Pick one Ilford developer.

[AlanC]

Mike,
In my opinion HP5+ in ID11 1+3 is about as good as things get in 35mm when I want maximum sharpness and minimal grain and enough speed to do without a tripod. When I want grain I use Rodinal but unfortunately Ilford don't make that...
Alan Clark

 

[fschifano]

ID-11, that's the ticket. Not too expensive (D-76 is less pricey and the same thing here in the US), delivers full film speed, can be used as a fine grain developer straight up. Dilute it 1+1 and use it one shot for absolute consistency. Use it 1+3 with extended development for more sharply defined grain. 5L will keep at least 6 months in full bottles, so split your stock solution into small bottles and work them off one at a time.

Perceptol, like its American cousin Microdol-X is very soft working and when used as a find grain developer will cost you about 2/3 to 1 full stop of speed. That was ok when fast films, and indeed even medium speed films, had grain the size of golf balls. That's not the case any more, and IMO, these types of developers are more or less obsolete.

Microphen is good if you want a speed enhancing developer at the expense of more pronounced grain.

If the convenience is paramount, then Ilfotec HC is the one. It's a highly concentrated syrup with a long shelf life. Typically used diluted 1+31. Can be diluted further to extend development times.