Equal portion 1:1 MQ/HQ developers?

[Paul Verizzo]

It's been some years since I was very active on this forum. My last posts had to do with DK-50 1:1. https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/dk-50-still-alive-and-well.124365/unread

Since then I did the digital thing, I've moved, I've wandered into the weeds.

I'm about to ramp up my analog experiments again. Lots of film in the freezer. Back to my roots.

My question is, do you know of any developers that use a 1:1 MQ/HQ ratio other than DK-50? I also know of a suggested divided developer by one Otha Spencer via Shutterbug magazine in 1992.

The discovery of adding HQ to MQ to make a superadditive developer in the 1930's was groundbreaking. A pinch of HQ and suddenly MQ became the Hulk. The downside, as I see it, is that HQ is hugely thermally active. A small variation in temperature results in a large swing of activity.

In the near future, my intention is to use DK-50 1:1 and then use DK-50R 1:1 to replenish per volume. Per the ancient Photo Lab Index.

 

[Murray Kelly]

It's noteworthy that FX37 is actually DK50 with the substitution of 1/10th the weight of phenidone for metol.
I use DK50 1+9 for T-grain 400 film at 3.5 times the full strength developing time.

Welcome back!

 

[Paul Verizzo]

It's noteworthy that FX37 is actually DK50 with the substitution of 1/10th the weight of phenidone for metol.
I use DK50 1+9 for T-grain 400 film at 3.5 times the full strength developing time.

Welcome back!

Thanks for the welcome and the info.

 

[Alan Johnson]

The equal ratio seems to derive from the Wellington Borax MQ as far back as 1921:

Wellington Borax MQ Fine Grain Developer

Historically this is the earliest Fine Grain Developer I've come across, it's listed in the 1921 11th edition Wellington Photographic Handbook as a Fine Grain developer, but it may be earlier. From the 1880's Wellington had collaborated with...

www.photrio.com

 

[Paul Verizzo]

The equal ratio seems to derive from the Wellington Borax MQ as far back as 1921:

Wellington Borax MQ Fine Grain Developer

Historically this is the earliest Fine Grain Developer I've come across, it's listed in the 1921 11th edition Wellington Photographic Handbook as a Fine Grain developer, but it may be earlier. From the 1880's Wellington had collaborated with...

www.photrio.com

Thanks. Only 10g borax. Hard to see it as fine grain.

 

[Alan Johnson]

Yes, low sulfite in the 1921 formula.
FDC 2020 p82 has DK-50 in the class of buffered non solvent developers. Noting Murray's comment it seems to have been overlooked.

 

[Michel Hardy-Vallée]

DK-60a also has a 1:1 MQ ratio.

Also, right now, I'm using a DK-50 1:1 replenished setup, and it's working quite well.

 

[Paul Verizzo]

DK-60a also has a 1:1 MQ ratio.

Also, right now, I'm using a DK-50 1:1 replenished setup, and it's working quite well.

So it does. Comparing DK-50 and DK 60a, the differences is that the latter has twice the Kodalk and twice the sulfite. DK-60a is described "Deep tank or machine developer for Kodak roll films, film packs, sheet films, and plates." DK-50 lacks any mention of machine processing.

Glad to hear of the replenished 1:1 working well for you. That's where I'm headed.

 

[Paul Verizzo]

In the event any of you are following this thread, here is an update.

I modified DK60a. No bromide, 200g sulfite, although that gets diluted to 50g/liter with a 1:3 dilution. Add phenidone.

I've only had a chance to run a few shots of Kentmere 100. The results are stunning. If one is using a hybrid system, negatives shot from ISO 25 to 400 are printable. Peel off the extremes, say, 50 to 200 ISO. In fact, the latter is probably the best negative. Grain is what one might expect from that level of sulfite. Not bad.

 

[ags2mikon]

I am following this thread. I have some delta 3200 I want to try. Anybody been there and have the tee shirt?