I am reminded why I love HC110

[BradS]

I finally got around to developing a roll of FP4+ that's been in camera and in the queue to be processed for so long that I forgot what I had photographed and where...

So I got out all the chems and glassware and such...the D-23 that I mixed up in April 2018 (!!!!) came out of the bottle all yellow.

but....that yellow color reminded me of my old friend, HC-110....the date on the bottle was Jun 2007.

mixed up my usual dilution, 10ml syrup + 390ml water...the negs are drying but they look great!

 

[Carter john]

That is one of many reasons I like HC-110 too.

 

[BradS]

Nice, crisp, clean, sharp and contrasty negatives...makes me want to setup the dark room and print 'em right now!
but that will have to wait for another day.

 

[CMoore]

Generally speaking, especially for a beginner like myself, is Ilfotec HC pretty similar to Kodak HC-110.?
I pretty much only deal with FP4 and HP5.
I liked the results from using ID-11, but the convenience of the Ilfotec made me switch.
Thank You

 

[David Lyga]

HC-110 is one of the most reliable developers I have ever used. Despite some differences, it is as robust as Rodinal.

Your D-23 should NOT have been 'yellow' and its 'badness' probably was due to your storing it in a bottle that either could 'breathe' or was not full. I say this because D-23 has a lot of sodium sulfite helping greatly to mitigate oxidation. - David Lyga

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

HC-110 concentrate is versatile and bulletproof. I've been using it for over 30 years and I was lucky enough to find 6 bottles of replenisher a few years back on eBay and use it replenished. I also use it 1:100 for stand development.

 

[ant!]

Quick question since I look for a developer with long shelf-life. I use Rodinal with the Afga APX100 I still have frozen (the original one, not the different one now sold under that name). I look for something similar which I could use for Tri-X and other higher speed 35mm films, with a bit less grain then Rodinal. I do not need nor want totally grainless. How would HC-110 fit for this purpose, or is the advantage over Rodinal not large enough?
I just don't develop enough film to go in time trough a pack of D76 and similar...

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

Quick question since I look for a developer with long shelf-life. I use Rodinal with the Afga APX100 I still have frozen (the original one, not the different one now sold under that name). I look for something similar which I could use for Tri-X and other higher speed 35mm films, with a bit less grain then Rodinal. I do not need nor want totally grainless. How would HC-110 fit for this purpose, or is the advantage over Rodinal not large enough?
I just don't develop enough film to go in time trough a pack of D76 and similar...

Rodinal has a long shelf life too. BTW, HC-110 doesn't allow you to shoot box speeds. You'll have to slightly increase your exposure. So I'd just stick with Rodinal.

 

[BradS]

Quick question since I look for a developer with long shelf-life. I use Rodinal with the Afga APX100 I still have frozen (the original one, not the different one now sold under that name). I look for something similar which I could use for Tri-X and other higher speed 35mm films, with a bit less grain then Rodinal. I do not need nor want totally grainless. How would HC-110 fit for this purpose, or is the advantage over Rodinal not large enough?
I just don't develop enough film to go in time trough a pack of D76 and similar...

Tri-X (400TX) and HC-110 are a match made in heaven just like APX-100 and Rodinal.

 

[BradS]

..... HC-110 doesn't allow you to shoot box speeds. You'll have to slightly increase your exposure.

This is very much contrary to my experience. If anything, I find that HC-110 allows a little extra speed. I guess it depends upon what the individual user is after however. HC-110 is very versatile. I think HC-110 is about as good as it gets with Tri-X (but I've never tried Xtol which is likely, better).

 

[M Carter]

This is very much contrary to my experience. If anything, I find that HC-110 allows a little extra speed. I guess it depends upon what the individual user is after however. HC-110 is very versatile. I think HC-110 is about as good as it gets with Tri-X

I find Rodinal needs more exposure as well - I usually give an extra stop.

After years of Rodinal, I tried HC-110 - prints just seemed kind of "ho-hum" to me, Rodinal really has it's thing going on. What little testing I've done with DD-X has really surprised me though, it's a great match for Ilford films. Amazing shadow detail, pushes really well, and a really nice sense of sharpness. Really considering doing some extensive tests with the stuff.

 

[BradS]

Yeah, DD-X is fantastic...but too expensive for my sensibilities (yeah, I know this is ridiculous but still, the cost prevents me form using it).

 

[MattKing]

HC-110 and Rodinal tend to give really different results - the characteristic curve thing.
You folks in the US are spoiled. You can get 5 litres of stock X-Tol for $10.00. If you don't use it all up in six months, it isn't a tragedy to discard what's left.
And if you use it in a replenishment regime, it is even cheaper.

 

[jim appleyard]

Quick question since I look for a developer with long shelf-life. I use Rodinal with the Afga APX100 I still have frozen (the original one, not the different one now sold under that name). I look for something similar which I could use for Tri-X and other higher speed 35mm films, with a bit less grain then Rodinal. I do not need nor want totally grainless. How would HC-110 fit for this purpose, or is the advantage over Rodinal not large enough?
I just don't develop enough film to go in time trough a pack of D76 and similar...

Yes, HC-110 will give you less grain than Rodinal and it will last as long in storage, perfect for people who shoot small amounts of b/w.

 

[mshchem]

Labs must have been jumping with joy when Kodak introduced HC-110. So easy to use, replenish etc. I'm a XTOL lover, but before XTOL it was a brown 1 gallon bottle of HC-110 dilution B. Replenished I think I averaged 2 to 3 years between making up fresh, mostly because I'm a little obsessive. I developed Ektapan, Plus-X ,Tri-X. I have a 30 year old square bottle of HC-110 replenisher, it's probably still good. I figure I will just keep for the good memories

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I asked one of the Burlington Camera managers, whose who used to develop and print for customers. In the darkroom.
We are both using HC-110.

Well, I like to use Rodinal as well, sometimes. Both are liquid, concentrated, takes very little space and lasts long.

 

[ant!]

Thanks everyone, sounds good! So I guess I'll try this out for TRI-X!

 

[baachitraka]

Rodinal for everything but I need to look one developer for HP5+, that have very good shelf life.

 

[John51]

Copied from this site some time ago. I forgot to include the authors name.

About 1 oz HC110 syrup per quart + 1 tbs washing soda and you'll think
you have Dektol.

Haven't tried it yet but here's hoping. Having a print developer with the shelf life of HC110 would be great for sporadic darkroom sessions.