Film dev recommendations

[digiconvert]

I have used Ilfosol S since I started to my own d and p but I am now beginning to notice the drop in sharpness between rolls processed in new chemical and those processed in dev that has been opened a couple of weeks or so (stored in a cool place). I guess it shows some progress in my skills (that's my excuse anyway) but I am looking for an alternative which will not go off quite so fast, I tend to get through one or two rolls of 120 per month.
I have sen some interesting stuff on the retrophotographic site ' Dead Link Removed' and at silverprint ,http://www.silverprint.co.uk/, but some guidance would be good.
I shoot 125 and slower and try to use 'older' emulsions rather than delta type formulae.

Thanks CJB

 

[Markok765]

Rodnial work for sharpness and is long lasting

 

[John Bragg]

Hi CJB,
HC-110 is an excellent choice. The highly concentrated syrup lasts a very long time. It can be used in a variety of dilutions and using a syringe you can measure out just enough for one shot use. (It is best measured this way because it is highly viscous, and bubbles form if you try using a standard measuring cylinder leading to inaccuracy). I have found it to be 100% dependable used in this way, and once you dial in the best dev times for your personal technique, it is capable of superb results comparable to D76/ID-11 but with less hassle, and better keeping properties by a long way.
The following links give some good tips on its use. It works for me and I think you will like it too !!

http://www.covingtoninnovations.com/hc110/

http://www.dragonsgate.net/mbell/leica/hc110.html

Regards, John.

 

[clogz]

To keep opened bottles of developer from oxydizing you could use a whiff of Tetenal Protectan.

Hans

 

[Paul Howell]

In addition to HC 110 you can also consider DDX, TMX, Rodinal, 777, or Edwal TG 7. All have excellent keeping properties. I kept a tank of 777 going for a year and a half with replenishment.

 

[Konical]

Good Evening, CJB,

I'll second John's comments on HC-110. It's economical, and I haven't yet found any general purpose film it doesn't do a least a good job on. I do prefer T-Max developer for T-100 and T-400, but HC-110 is no slouch on those films either.

Konical

 

[Neal]

Dear CJB,

Consider using your film developer as "one-shot". Developer is cheap. Film is cheap too, but not as cheap as developer. ;>)

Neal Wydra

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

I have used Ilfosol S since I started to my own d and p but I am now beginning to notice the drop in sharpness between rolls processed in new chemical and those processed in dev that has been opened a couple of weeks or so (stored in a cool place). I guess it shows some progress in my skills (that's my excuse anyway) but I am looking for an alternative which will not go off quite so fast, I tend to get through one or two rolls of 120 per month.
I have sen some interesting stuff on the retrophotographic site ' Dead Link Removed' and at silverprint ,http://www.silverprint.co.uk/, but some guidance would be good.
I shoot 125 and slower and try to use 'older' emulsions rather than delta type formulae.

Thanks CJB

Ilfosol-S is a Phenidone/Ascorbate/Hydroquinone developer concentrate that has aquired the reputation of having a very short shelf life once the bottle has been opened.

Ilford DD-X is a concentrated liquid Phenidone/Hydroquinone developer that is very similar to Kodak's HC-110. Like HC-110, the DD-X concentrate should have a long shelf life. Ilford recommend it for use with FP4 plus.

See: Ilford DD-X (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

 

[Ole]

Rodnial work for sharpness and is long lasting

... but is very disappointing if you're used to Ilfosol-S. Sorry, but Rodinal just doesn't compare - good as it may be.

DD-X is closer.

 

[Steve Smith]

Ilfosol-S is a Phenidone/Ascorbate/Hydroquinone developer concentrate that has aquired the reputation of having a very short shelf life once the bottle has been opened.

I used Ilfosol S almost exclusively up until last month. I had a query about development times which I e-mailed Ilford about. In the reply I was also given this information:

Ilfosol (out of all our dev range), is
actually a developer which can sometimes have a lack of robustness -
especially as it gets old, and can sometime lead to thinner results with
advised dev times. So - by using the longer dev - in a way you are
compensating for this effect and avoiding getting thin results.
ie - this specific dev is one which will always favour more from being used
with longer times than we quote - as opposed to shorter times than we
quote. So that you in effect gave a longer dev time than normally required
- thats why I am sure you achieved good results!

This too, is also why for this specific developer (just for your
information/interest) - we will be launching in the near future a new
improved version of it called Ilfosol 3.
Ilfosol is however the only developer from our range which can sometimes
have this almost lack of robustness / a deterioration as it gets older
which will occasionally lead to thinner than desired end image results.
Ilfosol 3 has been designed to make it alot more stable product which will
not suffer from any loss as it ages.

I have been using LC-29 recently which I like a lot.

Steve.

 

[arigram]

New Ilfosol! Yeay!
Best news in ages for me!

 

[mikebarger]

You're going to get as many answers as there are developers, maybe more.

In the military I had to use D76, since I've used HC110. I liked its mix straight from the bottle with water, dump when its over.

After seeing one of Alex Hawley's photos of the Flint Hills using a staining developer I decided to try one.

I now use 510 pyro, you mix it up into a one solution developer, and its one shot. In practice it is like using HC110 or Rodinal and I like the results.

If your set on changing, I'd try several different developers and see what YOU like.

Mike

 

[Black Dog]

Yes, stick with your D76 or whatever but try new ones regularly to see how they compare.