New Dektol the color of molasses

gone

Member
Joined
Jun 14, 2009
Messages
5,504
Location
gone
Format
Medium Format
I've read the bulletin from Kodak/Alaris on Dektol "new look", but they made it sound like it was more of an appearance issue. Sorta like old coca cola. This looks way beyond that. Just mixed this and put it in a clear plastic bottle. The shot was taken w/ the flash on, which woke the chicken. What's worse, I was going to print tomorrow. Probably best to email the seller and throw it out?



 
OP
OP

gone

Member
Joined
Jun 14, 2009
Messages
5,504
Location
gone
Format
Medium Format
Brand new. The package was a little scuffed on the outside, but it was still sealed. Says Kodak/Alaris 2019, and expires 4-2023. This is the first time there was a problem, and I usually buy those ancient paper packets on eBay (that never gave any trouble).
 
Last edited:

Mal Paso

Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2019
Messages
374
Location
Carmel, Ca USA
Format
4x5 Format
I got a couple of those, threw the first batch out. I dissolved the second packet in RO water spending more time dissolving every last bit and it was better. It works but I switched to Photographer's Formulary after that..
 
OP
OP

gone

Member
Joined
Jun 14, 2009
Messages
5,504
Location
gone
Format
Medium Format
I'm going to your route Mal. It's aggravating, because there's no store locally to buy new developer. What's troubling is when I read Kodak's bulletin on this problem, it seems like it's no big thing to them.
 

ic-racer

Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2007
Messages
16,553
Location
USA
Format
Multi Format
How did the color of the developer affect its performance? How about pH and specific gravity, are those affected?
 

removed account4

Subscriber
Joined
Jun 21, 2003
Messages
29,832
Format
Hybrid
Hi momus
I got some developer like that and opted to buy raw chems and mix my own... I haven’t bought from PF in a while but from artcraft not sure how fast shipping is to middle earth but to paswonquitte it’s pretty fast...
 

takilmaboxer

Member
Joined
Mar 3, 2007
Messages
397
Location
East Mountains, NM
Format
Med. Format RF
I have long used LPD and never had a problem with it. I can highly recommend it. I've given up on D-76 as well. ID-11 or D-23 now, and Ilford film.
 

Vonder

Member
Joined
Jun 16, 2007
Messages
1,237
Location
Foo
Format
35mm
I had a recent issue with some "D-76" that was brown too. Not THAT dark, but still, I pitched it. The packaging was suspicious. Not Kodak packaged. It was like, someone took/copied a Kodak label and put it on this bag of... stuff. No idea what it was nor if it was good to use. Was yours packed oddly?
 
Last edited:

Mal Paso

Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2019
Messages
374
Location
Carmel, Ca USA
Format
4x5 Format
I tossed the first batch then found a thread about the problem here. It looks like oxidation, like 5 year old developer. It doesn't appear to stain Ilford Fiber and the images develop OK. Kodak said they were correcting the problem but I switched developers. The Old Kodak would never have let something like this out the door. The Great Yellow Father is showing his age.
 

MattKing

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Apr 24, 2005
Messages
53,135
Location
Delta, BC Canada
Format
Medium Format
takilmaboxer said:
I have long used LPD and never had a problem with it.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately, Ethol LPD in powder form is just about unobtainable for us in Canada, otherwise I would love to try it.
 

pentaxuser

Member
Joined
May 9, 2005
Messages
19,986
Location
Daventry, No
Format
35mm
Mal Paso said:
The Old Kodak would never have let something like this out the door. The Great Yellow Father is showing his age.
Click to expand...

Isn't the nub of the problems that have befallen "Kodak" chemicals simply that they are no longer anything to do with the Great Yellow Father or in practical terms the CEO of Kodak where the buck for everything Kodak stopped with that person?

We refer to them as Kodak chemicals and that's a pity in many ways as it can blind us to the fact that they are no more Kodak chemicals than there are "pentaxuser" chemicals

pentaxuser
 

MattKing

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Apr 24, 2005
Messages
53,135
Location
Delta, BC Canada
Format
Medium Format
pentaxuser said:
Isn't the nub of the problems that have befallen "Kodak" chemicals simply that they are no longer anything to do with the Great Yellow Father or in practical terms the CEO of Kodak where the buck for everything Kodak stopped with that person?
Click to expand...
I think the "Great Yellow Father" is the entity that moved.
 

Paul Howell

Subscriber
Joined
Dec 23, 2004
Messages
9,711
Location
Scottsdale Az
Format
Multi Format
After 55 years the only Kodak chemistry I have on hand is wetting agent, now use Clayton F76+ for film and P90 print developer along with Ultrafine's clone of Dektol.
 
OP
OP

gone

Member
Joined
Jun 14, 2009
Messages
5,504
Location
gone
Format
Medium Format
There's always the old yellow paper packets on eBay, etsy, etc. Those have been good every time for me. I've been out of the darkroom for a few years and didn't realize this was even an issue. Won't buy anything new w/ a Kodak label on besides Tri-X from now on though. The last time I took a break for a while, MCC 110 disappeared. That one was a shock.

Now I can start online searching all the threads relating to 'similar to/replacement for Dektol', of which there are about a million of. There's a lot of contradictory reviews on that subject too, but Photographers' Formulary 's products have always worked great for me.
 

focus_on_infinity

Member
Joined
Dec 12, 2019
Messages
219
Location
Potomac, MD
Format
Medium Format
This was my first batch of paper developer, ever, and was really surprised by the cappucino brown. However, it seems to work exactly as described. I'm about 3 months in and halfway through the batch, and I haven't had a failure yet.
 
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…