LegacyPro Mic-X

Born2Late

Member
Joined
Dec 15, 2012
Messages
448
Location
Southern Ind
Format
35mm
Has anyone done a comparison between the results obtained from LegacyPro Mic-X and Kodak Microdol-X (when it still existed)?
 

Gerald C Koch

Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2010
Messages
8,131
Location
Southern USA
Format
Multi Format
I haven't used the Legacy product but the MSDS lists the same ingredients as for Microdol X which are sodium sulfite, sodium chloride and Metol.
 

Arvee

Member
Joined
Aug 23, 2006
Messages
976
Location
Great Basin
Format
Multi Format
I believe Legacy Pro chems are re-badged Kodak products. I have been using their L-76 which behaves exactly like D-76. I understand Freestyle has/had a contract with Kodak on a number of products that were re-badged, e.g., Arista Premium films. Perhaps someone will chime in and confirm.
 

Roger Cole

Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2011
Messages
6,069
Location
Atlanta GA
Format
Multi Format
Some are identical, some are not. The L-110 is widely reported to be different from HC-110, at least not syrupy however similarly it may work. I use the brown toner (because I can't get Kodak) and it works fine, and I use their rapid fixer because the 5 gallon size is just right where the Kodak is only available in 1 gallon (order too often) and 10 gallons (too much.) The price difference is so close on the stuff still available from Kodak I don't see any reason to favor one over the other on that basis.
 

Gerald C Koch

Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2010
Messages
8,131
Location
Southern USA
Format
Multi Format
Kodak no longer manufactures chemicals they are made by Champion. A look at the MSDS for both HC-110 and L-110 shows that the two developers are very different.
 

Roger Cole

Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2011
Messages
6,069
Location
Atlanta GA
Format
Multi Format
I think most people know Champion makes the Kodak stuff. The question some people have had is whether Champion also makes Legacy Pro. Apparently not. Someone here earlier reported they are made by the company that used to make Unicolor, which is quite possible.
 

Rolfe Tessem

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 16, 2006
Messages
251
Location
Egremont, MA
Format
Multi Format
The Legacy Xtol clone sold by Freestyle is identical to Xtol, at least insofar as I can determine.
 

Nicholas Lindan

Advertiser
Advertiser
Joined
Sep 2, 2006
Messages
4,243
Location
Cleveland, Ohio
Format
Multi Format
Microdol-X has an additive (the 'X') that prevents dichroic fog. Without the X the old Microdol metol/sulfite/chloride formula is unusable with any modern film - where Tri-X is modern. I suppose it might work with Efke or whatever Comecon film is still in production.

The 'X' is generally held to be a mercaptan, possibly aminopolycarboxylic acid, or as Kodak so helpfully states in their patents "... a sequestering agent selected from the group consisting of oligomeric carboxylic acid substituted hydrocarbons ..."

I emailed Photographers' Formulary about stocking aminopolywhatsit but never heard back. Maybe I should prod them. But as I bought a 10+ year supply of M-X when they announced discontinuation I'm not in any hurry.

TMax-100 in Microdol-X has about the same level of grain as Tech Pan, though it doesn't have TP's gradation wherein 35mm can look like 4x5 with modest enlargement.
 

Christiaan Phleger

Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2006
Messages
1,213
Location
Hawaii
Format
35mm RF
Yeah, good luck getting the name of that Mercaptan from the vest pocket of Photo Engineer....and I don't think Kodak would let Champion use it.
 

Ian Grant

Subscriber
Joined
Aug 2, 2004
Messages
23,262
Location
West Midland
Format
Multi Format
If you look at the Legacy Pro MSDS sheets they are made by PSInc who were/are the manufacturers of Unicolor chemistry as well.

RidingWaves said:
Yeah, good luck getting the name of that Mercaptan from the vest pocket of Photo Engineer....and I don't think Kodak would let Champion use it.
Click to expand...

As Champion are under contract to Kodak there wouldn't be any issues using any chemicals.

Ian
 

Christiaan Phleger

Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2006
Messages
1,213
Location
Hawaii
Format
35mm RF
Maybe find a film that has excessive fog in D-25/23 and then test in both real Microdol-X and then in Legacy?
 

Nicholas Lindan

Advertiser
Advertiser
Joined
Sep 2, 2006
Messages
4,243
Location
Cleveland, Ohio
Format
Multi Format
RidingWaves said:
ok then: how can we test whether or not the Legacy product has the secret X?
Click to expand...

It has a silver sequestering agent - of that you can be sure. It probably isn't the same one used by Kodak, but that shouldn't matter.
 

Ian Grant

Subscriber
Joined
Aug 2, 2004
Messages
23,262
Location
West Midland
Format
Multi Format
Microdol-X was brought out because of Dichroic fog issues with a new generation of Kodak films, it's seems to have been a US issue as Kodak kept selling Microdol in the UK for a while. Kodak Ltd made the Kodak films for the UK and Europe and there were differences in Tri-X in particular to the extent taht that the datasheets gave different times for film made in the US, Canada & the UK.

With the modern films I've tried there's no need for a silver sequestering agent. I ran some tests about 5 years ago with a cross between D25 and Microdol/Percetol. Essentially D23 lus Sodium Chloride and a small amount of Potassium Metabisulphite

Ian
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…