Quick DDX advice needed

[dpurdy]

I don't have the instructions but I have mixed 4500 ml of DDX proper working dilution (4-1)

I have 9 rolls of 120 Delta 3200 to process for a client.

I can only process 3 rolls at a time.

Will I need to adjust the development time for the second set of 3 rolls and the third set of 3 rolls?

Thanks.. now off to do the first set of 3
Dennis

 

[keeds]

see: http://www.ilfordphoto.com/Webfiles/20073211236917.pdf

 

[dpurdy]

to answer my own question, the developer didn't lose any strength over just the 9 rolls
dennis

 

[Ken N]

Reuse of DD-X is not recommended. I know there are people who have figured out how do the replenish thing, but so much is dependent upon how the film was exposed (subject matter). For example, a roll of high-key lighting will deplete the developer at a different rate than a roll of low-key lighting.

On a couple occasions I did reuse, but sweated bullets waiting for the results.

 

[Colin Corneau]

I don't mean this to sound snarky, but...I wouldn't take chances if it were for a client.

Bill them the extra ten dollars for another bottle of developer.

 

[MikeSeb]

Add me to the list of those advising against developer reuse, ever---unless it's Diafine.

 

[titrisol]

why would you mix the whole bottle?
3 rolls require ~1l x3 = ~3l of working solution which you just use each time and dump.

DDX like many other concentrates is a mix-as-you-go developer, do not make a "stock" 1+4 to keep in a bottle.

 

[dpurdy]

I mixed the almost whole bottle because I had 9 rolls to process. I don't process in daylight cans I use a larger tube that usually allows me to process 5 rolls a time but I didn't have enough developer to fill the tube. It was a stupid question in the first place because obviously over 4000 ml of developer is enough to process 9 rolls. And indeed it didn't lose any strength at all.

In my normal process I mix 10 liters of XTOL and put it in a 2 foot tall tube that allows me to process 8 rolls of 120 or 14 rolls of 35mm at a time. I keep using that batch of developer for 150 rolls of film with a schedule of extended processing time as the developer ages with no loss of quality. I am sure that DDX can be used in the same way at least for a few rolls. Maybe not as well as XTOL.

I know the majority of film processors do 1 use and dump and are nervous beyond that. But as I process some 1500 rolls a year I have to be a bit more calculating about it.

thanks for all the advice
Dennis

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

Direct from Ilford's data sheet.

"ILFOTEC DD-X is supplied as a liquid concentrate
diluted 1+4 for one-shot use when the highest
image quality is required. However, for greater
economy it can be reused but image quality will
be reduced slightly."

I've used it with Neopan 1600 and reused it according to Ilford's re-use scheme, compensating for developer exhaustion. If I didn't know the order in which the different rolls were developed, I couldn't tell after the fact. The difference is that small.

But I agree, if it was a customer's negs, I'd use the first go with the developer for the clients negs, and then I'd use it to the limit of films for my own stuff. But I wouldn't use it once and dump it. It's too expensive for that.

And with respect to re-using developers - there are some developers that have to be used that way to come into their own, that have to be seasoned to give their best. 777 is one example, Edwal 12, Xtol... There are many. Xtol is great single shot diluted, but a replenished seasoned, re-used developer is better from what I've seen.

- Thomas

Reuse of DD-X is not recommended. I know there are people who have figured out how do the replenish thing, but so much is dependent upon how the film was exposed (subject matter). For example, a roll of high-key lighting will deplete the developer at a different rate than a roll of low-key lighting.

On a couple occasions I did reuse, but sweated bullets waiting for the results.

 

[titrisol]

If you are developing so many films, you may want to try ILFORD DD (dip-and-Dunk) developer which was used in commercial labs and lasted quite a while
DDX was a version for home made of this one.

I mixed the almost whole bottle because I had 9 rolls to process. I don't process in daylight cans I use a larger tube that usually allows me to process 5 rolls a time but I didn't have enough developer to fill the tube. It was a stupid question in the first place because obviously over 4000 ml of developer is enough to process 9 rolls. And indeed it didn't lose any strength at all.

In my normal process I mix 10 liters of XTOL and put it in a 2 foot tall tube that allows me to process 8 rolls of 120 or 14 rolls of 35mm at a time. I keep using that batch of developer for 150 rolls of film with a schedule of extended processing time as the developer ages with no loss of quality. I am sure that DDX can be used in the same way at least for a few rolls. Maybe not as well as XTOL.

I know the majority of film processors do 1 use and dump and are nervous beyond that. But as I process some 1500 rolls a year I have to be a bit more calculating about it.

thanks for all the advice
Dennis