jandc said:
I just love the cryptic dramatic answers to simple questions. If you don't like R09 than don't buy it. But putting out this garbage is a disservice to everyone.
Not to "put out garbage" as you said, here some differences:
Rodinal is bottled under inert gas atmosphere, wich means it doesn't start ageing (e.g.: change color) till you open it.
R09 is pitch black bought new.
Second: at least one batch of the bottels used for R09 dissolved themselve and haven't been fully air-tight, speeding up ageing of R09. Some where really bad quality, cracking open at the seam near the cap rather easy.
That's a simple reason why Rodinal is said to last longer than R09: Less contact with oxygen means longer shelf life. When Rodinal is stored unopend theres _no_ oxygen to react with. While there is enough to turn R09 black.
See my point?
Christian