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Processing different films in the same tank?

stradibarrius

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Is there a problem with developing different brands of film in the same tank when their processing times are the same?
EX. a roll of Tri-x 400 and neopan 400 in the same hand tank. Both have processing time of 8 min in HC110 1+50.
 
I have processed Tri-X and TMY 400 together before in D-76 1:1. Both rolls came out fine so I see no reason why your combo won't work.
 
Ture. Tame time, tame ting.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
deja vu, sort of:

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)
 
Torry.
Can't help it if I'm incorrigible. I'm easily incorriged.
 
Yes, you can.

If they have the same time (or close to it), and the processes would be exactly the same if they were processed in separate tanks, what problems do you think might arise if you processed them in the same tank?
 
I mix any two films in the same tank... but I do use Prescysol developer which has the same time for every film.


Steve.
 
You have a point. I cannot say with any certainty that there is not some effect that might be measurable under very strictly controlled circumstances. However, in practical terms, there is none. I do this quite often when the films in question need the same development time for a given developer and I've never seen any ill effects from the practice. And don't worry about any long term effects either. I've been doing this for a long time, and it's never caused me a problem. If it works for you then go ahead and do it. Maximize the efficiency of your chemistry and time.
 
When you think about this, it helps to remember that the film manufacturers design film to be developable (is that a word?) by large scale commercial processors. So at least for developers like D-76/ID-11 or X-Tol, the film should be able to tolerate this nicely.

The answer may depend slightly on the type of developer - something more exotic might bring rise to a problem.

I would be careful about doing this if you typically use minimum amounts of developer to develop your film. For example, if you typically try to stretch 5 ml of HC-110 concentrate out far enough to develop each roll, you may want to be more of a spendthrift .
 
lxdude said:
Torry.
Can't help it if I'm incorrigible. I'm easily incorriged.
Click to expand...

Aww, the moderator fixed the typo. Now I just look tupid.
 
MattKing said:
The answer may depend slightly on the type of developer - something more exotic might bring rise to a problem.
Click to expand...

I have a vague recollection of reading that Dead Link Removed can produce unexpected results when mixing different films in one tank. I don't have a reference for this, though, and it's entirely possible I'm not remembering correctly. A Web search might turn up more information.
 

I remember reading on Ryuji Suzuki's web site that HP5+ is a "hungry" film, as far as developers are concerned. Maybe some films use developer more, I don't know. If there is an effect, it would be most prominent with very dilute developers, especially if minimal quantities are used as is often the case.
 
This is not really a good idea. Whether it works or not depends on the mix of films. The development products of one can effect the development of a different film. For example, Delta grain, T-grain et al should be developed by themselves since they release iodide ions which can depress the development rate of other films
.
 
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