how many developers do you use, or have you settled on one

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how many developers do you use ?

  • none, a lab processes my film.

    Votes: 2 0.8%
  • one

    Votes: 76 31.0%
  • two

    Votes: 83 33.9%
  • three

    Votes: 47 19.2%
  • four

    Votes: 14 5.7%
  • more than four...

    Votes: 23 9.4%

  • Total voters
    245

lensmagic

Member
Joined
Nov 4, 2005
Messages
153
Format
Medium Format
I shoot TMX, medium format. I use three developers. Which one I use depends on the contrast in the scene.

For high contrast scene--ID-3 (metol only developer, low sulfite)

For medium contrast scene--Rodinal (Adonal)

For low contrast scene--D-19
 

Andrew Moxom

Member
Joined
Feb 2, 2007
Messages
4,888
Location
Keeping the
Format
Multi Format
I use Pyrocat HD for nearly all my sheet and 120 film these days using contant agitation.

At one point in time, i ran into issues with pyrocat and roll film with anomalies at the edges during stand development, and switched to TMAX dev 1:4.... I know how to use it, but have since gone back to pyrocat HD again

And lastly Diafine..... a catch all developer for most of my 35mm film, allowing me to develop non similar films together in the same tank.
 

EASmithV

Member
Joined
Aug 22, 2008
Messages
1,984
Location
Virginia
Format
Large Format
HC-110, and Rodinal because i like the tones of both and the acutance of rodinal, but sometimes rodinal is not ideal.

E6 and C41, for obvious reasons
 

MPandolfo

Subscriber
Joined
Dec 12, 2006
Messages
59
Location
Santiago
Format
35mm
Mostly Rodinal (of which I still have a boatload) and, with some films, HC-110 (of which I didn't stash enough, so Ilfotec HC lately).
 

Ed Bray

Member
Joined
Nov 23, 2011
Messages
352
Location
Plymouth, UK
Format
Multi Format
I use Caffenol CL for Semi-Stand processing and Pyrocat HD for standard or rotary processing.
 

h.v.

Member
Joined
Dec 5, 2011
Messages
186
Location
Alberta, Can
Format
Multi Format
Right now I'm using Ilford DD-X (just 'cause it was the one recommended on their DIY B&W Processing PDF) as my first stab at home processing. I'm going to play around with it a bit, see if I can get it to achieve the look I'm going for, if not I may try something else when I run out (which I had calculated and should be after about 18 rolls).
 

BMbikerider

Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2012
Messages
2,957
Location
UK
Format
35mm
Rodinal @1-25 for film (all B&W) and Ilford Multigrade for prints. There is really no point in chopping and changing when you have found a combination that works.
 

bdial

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 2, 2005
Messages
7,470
Location
North East U.S.
Format
Multi Format
For film, replenished Xtol most of the time, but I have occasional dalliances with others.
Print developers are a different story though, still trying to find the look.

 

winger

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 13, 2005
Messages
3,975
Location
southwest PA
Format
Multi Format
Currently DD-X. I prefer liquid stock and had uneven development with the shorter times of Ilfosol 3 compared to Ilfosol S. I'm still sorta evaluating because I just haven't had a chance to really look at my results and I tend to not be a grain peeper anyway.
 

mooseontheloose

Moderator
Joined
Sep 20, 2007
Messages
4,110
Location
Kyoto, Japan
Format
Multi Format
D-76 for most films, Rodinal with Acros, and sometimes X-tol.
 

Sirius Glass

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 18, 2007
Messages
50,389
Location
Southern California
Format
Multi Format
replenished XTOL
 

winterclock

Member
Joined
Oct 9, 2010
Messages
101
Location
Cape Cod, MA
Format
Large Format
Ilfosol for fp4 and hp5
FG7S for hp5 pushed past 1600
D-76 for shanghai and most of the expired kodak films I can afford
 

ozphoto

Subscriber
Joined
Apr 2, 2006
Messages
1,918
Location
Adelaide, SA, Australia
Format
Multi Format
I chose 3 - only because I'll go to the next on the list, if the former isn't available.

1. Atomal FF (still got a couple of bags left, and they're still going strong)
2. D76 - stock standard that you truly can't go wrong with, and almost any store will have it on the shelf if I get in trouble. :smile:
3. Rodinal - not had a lot of experience with this developer, but the Agfa films I processed in this looked good, but I'll admit I haven't used it on other films.

Have used ID11 in college - pretty much the same as D76; in all honesty, my Atomal FF is my favourite and I have it matched to my shooting down to a T. The others - they give me good, usable negs, although they can be a bit "thick" at times. (Purely my errors - not the dev!)
 

Soeren

Member
Joined
Nov 5, 2004
Messages
2,675
Location
Naestved, DK
Format
Multi Format
Mostly Rodinal but also Diafine for TriX
Best regards
 

TareqPhoto

Member
Joined
Nov 19, 2009
Messages
1,171
Location
Ajman - UAE
Format
Multi Format
Well, as you all know i am new to film and first time i did process my film was in 2010, then 2011 i stopped due to dad death and left job, 2012 recovering year, now in this year i will try to get back to film photography.

That period in the past i was using 3 developers, Ilfosol 3, TMAX and D-76, out of three TMAX and Ilfosol 3 where my favorite, but in 2011 i think or 2012 i started to use HC-110 [Dil H] and loved it, so this became also another favorite developer, now i have 3 nice developer i like results of it i am going to test 3-4 more developers, Diafine, Pyrocat HD, Rodinal when i will make it from scratch if i succeed, and maybe XTOL which i bought so long time ago and never opened it yet, i have ID-11 but it is same as D-76 which i didn't like much even i got good nice results but not on par as mentioned devs, also i have Microphen, and i have ingredients for Caffenol too.

Caffenol is for tests only.
Microphen for Delta high speed films [Delta 3200].
XTOL is my first dream dev but its 5-L made me to change my mind to use it.
Pyrocat-HD for my LF films [When i will prepare it from scratch later].
Rodinal for last long dev needed when some of my devs are dead or exhausted quickly and for stand dev.
Diafine is for push processing.
 

TareqPhoto

Member
Joined
Nov 19, 2009
Messages
1,171
Location
Ajman - UAE
Format
Multi Format
And to make my film/dev combo list here is what i will go for:

-TMAX dev: Tmax 100/400, Acros 100

-HC-110: Delta 100/400, HP5+, Tri-X, Acros 100

-Ilfosol 3: Pan F+, FP4+, Acros 100

-Microphen: Delta 3200/400

-Diafine: Tri-X, HP5+ [both at box speed or push]

-ID-76 lol: both dev for Tri-X and Arista Prem and Foma films

-Pyrocat: for LF films doesn't matter which one, but i think i will use it for Arista Premium and HP5+

-Caffenol: as for test it will be used mostly for Arista Prem

-XTOL: If i will use this dev then the most films i like to use with this one will be Acros 100, TMAX 400 and HP5+, i will test Tri-X with it because i see Tri-X is a high recommended film but i didn't like it with D-76 even i tried many times, got not bad or good results but didn't beat my results from Acros and TMAX 400, even HP5+ was better for me over Tri-X, so maybe XTOL will make it shining and winner.
 
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