Ilford film developers.....

[CMoore]

The Ilford site was "Temporarily Unavailable".
Not sure it would have done me much good with my question though.

Ilfotec HC Vs Ilfosol-3
I am just curious, i have no complaints about HC and no desire to change. But from what i had time to read, before the site went off..... they are both called Fine Grain Developers and both develop a lot of types of film.
I assume there must be SOME difference between the two.
What would a photographer do "better" with one of these over the other.?
Thank You

 

[Harman Tech Service]

Ilfosol 3 will definitely give you finer grain than Ilfotec HC (especially if you use 1+9). However, HC is more economical and is also better for push processing.
As usual, it depends on what you want...

Regards,
David

 

[Tom Kershaw]

I would be more inclined to use HC with large format film. Not sure if it would be my first option for 135. DD-X may be a better option for faster films than Ilfosol-3.

 

[CMoore]

Per Usual... thanks for the info.
98% of my shooting is 35mm HP5 or FP4 at box ASA

 

[foc]

I have used Ilfosol 3 for years and find it a very good all round developer.
I am very happy with it.

 

[Tom Kershaw]

I have used Ilfosol 3 for years and find it a very good all round developer.
I am very happy with it.

How do you find it with 400 speed films? I've been using Ultrafin for slow and medium (100 ISO) films recently with good results.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

My students use Ilfosol-3 to develop HP5 and FP4. Been quite happy with it.

 

[foc]

How do you find it with 400 speed films? I've been using Ultrafin for slow and medium (100 ISO) films recently with good results.

Hi Tom, I have developed up to 3200ASA with Ilfosol 3 and the results were as expected.
I have heard some say it is grainy with 400 speed and more but to my eye it was what I expected from that speed. I have processed films colour and B&W commercially for the last 40 years and any developer I have used was good. I must admit I did have a soft spot for Champion Promicrol but then that's just personal.
The only reason I changed from ID11 to Ilfosol 3 was mixing 5lt of power became a bit of a chore whereas I can decant 1L of Ilfosol 3 into six 500 ml glass bottles in a minute or two, and less cleaning up after.
Try it and see for your self.

 

[NB23]

Not sure about ilfosol-3 giving finer grain. If anything, ilfosol-3 will give extremely high acutance. Sharp grain.

I love both, but I tend to use ilfosol-3 with tmax100 in order to add some grit and to kill the general digital look to it.