clean" and sharp looking.

 

[John Wiegerink]

Yes, do try it with HP5+, it's a really nice combination I like a lot in 120. As you said, very "clean" and sharp looking.

That’s good to know and I’ll add HP5+to the list. Another thing I like about DK-50 is the fact that I almost always have the chemicals on hand to make it any time I want. I still want to try it replenished, but for my volume of film at the moment it more than likely won’t be a benefit.

 

[Paul Howell]

I just loaded 50 sheets of Foma 400 4X5, doing the math a gallon of stock and replenisher should last, I also have Foma 400 in 6X9 which I'll add to the lot.