Is Fomadon P equivalent to D-76?

[Andreas]

The Fomadon P (W 37) developer is labeled "type D-76", and is also said to be a D-76 type by several sources. But when I look up the developing time for Ilford HP5+ Ilford says 7,5 min. in D-76 stock solution whereas Foma gives 11 min. in Fomadon P. Also for other films the times differ greately. How can this be? Does anyone have experience in this matter, and/or an explanation?

Andreas

 

[srs5694]

I have no knowledge of Fomadon P; however, even for nearly identical developers (say, Kodak D-76 and Ilford ID-11), you'll sometimes find differences in development times for particular films by the developers' manufacturers. This is usually explained as being caused by different testing conditions or criteria for "proper" development between the developers' manufacturers. It's conceivable that Fomadon P is based on D-76 and that this is what's going on.

OTOH, the difference you cite is almost a 50% increase in development time, which is rather hefty for this explanation, unless perhaps you're looking at different dilutions or developing temperatures.

In any event, you should consider the development time figures for any film/developer combination to be suggested starting points, not written-in-stone values. You may need to adjust the times based on your own agitation style, metering/exposure, personal preferences, etc. If in doubt, shoot a test roll or two to determine if the suggested development time is reasonable.

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

FOMADON P (from the Foma website)
In general FOMADON P is a Two-component, normal-working metol hydroquinone negative developer in powder form.

Use: The developer is designed for the manual processing of all sorts of perforated/roll/sheet negative films.
Preparation of working solution Dissolve the content of the smaller bag and then of the bigger bag in 700 ml of water
(40 oC) and after a complete dissolution fill up with water to the final volume of 1 litre.
Developing capacity One package is sufficient to develop 10 perforated films (135-36) or rollfilms (120), or a corresponding amount of sheet films
(up to 25 sheets 13 x 18 cm, etc.). Packaging Box containing 2 PE-bags of 126 g total weight.

Processing by hand at 20deg C (development in a spiral development tank with a slow interrupted movement at the begin of each minute)

Develop Fomapan 400 Action film for 10 to 11 minutes in Fomadon P

 

[ITD]

When I used Fomadon P with HP5+, I used the time on the Massive Dev Chart, which match those given by Ilford (7.5mins), with good results.

 

[Andreas]

Thank you, everyone

The problem is I'm more confused than ever. For HP5+ Ilford says 7,5 min. in ID11 or D-76. On the Fomadon P packaging it says 11min. The Massive Dev Chart now says 14min. (!) in Fomadon P.

I understand that I'll have to do my own testing. It's just that I'm a bit lazy, and have a roll of HP5+ that I want to get right. That roll will have the Rodinal treatement.

I have allready tried Fomapan 100 in Fomadon P and it came out just fine, so I suppose the developer is ok. And where I live (southern Norway), Foma products are easily obtainable and very low priced, so I'd better get on with it. I'm a bit short on time, that's all.

 

[Andreas]

Tried it

I took the chance and develloped a couple of HP5+ in Fomadon P at the time recommended on the packaging: 11 min. The negatives came out very fine, so I think this is a good starting point. I can conclude that this is hardly a D-76 clone, but a fine develloper in it's own right.

 

[misch]

Hello

For the 11 min did you use stock dilution or an other as 1+1?

Greetings
Misch

 

[misch]

Hi

One question to Fomadon P, the notice says that 1 L is sufficient for 10 films that makes 100 ml for one film but in the notice they say only times for stock solution.
Anyone can explain or has experience.

Greetings
Misch

 

[Ian Grant]

Fomadon P is D76d rather than plain D76, the difference is better buffering as it has 8 gms Borax as opposed to 2 gms and also 8 gms Boric acid.

The developer can be re-used with a slight increase in the development times, or it can also be used 1+1, 1+2 and 1+3 although Foma may not publish the times.

Ian

 

[misch]

Hello

Thx, but has anyone experience with the times that would interest me, because i used it stock an had very good results but I would be interested in using it 1:1, 1:3 as Foma say 1L can be used for 10 films.

Regards
Misch

 

[Ian Grant]

Take Ilford's ID-11 times as a staring point.

Ian

 

[fschifano]

The problem is I'm more confused than ever. For HP5+ Ilford says 7,5 min. in ID11 or D-76. On the Fomadon P packaging it says 11min. The Massive Dev Chart now says 14min. (!) in Fomadon P...

Which underscores the point that "The Massive Dev Chart" is not to be blindly trusted. True, there is a lot of good information on that site. Some of it comes straight from the manufacturer's recommended development times, but not all of it. These data can generally be trusted as very good starting points from which to derive your own development times. Some of it is derived from some photographer's strictly anecdotal observations with no supporting references or documentation. Some of these data are good too, but all too often they're not, and you can't know which is which.

My own strategy for dealing with unknowns is to look hard for manufacturer's recommendations. Failing that, look at the MDC, and also look for similar data supporting those recommendations.

 

[RobertV]

The developing times of foreign´s films in developers FOMA Film type Liquid concentrate of developer Fomadon R09 (1 + 40) Powder developer Fomadon P Powder developer Fomadon EXCEL .

HP5+ 14:00 minutes in Fomadon P


Note: All time datas corresponding developing temperature 20ºC, usual agitation way of working solution of developer, which is basic no further diluted (1 + 1 etc.). All mentioned values correspond values printed in the tables of commercial packing of all three developers and at the last time have not been proved. The processing of foreign films in other FOMA developers has not been tested yet. 7-2006 Mgr. Vítězslav Krejčí – marketing Foma

If you want I can sent you the PDF by e-mail.

Greetz,

Robert

 

[RobertV]

Maybe this is working too

 

[alinCiortea]

i used it stock an had very good results but I would be interested in using it 1:1, 1:3 as Foma say 1L can be used for 10 films.

did you throw the developer away after developing? (that would be my conclusion from your question). as (probably) all powder developers, in stock dilution it is not one-shot. you may develop up to 10 films (according to their specs) in the same developer, compensating by a given time increase (see their official data) for each film (usually 10%, but should be written on the instructions). if you further dilute the stock solution to 1+1, 1+3 etc. you will have to discard the developer right after use (and prepare it shortly before) as it is not stable over time, but this pretty much means you will only get to process a couple of films (assuming you need 400ml per film, that means 200ml of stock solution, which in term means you can process 5 films from one liter - or perhaps 10, if you develop two films at a time in the same tank).

i'm a one-shot type of guy. it spares me the hassle of taking into account the needed compensation and it offers me a better consistency (theoretically at least ). when in doubt, go for rodinal (or HC110)