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Please Recommend a Developer

Adam W

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I use mainly 400 speed film (but not exclusively). I don't normally use Delta or T-Max. I'm looking for the following qualities in a developer:

a. General purpose--good for different film brands and speeds
b. Liquid, one shot
c. Has a long shelf life

So far I've only used Ilfasol3, which seems fine. But since I don't process film in large amounts or with great frequency, I'm concerned about shelf life. What do you think?

Thanks in advance!
 

OptiKen

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Rodinal
 

GarageBoy

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HC110
DDX
TMax RS

The latter two are okay for about a year with no special treatment
 

heespharm

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Diafine, rodinal, hc110 last for years
 

Ian Grant

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Don't use Rodinal/RO9 with 400 ISO films. it causes to much grain. HC110 isn't much better.

Ilford DDX or Tmax developer would be the best commercial liquid developers.

Ian
 

Ian Grant

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I'd agree about Pyrocat-HD I get superb results with it & HP5, it's like Rodinal on steroids a big improvement and fine with fast films.

Ian
 

Paul Howell

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HC 110 is a classic for Tri X and HP 5, also works well with Foma 400. TMax Rt and DDX also work well with Tri X, some of the other liquid developers like Clayton have a short shelf life once opened. Although some like Rodienal with 400 speed films, for my taste too much grain.
 
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Adam W

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For now, HP5 and Tri-x, both in 35mm and 120.
 

removed account4

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caffenol c (and dektol ( or ansco 130 ) )
works with any film, easy to find the ingredients too
 

Ian Grant

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Kodak's own comparison shows HC110 is the worst of their developers for speed and grain and with fast films they are totally right. I'd use (and did for years) Kodak Xtol relplenished with superb results.

Anyone suggesting HC110 or Rodinal wants & gets excessive grain.

Ian
 

gone

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Rodinal. I always hear comments about not using it w/ 400 speed films, or don't use it w/ 35mm film at all if you're diluting it at 1:25. If you get the exposure right and don't agitate too much, you get results like below (Tri-X w/ a yellow filter developed in Rodinal at 1:25 dilution). Very versatile, one shot developer, and it will last forever and ever.

If you DON'T get the exposure and agitation right, you'll wish you had used D76.



 

Ian Grant

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and there's the excessive grain compared to Xtol. Thanks for making my point well

Ian
 

removed account4

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Ian Grant said:
and there's the excessive grain compared to Xtol. Thanks for making my point well

Ian
Click to expand...

hi ian

have you ever seen rodinal made negatives that were "fine grained"
last year someone told me rodinal could produce 35mm negatives
that were extremely fine grained .. when i called his bluff, he insisted
it was true .. any idea what he might have been talking about ?
i don't mean fine grained to optically enlarge 35mm to 8x10 or 11x14, but
very large prints and have the grain not very noticible ...
( i have never used rodinal and have alwasy read it was a "grainy" developer
and its forté was making beautiful grain, not the opposite )
 

gone

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Some of us like a small amount of grain. It's why we shoot film. I think those flower shots show beautiful grain, not excessive at all (but its all in the eye of the beholder). For the non grain lovers, there's always digital I suppose. Look, there's room for all sorts of opinions, as long as we understand that's all they are....opinions. The op didn't ask for tiny grained developers, I gave him concrete examples of how Rodinal can produce great negs in even the miniature formats. But, some people clearly just like to argue for the sake of arguing. You go to your church, we'll go to ours.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

cliveh

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Rodinal.
 

chriscrawfordphoto

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Rodinal of you want a gritty texture (this looks beautiful for some types of subjects!), Tmax Developer if you want a more conventional look. I dilute Tmax Developer 1+7 instead of the standard 1+4. Saves money and the tonality is great. Most films give good results multiplying the manufacturer's recommended 1+4 times by 1.5 to get the 1+7 times. Works well for Tri-X and HP5, as well as Tmax films.
 

Richard S. (rich815)

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chriscrawfordphoto said:
Rodinal of you want a gritty texture (this looks beautiful for some types of subjects!)....
Click to expand...



Hmmm, I must doing something wrong with Rodinal then. Not getting that gritty look much:


Albany roof garden macro SL66 80Planar(old) Neopan400 Rodinal 1-50 9min30sec 22C 1minAg 2008-06 ES 4990 001 by rich8155 (Richard Sintchak), on Flickr


Rick's Sonoma place Rolleiflex2-8CXenotar Tmax100 Rodinal 12min 20C 30secAg 02-2009 VS 4990 Scan-090214-0009 FFw by rich8155 (Richard Sintchak), on Flickr


Golden Gate Park - Fern Grove Wista DX Calumet C2 6x7 back Fujinon-W 135/f5.6 IlfordFP4 Rodinal 1-50 11min 22C 1minAg2x 2012-01 VSmac 9000 Scan-130201-0001 FFsw by rich8155 (Richard Sintchak), on Flickr


Ben Mimi Marin Headlands Rolleiflex SL66 Schneider-Kreuznach Radionar 4.5 10.5cm lens w-adapter Fuji Acros Rodinal 1-50 9min30sec 1minAg VS Nikon9000 by rich8155 (Richard Sintchak), on Flickr
 

Sirius Glass

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Replenished XTOL and here is why
 

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chriscrawfordphoto

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Larger film won't look grainy. Even Delta 3200 isn't so bad in 120 size!
 

Richard S. (rich815)

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chriscrawfordphoto said:
Larger film won't look grainy. Even Delta 3200 isn't so bad in 120 size!
Click to expand...

Ok, this better? All 35mm. The idea that using Rodinal results in a gritty look is simply not a foregone conclusion:


Albany roofdeck flowers, view ContaxRX 60PlanarMakro Acros Rodinal 1-50 11min 20C 07-2006 08 by rich8155 (Richard Sintchak), on Flickr


Minneapolis Rollei 35T Neopan400 Rodinal 1-50 9min30sec30sec 22C VS 05-2006 10 by rich8155 (Richard Sintchak), on Flickr


Oakland Zoo MP 50cronDR PanF50 Rodinal 1-100 10min 22C 07-2006 20 by rich8155 (Richard Sintchak), on Flickr


Oakland Zoo MP 50cronDR PanF50 Rodinal 1-100 10min 22C 07-2006 01 by rich8155 (Richard Sintchak), on Flickr


Amy and Ben at breakfast MP Jup8 Neopan 400 Rod1-50 9min Ag120 06-2005 09 by rich8155 (Richard Sintchak), on Flickr
 
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