Microdol-x and ilford fp4?

darinwc · Dec 19, 2020

I picked up some Microdol-x developer. I was thinking of using it with ilford fp-4. Does anyone have some good recommendations on speed and processing?

Thanks!

Lachlan Young · Dec 19, 2020

darinwc said:
I picked up some Microdol-x developer. I was thinking of using it with ilford fp-4. Does anyone have some good recommendations on speed and processing?

Thanks!

Microdol-X = Ilford Perceptol for almost all functional intents & purposes.

Nokton48 · Dec 20, 2020

Connels Sign Makina IIIR 100mm F4 by Nokton48, on Flickr

You will need to increase exposure somewhat, this is not a speed developer. I use it straight replenished for about everything and love the tonalities. I have found since developer times are very long compared to some developers, I have not really experienced overdevelopment even with very long development times. For instance I have gone as long as thirty five minutes on a Unicolor Unicolor without ill effect. Frankly I see this as a big advantage having such long development times. But of course everybody works differently.

This is 120 FP4+ in Legacy Mic-X (which I replenish) exposed with my venerable Plaubel Makina IIIR with 100mm F4.2 Plaubel Anticomar.

BTW I find it lasts almost forever in stock solution. My present gallon has lasted for the last three years!

Vaughn · Dec 20, 2020

Its been decades, but I used Microdol-X with Panatomic-X and a few other 120 films (I was printing 15x15 images on 16x20 paper) . I used it 1:3 since my films tended towards slower finer grain films to begin with. My understanding is that this dilution reduces the softening of the grain during development (edges of silver grains being dissolved by sodium sulfite?) I continued using it for 4x5s (Royal Pan, Super XX) because that is what I used and didn't know any better. Eventually shifted over to HC-110.

But what dilution you wish to use it at should be part of the conversation.

craigclu · Dec 22, 2020

It's been very many years but my recollection was settling on about 1/2 box speed (incident) for most films of the day and I drifted toward using more dilution over time (1:3). I recently found a stack of old 11X14's from 35mm, done about 30 years back and was surprised at how well they had enlarged. Many were from MX with PanF, Plus-X and FP4.

Juan Valdenebro · Dec 22, 2020

darinwc said:
I picked up some Microdol-x developer. I was thinking of using it with ilford fp-4. Does anyone have some good recommendations on speed and processing?

Thanks!

I've used both the Kodak and the Legacy pro versions: what I found was really important for best results, was EI... I get EI64-80 for overcast with FP4+ in D-76, so for soft light with FP4+ in Mic-X try testing EI40-50, and for direct sun EI25-32: that's what defines super fine grain... But FP4+ has grain that's not small... That's why TMX is a lot better option for fine grain... Anyway, FP4+ has great tone and shadow separation, but with grain.

Randy Stewart · Dec 22, 2020

I adopted Microdol-X as primary developer in the early 1960s when I was in high school. After I graduated law school in the early 1970s, I restarted photography but paid much more attention to the details. As a general rule, I'd add a half stop of exposure to box speed, I'd also use it one-shot, diluted 1:3. Used straight stock, the huge concentration of sodium sulfite in Microdol-X will noticably erode (dissolve) your fine highlight tones. That is what makes it a fine grain developer per Kodak; it dissolves part of the grain. It also leaves a mushy grain edge - lack of acuteness. Overall, I cannot think of a good reason to use it.

mshchem · Dec 23, 2020

Microdol-X will work fine. I think a Eco Pro XTOL clone would make more sense. In the 60's and 70's my Dad used Mic X . The modern-day films are not grainy.

mshchem · Dec 23, 2020

Nokton48 said:
Connels Sign Makina IIIR 100mm F4 by Nokton48, on Flickr

You will need to increase exposure somewhat, this is not a speed developer. I use it straight replenished for about everything and love the tonalities. I have found since developer times are very long compared to some developers, I have not really experienced overdevelopment even with very long development times. For instance I have gone as long as thirty five minutes on a Unicolor Unicolor without ill effect. Frankly I see this as a big advantage having such long development times. But of course everybody works differently.

This is 120 FP4+ in Legacy Mic-X (which I replenish) exposed with my venerable Plaubel Makina IIIR with 100mm F4.2 Plaubel Anticomar.

BTW I find it lasts almost forever in stock solution. My present gallon has lasted for the last three years!

Nice work. The Legacy brand is not having problems. I won't be buying anything from Kodak Alaris or the company that bought the chemistry division until they're stable.

Microdol-x and ilford fp4?

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