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

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

Terry Christian

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Joined
Dec 2, 2011
Messages
693
Location
Memphis, TN
Format
35mm
I've started to cease playing around so much with developers and am slowly reining in that impulse. Mostly I'm down to Rodinal and HC-110b now, though I'm planning to shoot a lot more 4x5 sheet film this year and would like to dabble in pyro to see what all the fuss is about.
 

pgomena

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Joined
Jun 25, 2003
Messages
1,391
Location
Portland, Or
Pyrocat-HD for most purposes now, 1:1:100 for most things, 1:1:150 for stand development, and 1:10 for divided development. It's amazingly versatile and I love the results.

If I was to go back to using 35mm, I'd use HC-110 again, but I've pretty much abandoned the format.
 

NedL

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Joined
Aug 23, 2012
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3,388
Location
Sonoma County, California
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Multi Format
HC-110 because I'm new and had to pick something and it sounded like a good choice. So far so good but since I don't have anything to compare with I have no opinion about how good a choice it was. I've been using dilution D for my 240ml tank and E for my 480ml.

Diafine because it caught my fancy and I was curious about it, and what FP4+ and Acros will look like in it, also for a special project.
 

Dave in Kansas

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Joined
Jan 8, 2009
Messages
302
Location
Eastern Kans
Format
Multi Format
I have mostly been using two film developers: Rodinal for Pan-F, Plus-X and FP 4, and Xtol for the same ISO 100/125 and faster speed films. Looking back through my pictures, I seem to have the most success with Xtol. I do have a bottle of DD-X to try when my current batch of Xtol is used up.

Dave
 

StoneNYC

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Joined
Aug 5, 2012
Messages
8,345
Location
Antarctica
Format
8x10 Format
DD-X for all the T-grain stuff
Ilfsol 3 for PanF+ PLUS-X, OLD FILMS like GAF from the 60's etc.
HC-110 B but didn't like it, had a nice shiny glow from far away, but the worst muddy blur of grain I've ever seen, but was used on an unfamiliar film, going to try it again to be sure.

Have not used but bought ...

D76
Rodinal
and for the heck of it just picked up an ancient can of Kodak Polydol that could be interesting...

I like developers that last a long time as I don't always process a lot, I get on kicks of processing then go for a while without. I prefer cheap developers but want quality over price so DD-X I think will always be my friend.

Really like both the ilford stuff, though I can't seem to enjoy Acros, it always looks muddy no matter what, I'm going to try something new with it, maybe Rodinal will give it that sharp look I want?
 

thefizz

Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2004
Messages
2,345
Location
Ireland
Format
Medium Format
Mainly two: Rodinal 1:50 and Studional 1:30, although an odd time I'll use Tanol.
 

StoneNYC

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Joined
Aug 5, 2012
Messages
8,345
Location
Antarctica
Format
8x10 Format
Update: I've now used Rodinal and I LOVE IT, such amazing tones, used with PanF+ I didn't see any noticeable increase in grain, in fact it was almost better grain than Ilfsol 3, of course this is a very fine grain film to begin with, but still, the look it had was great, so now I'm officially a Rodinal fan too.
 

wblynch

Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2009
Messages
1,697
Location
Mission Viejo
Format
127 Format
I am a hack beginner. I have been developing for about 3 years now. I shoot 135 and 120 on Acros, Neopan, Plus-X, Tri-X, Fomapan 100 and 400, plus Efke and Rollei 80s in 127.

I use the same developer on all of them - whatever I have on hand

I started with Ilfosol-3 but hated it and when it became yellow I turned it out.

Then I went to D-76 which I really liked but mixing is a hassle and it wouldn't last past 6 months for me.

So I bought HC-110 which has lasted a long time. Always used it at dilution B (1+31) But was never all that thrilled.

Last weekend I tried HC-110-H (1+63) and got the prettiest Fuji Neopan negatives I have ever done.

So I think I will stick with HC-110-H for a while before I mix up that X-tol.
 

juan

Member
Joined
May 7, 2003
Messages
2,706
Location
St. Simons I
Format
Multi Format
I'd like to use one for everything, but you, John, know that story.
It looks like I'm using Pyrocat PC, FX2, Hypercat, 510-Pyro, DD-23, Divided D-76, HC-110, Rodinal, PC-TEA, and a super secret concoction of my own.
juan
 

Gerald C Koch

Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2010
Messages
8,131
Location
Southern USA
Format
Multi Format
Depends on the the particular film. For Ilford Pan-F I use D-23 for everything else either HC-110 or a Rodinal substitute.
 

stormpetrel

Member
Joined
Apr 24, 2010
Messages
117
Location
Wellington,
Format
Multi Format
I have brewed many developers in the past just for fun (D-23, D-76 divided, Neofin Blue, Caffenol...) but today I'm settled with the following developers:

PC-TEA: my multipurpose developer
510-PYRO: I use it mainly to develop large format sheets film
Parodinal: for stand development when I need compensating

and Caffenol-C-H to develop 400 iso rolls pushed @ 800.


PC-TEA/510-PYRO and (pa)rodinal have an outstanding shelf life. This is also a reason why I love them so much!
 

Ken Nadvornick

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Joined
Mar 18, 2005
Messages
4,942
Location
Monroe, WA, USA
Format
Multi Format
Homebrewed D-76d 1+1.

Can easily mix it up on demand from thimblefuls up to enough to paint the house. And the stock keeps forever in oxygen-reduced amber glass bottles.

Nectar of the Gods.

Ken
 
Last edited by a moderator:

DWThomas

Subscriber
Joined
Jun 13, 2006
Messages
4,605
Location
SE Pennsylvania
Format
Multi Format
I've pretty much settled on HC110, usually Dilution H as a one-shot. If I ever decide to drag out the Minox B that lurks in a drawer here, I might try another option (but just as likely not!) My usage runs fairly haphazard and one-shot from concentrate eliminates any record keeping and anxiety; the stuff is always there, ready and predictable.
 

damonff

Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2005
Messages
128
Location
Washington,
Format
35mm
Rodinal, usually 1+100 but I've tried 1+300 for a 2.5 hour stand
HC-110, B or G
XTOL 1+1
D-76
Pyrocat HD
PMK Pyro
TD-3 (I bought this for Technical Pan but I actually prefer Rodinal for it and this stuff is rotting)
 

Bill Burk

Subscriber
Joined
Feb 9, 2010
Messages
9,323
Format
4x5 Format
Dang, I can't possibly read all the posts...

Like Ralph Lambrecht, I always use D-76 1:1.

Lately I've been experimenting with Dektol for Tri-X for tkamiya.

For someday... I have a pack of Microdol-X and a half bottle of TMax developer and some Technidol powder and liquid on hand.

But generally D-76 1:1.
 

Ken Nadvornick

Member
Joined
Mar 18, 2005
Messages
4,942
Location
Monroe, WA, USA
Format
Multi Format
I think the most interesting take-away so far is that after 126 votes no one selected the lab processing option.

Ken
 
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