New Products

Photo Engineer

Subscriber
Joined
Apr 19, 2005
Messages
29,018
Location
Rochester, NY
Format
Multi Format
I hear a lot of weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth over vanishing products. Well, I'm doing my part in film, paper and processing solutions. But, the interesting thing is this..... I never hear much feedback about what is wanted, needed or desired in the field of B&W photography.

Now, the thing I can best do R&D on is processing chemistry. Emulsions are secondary to R&D. All I can do there is teach basics to get a person started. But I know a lot of design thingies that I have (along with my good friend Bill Troop) to put into chemistry.

What do you want?

I have Liquidol out there. It is a high capacity, long lived develper with rather low pollution. Yet, I never hear much about it or what you might want beyond it. I would like some input.

How about a fixer that is fast but requires about 1/2 the wash of other fixers? How about a very highly concentrated developer that is extremely economical due to high dilution? How about a high acutance developer.

Now, no promises, but I do need input to prioritize my work (if any is to be done).

If you are happy, I'll just stop the process development work and go on to something else.

Lets hear from those interested......

PE
 

kristopher_lawrence

Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2007
Messages
122
Format
Medium Format
I vote for low-wash fixer too.

And highly concentrated d76 in liquid form, like hc-110
 

JBrunner

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Dec 14, 2005
Messages
7,429
Location
PNdub
Format
Medium Format
Liquidol w/glycin.
 
OP
OP

Photo Engineer

Subscriber
Joined
Apr 19, 2005
Messages
29,018
Location
Rochester, NY
Format
Multi Format
Seriously.......

Keeping tests are underway for a Liquidol version of Ansco 130 with Glycin. I cannot promise anything.

Super Universal Liquid fix is in generation 8 and I'm working hard on it. I want it to work, and work perfectly. I've been on this one for over 3 years. Well, considering Kodak work, maybe 30+ years.

Thanks so far guys.

PE
 

bdial

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 2, 2005
Messages
7,466
Location
North East U.S.
Format
Multi Format
I am a happy Liquidol user.
I'll put in a second vote for the fixer. A fix that can minimize wash time would be very useful for me.

A maybe on a high acutance dev, but I'm pretty absorbed in learning the developers I'm using currently to be very willing to change. So I would less interested in those developers.
Barry
 

Curt

Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2005
Messages
4,618
Location
Pacific Nort
Format
Multi Format
I'd love to test the developer and fixer on a "new" batch of 8x10 Panatomic-X film.
 
OP
OP

Photo Engineer

Subscriber
Joined
Apr 19, 2005
Messages
29,018
Location
Rochester, NY
Format
Multi Format
Curt;

I don't have a film developer yet, but I hope to have results soon. Best I can do is a day at a time. I need an appretice. Anyone want the job?

PE
 

Matthew Gorringe

Member
Joined
Apr 29, 2006
Messages
461
Location
Sydney, Aust
Format
Medium Format

Wow, you read my mind!

I mix up my own Ansco 130. I've just tried my first bottle of Liquidol and was very impressed with it's keeping properties, consistency and the shadow contrast I see with EMAKS and Galerie (as compared to Dektol). If I could buy Liquidol 130 I'd be very interested in trying it out.

The concentration of the developer is important to me because I live in Australia. I now buy from the 'Formulary in 5 litre lots to take advantage of flat-rate shipping. The more concentrated the developer, the better.

For a new fixer it would have to be something that bettered TF4 in some way and be just as good in terms of suitability for use with staining developers. I guess my dream fixer would be an alkaline fixer, short washing times and NO SMELL. I don't use TF4 for paper because of the smell but would be keen to have only one fixer that could be used for film and paper.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Aurum

Member
Joined
Apr 19, 2008
Messages
917
Location
Landrover Ce
Format
Medium Format
Well if I had a wish list....

A one shot reversal developer for making slides out of standard B&W negative film.

Oh and world peace and harmony while you're at it?

can you have it ready by next week? No rush
 

2F/2F

Member
Joined
Apr 29, 2008
Messages
8,031
Location
Los Angeles,
Format
Multi Format

For the most part, I am fine with the emulsions that are now available. I do wish that HIE was still here, and I know plenty of people miss Tech Pan, but other than that, I can do pretty much 95% of what I want to do with the emulsions that are now available.

I have no interest whatsoever in more chemistry. Ilford or Photographers Formulary supply everything I need and am likely to ever need.

My only real desires for black and white are:

1. That every emulsion be available in every format. If something is made, it should be made in every size up to at least 8x10.

2. That we have a greater variety of enlarging papers. Looking through my 1961 Photo Lab Index is enough to make me cry. There was SO MUCH VARIETY. Different surfaces, different tones, different weighs, etc.

Color materials are another issue, and that is what causes me anguish more than anything else. The black and white world is skimpy, but very manageable. Color just seems to get worse and worse every day. Black and white products are great, and anything you can do to advance the art and science of photography will help. However, I just don't think that black and white is the real problem area here. Color is. I don't see why so many people feel that availability of b/w materials is limiting. I can definitely see why one would feel that way about color, however.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Marc Leest

Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2003
Messages
504
Location
Hasselt, Bel
Format
Multi Format
Ascorbate developer as XTOL as syrup as HC-110.
 

eclarke

Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2004
Messages
1,950
Location
New Berlin,
Format
ULarge Format
I'm for the fixer too. I like to use fresh chemicals and I just guzzle fixer...Evan Clarke
 

Martin Aislabie

Subscriber
Joined
Nov 17, 2007
Messages
1,413
Location
Stratford-up
Format
4x5 Format
Another vote for a fast high capacity fixer with shortened wash times

It really bothers my environmental continence throwing away all that water just to adequately wash film & FB paper

Thanks for asking

Martin
 

KEK

Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2005
Messages
104
Format
Multi Format
Photo Engineer said:
Well, in the mean-time I'll just fart around.

PE
Click to expand...

I fart around in the darkroom all the time and now it has the side effect of regulating my blood pressure. Fancy that.

Count me in on the fixer.

Kevin
 
OP
OP

Photo Engineer

Subscriber
Joined
Apr 19, 2005
Messages
29,018
Location
Rochester, NY
Format
Multi Format
I will try my best to meet all of the goals above.

For 2F/2F I must say that different types of film and paper are not going to happen from the manufacturers due to the shrinking market. I make my own silk finish, canvas finish and watercolor papers. That is the only way I can get there from here. I make the emulsion to its desired contrast and coat it. I have no route to that except do it yourself.

PE
 

MartinB

Member
Joined
Dec 9, 2005
Messages
192
Location
Calgary
Format
Multi Format
1 shot least chemistry fixer for rotary processing

My Jobo ATL 1000 makes it impractical to recover fixer after use so a 1 shot fixer that adequately fixes film in the 5 min cycle would be great. It would need to work where the total volume of liquid is from 170 ml to 500 ml and uses the min chemistry to reduce waste. It would be nice to get thiosulfate per film consumption (i.e. number of rolls per litre of concentrate) to similar levels as traditional non 1 shot processing.

While specific to the Jobo, the 1 shot min chemistry is likely useful to other processing methods.

Oh, and another vote for the paper fixer with min wash water.

Martin
 
OP
OP

Photo Engineer

Subscriber
Joined
Apr 19, 2005
Messages
29,018
Location
Rochester, NY
Format
Multi Format
Martin;

With a 5 minute fix cycle, just about any fixer could be diluted down to increase fix time. Having done that to your satisfaction, you would then probably have a fix that approaches your goal of a one-shot fixer that is dilute enough to be economical.

Determining the proper dilution would be a snap. Just dilute your current fixer and test with a piece of 35mm leader to get a clear time of 2.5 minutes. Then you have the right dilution. If it is not economical for you then that fixer is not suitable for throw away.

PE
 

2F/2F

Member
Joined
Apr 29, 2008
Messages
8,031
Location
Los Angeles,
Format
Multi Format

I don't think they are going to happen either. Just trying to bring up what would really matter to me in the world of b/w at this time. I can do everything I need to do with the currently available chemicals and emulsions.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
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…