Normal Process vs. more Diluted-Longer Time

[lhalcong]

Just out of curiosity I was thinking the other day, is there a significant point, benefit or reason why someone would choose to use the same developer but more diluted and then expand the time to compensate vs. what it would be a normal process. I know different developers offer different results. So far I am only familiar with D76 and TMAX at normal dilution/normal times. The way I thought of it was; if I modify the dilution that will produce a different result but if I expand the time to compensate , what was the point ?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Gerald C Koch]

As Michael points out it matters what type of developer you are speaking about. Two developers that are used in various dilutions are Rodinal and HC-110. When you are discussing a developer that is used in two or more very different concentrations you are really not speaking of the same thing. For example, when you use D-72 1+9 for film its really not D-72 in its behavior anymore but something akin to the Beutler formula and other acutance developers.