Kodak DK-50. (Homemade.)

[Christiaan Phleger]

Werewolfman do you adjust your times for when doing those 10 rolls?

 

[RalphLambrecht]

JOHN !

WHAT ARE YOU DOING !

We can't tell ALL the old tricks !!!

Yes, you can and thank you for it.

 

[Arklatexian]

Good Old DK-50 !

For ages it was the standard sheet developer for Kodak, then replaced by HC-110.
Dilution A for HC-110 is often similar to DK-50 straight. Dilution B often is the same as DK-50 1:1. A good starting point for development time would be HC-110 b.

It is a wonderful portrait developer, giving nicely compressed shadows, splendid midtoned, and sparkling highlights for accents. Be warned this is desirable for portraiture, and could be disastrous for some landscape work.

In the studio I first worked, we used DK-50 most of the year. In the summer months, we switched to D-76, which worked slower, and more suitable to processing film at the ambient temp of 75 degrees in the darkroom.

Even I, who thinks RODINAL AND TRI X are a match made by angels, think DK-50 isn't really so good for 35. BUT it is wonderful with Plus X in 120. It should do nice things in FP4, which has a tendency to a long straight line curve. TXP or TMY could get out of hand quickly, since they already want to have an upswept curve.



Crawley had something interesting ways to use DK-50 as an acutance developer. Check out some old ( circa 1980s ) BJP almanacs if you're interested.

Have fun.

I used DK-50 1:1 to develop Super Panchro Press, Type B sheet film. Alas (sob) the film has not been made for years. I don't ever remember anyone ever mentioning DK50 and 35mm in the same breath other than to say not to use the two together. It should be a good selection for some LF films, especially 1:1.........Regards!

 

[John Wiegerink]

I have used it in medium format and rate it very highly. In fact I could get by using it forever if I had to. I used it diluted 1+2 and 1+3 and like Gerald suggests below:
You can also use DK-50 as an acutance developer when diluted 1+4 with the Kodalk concentration raised to its original concentration. This appeared in the British Journal Annual 1972 p 230.

Part A

DK-50 prepared as usual

Part B

Kodalk .... 80 g
Water to make 1 l

For use take 2 parts A, 1 part B, and 7 parts of water. Development times are 8 to 13 m @ 20C depending on the film.

 

[Werewolfman]

Werewolfman do you adjust your times for when doing those 10 rolls?

No, I don't.