Ilford's Ilfosol 3

[arigram]

Ilford announced a revision of Ilfosol S called Ilfosol 3 a year and more ago but I haven't heard anything since then.

Has it been scraped along with the other R&D new products?

Ilfosol S has been my developer of choice for a couple years now but considering I can't buy it off the shelf anymore and the fact that a box of bottles must last for many months, I would have liked something with more life to it.

 

[dphill]

I too, have been waiting patiently for news on this upgrade.

Simon?



Dan

 

[Steve Smith]

When I made an enquiry to Ilford about two years ago I was told it was to be introduced soon. I have not seen it in England yet though.


Steve.

 

[pentaxuser]

Ari. It's not an answer to your question but given the supply problem in Crete and the longevity of the powder developers and in my opinion their comparabilty to Ilfosol, I wonder if Ilfosol 3, should it arrive, is an answer to your developing unless it has a very much extended life. I have used Ilfosol quite a lot recently and I don't think it's a real improvement over say ID11. DDX might be. I have switched to this now and I think it is an improvement and reputedly it has a longer life. How much longer a shelf life remains to be seen in my case as I haven't had it long enough but 12 months is often quoted.

Powder of course has virtually an indefinite life until mixed. Nice to see you posting again. I thought you'd become the " Cretan Runner" as in running away from us but Cretans have too much determination and stamina to give up.

pentaxuser

 

[arigram]

PU, as a matter of fact, Ilfosol and PQ Universal have been the only developers that were sold in stores before they went all digital. I used to shun it as I thought it would be for amateurs or something (small bottle, being sold here) until I tried and fall in love with it. I have been using D-76 until then and sometimes ID-11, but have also tried Rodinal, Perceptol and Microphen. D-76 had to be special ordered from Athens and I used to get me a few packages every time I visited (which is not too often as I hate the rat-city). DDX I don't think is sold in Greece and even if it was, I would probably not go with it (why pay shipping for all that water).

But you are right. Let's say Ilfosol 3 is introduced. Will the Ilford Athens distributor bring it? I seriously doubt it as he is more or less given up on analog (they know nothing about the new Ilford products). Simon says he knows him personally, but I wouldn't count on that doing any good. So, probably I guess its mostly curiosity.

I have a box of Ilfosol S and when they run out (pretty soon), I will see if I can get some more. If I can't, I will probably switch to D-76. You never know, I might even bother mixing my own chems. I got The Cookbook and all. I wonder though if I can find them around here...

PU, I will keep shooting until I run off film, chems and papers and/or something breaks that I can't fix. Then I will see what I will do about it. Probably sell my Hassies to one of you spoiled brats. Until then, I will keep running I guess.

I have discussed this in another thread, but you can see how it goes:
if you are not going to stock it, I am not going to buy it.

 

[Steve Smith]

I wonder if Ilfosol 3, should it arrive, is an answer to your developing unless it has a very much extended life.

Extended life was given as the main improvement when I enquired.


Main part of e-mail received from Sue Evans at Ilford:

With the specific developer you used though (Ilfosol S), in some ways I am
not entirely baffled that you got normal/good results using the same time
for the higher dev with this specific developer though (instead of the
normal - to reduce the time) - as 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.
Hope this helps with your clarification,
Regards and happy printing


Steve.

 

[arigram]

So... nothing new about it? I guess it must have been quietly dropped.

 

[Les McLean]

I think we'll see this new developer in the very near future.

 

[Simon R Galley]

Dear All,

We will all see this developer in the near future : When I do have the launch details I will let APUG know

Regards

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited :

 

[arigram]

That's great.
Be sure to tell your guy in Greece, 'cause I will be getting some boxes as soon as they are available.

 

[dirkpitt]

Ilfosol 3

It is scheduled to be realeased by the end of the month or March

Ilford announced a revision of Ilfosol S called Ilfosol 3 a year and more ago but I haven't heard anything since then.

Has it been scraped along with the other R&D new products?

Ilfosol S has been my developer of choice for a couple years now but considering I can't buy it off the shelf anymore and the fact that a box of bottles must last for many months, I would have liked something with more life to it.