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Kodak's HC110 shelf life

montecarlo

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Aug 12, 2008
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35mm
Hello... I am about to buy a bottle of 1 litre HC110 and on it stays that it expires (EXP) on 2017/04.
While I don't shoot so much lately I was wandering if there would be problems using it longer (2-3 years over the EXP date) ?
Thanks a lot.
 

David Allen

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Nov 6, 2008
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Berlin
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The keeping properties of HC110 are legendary. I always have it stock because many of the people who come to me for teaching do not shoot a lot of film (due to family / work commitments, etc) and so we do the tests with HC110 and they buy a bottle for themselves for subsequent use. As one uses such a little amount of the developer it takes a long time to get through a 1L bottle (the one in my darkroom is 1/4 full and over three years old and it still works fine) so, if did not last so long no one would buy it.

So you can ignore that 'best by' date and buy and use it with confidence.

Bests,

David.
www.dsallen.de
 

John Bragg

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Nov 29, 2005
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In its concentrated form it lasts and lasts. It goes golden brown with age but this does not indicate loss of potency. My favorite developer and in my opinion great for general all round use. Plenty of info available about it here and on other sites so use it with confidence. Very economical with great results.