SP-ultra LF Developer

tim48v · Aug 14, 2020

"Every film developer manufactured in the last 80 years has been optimized for 35 mm film. Until now..."

Okay, there are a few exceptions but for the most part, it's true. We won't spend any time defending our thesis; frankly, it really doesn't matter. What does matter is that we decided that the world needed a new film developer optimized for large format film.

Details on our blog: SP-ultra LF: a developer optimized for large format film

tim48v · Mar 12, 2021

Just posted some shelf life test results: https://shop.stearmanpress.com/blogs/news/sp-ultra-4lf-shelf-life-test

Donald Qualls · Mar 13, 2021

Oh, sure. Come back when it's been in a bottle for two years...

tim48v · Mar 15, 2021

If your chemicals are on the shelf for two years, you're not taking enough photos.

Donald Qualls · Mar 15, 2021

tim48v said:
If your chemicals are on the shelf for two years, you're not taking enough photos.

Or you bought way too big a package. Possibly without option for smaller.

tim48v · Jul 15, 2021

Here's an update:

Donald Qualls · Jul 15, 2021

That's holding up nicely.

Peter Schrager · Jul 15, 2021

thanks but I'll stick with my Pyrocat-MC!
Graphs and charts don't mean anything just post some real world photos of this NEW Amazing developer

Donald Qualls · Jul 15, 2021

Peter Schrager said:
just post some real world photos of this NEW Amazing developer

Did you read the linked article from the original post in this thread?

If I had a large format tank that held less than a liter, I'd probably order a couple pouches of this stuff. I might anyway, based in part on the rumor that it can be reused. I've got three Grafmatics now, which is a tank and a half for my Yankee Agitank (which holds 1.6 liters). What I need to determine (and probably can only determine by trying some) is whether this is in any way better than replenished Xtol (which will let me process a dozen 4x5 for about 50 cents).

Peter Schrager · Jul 16, 2021

Donald Qualls said:
Did you read the linked article from the original post in this thread?

If I had a large format tank that held less than a liter, I'd probably order a couple pouches of this stuff. I might anyway, based in part on the rumor that it can be reused. I've got three Grafmatics now, which is a tank and a half for my Yankee Agitank (which holds 1.6 liters). What I need to determine (and probably can only determine by trying some) is whether this is in any way better than replenished Xtol (which will let me process a dozen 4x5 for about 50 cents).

yes and I make Pyrocat for pennies/liter and it lasts forever because it's a 2 part developer...otherwise xtol works perfectly except when they screw up batches but I don't think that is going to happen any time soon
Yes I finally did click on the link to see the photos. I'm sure it's a nice developer but to say it's something special for large format negatives sounds like hype to me.

Donald Qualls · Jul 16, 2021

Peter Schrager said:
to say it's something special for large format negatives sounds like hype to me.

Well, a developer that's optimized to gain half a stop above box speed with films that are usually shot a stop below, grain or no grain, is a big deal if real. I'd use that in 35mm, never mind medium or large format. That pouch, though, would only fill my Agitank to 4x5 depth a little more than three times after 1+9 dilution -- which makes it expensive, even compared to spending a few sheets to test for my EI and then shooting at half box speed. The only time film speed is really critical for LF (in my opinion) is if I'm shooting street photos with my Speed Graphic -- which I do plan to do sometime soon, now that I have Grafmatics that let me shoot full format at reasonable repeat rates...

tim48v · Jul 16, 2021

Peter,
Actually, graphs and charts are the ONLY things that matter if you want to measure the performance of anything! After all, I can make just about any photo look good if I spend enough time tweaking it (either in the darkroom or in photoshop). We shoot our tests using the same step wedges, the same lens (even the same shutter speed and f/stop), the same camera and the same light source. The goal is a scientific measurement of performance; not artistic expression.

That said, I agree that I need to post more "real world" photos. Just have to tell the boss that I'll be out shooting for a few days...

Tim

tim48v · Jul 16, 2021

Donald Qualls said:
Well, a developer that's optimized to gain half a stop above box speed with films that are usually shot a stop below, grain or no grain, is a big deal if real. I'd use that in 35mm, never mind medium or large format. That pouch, though, would only fill my Agitank to 4x5 depth a little more than three times after 1+9 dilution -- which makes it expensive, even compared to spending a few sheets to test for my EI and then shooting at half box speed. The only time film speed is really critical for LF (in my opinion) is if I'm shooting street photos with my Speed Graphic -- which I do plan to do sometime soon, now that I have Grafmatics that let me shoot full format at reasonable repeat rates...

Donald,
Not sure about reuse; we haven't tried it but suspect it would work fine (within limits). Have not processed anything smaller than 4x5 with it.

Frankly, sounds like you need an SP-445 (475ml) or a SP-8x10 (300ml)!

Tim

Donald Qualls · Jul 16, 2021

tim48v said:
Frankly, sounds like you need an SP-445 (475ml) or a SP-8x10 (300ml)!

The advantage of my Agitank, though, is that not only can I process a dozen sheets at a time, I can process smaller sheets (9x12, got two of those cameras and a dozen plate holder with film sheaths, 2x3 to fit the Century Graphic I just bought, etc.), and the tank was only $40 new. The volume it needs isn't a big deal with replenished Xtol, but I'm only getting box speed with Xtol, so you're still in the running. I might well order a couple pouches of this stuff; Fomapan 400 at EI 640 is better for street photography than Fomapan 400 at EI 200. Same goes for Tri-X or T-Max 400.

I do have some print drums; I bet I could improvise to do four 4x5 in 250 ml in one of those...

Alan Johnson · Jul 16, 2021

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1273/8933/files/SP-ultra_4LF_SDS.pdf?v=1605567992
pH is 8.7, probably fine grain type.

Donald Qualls · Jul 19, 2021

As a PQ-Carbonate developer, this bears some resemblance to D-72 with an upgrade to Dimezone/phenidone giving the speed boost. There's little enough sulfite after dilution to have minimal effect on grain, but seemingly still enough to get full development.

Everything I've seen says the only downside of this stuff is being one-shot -- but that's only a problem if you have a wasteful tank volume. At the least, it ought to work well for 6x9 or 6x7; those frames are large enough that honest grain isn't an issue (witness lots of folks using Rodinal on that size film, even without being grain lovers).

iakustov · Jul 22, 2021

Misread the title I thought you were going to produce the ULF developing tray..

Nodda Duma · Jul 22, 2021

Hey Donald if you wanted to test reuse you could test yourself instead of speculating. iirc I was able to get some reuse out of it.

Donald Qualls · Jul 22, 2021

Probably a reasonable suggestion. I've been considering it. I like my current setup, with replenished Xtol (about to switch to EcoPro due to the Xtol fiasco), but this isn't replenished, it's more like making sure you use it up.

Nodda Duma · Jul 22, 2021

Donald Qualls said:
Probably a reasonable suggestion. I've been considering it. I like my current setup, with replenished Xtol (about to switch to EcoPro due to the Xtol fiasco), but this isn't replenished, it's more like making sure you use it up.

The other thing I found was that a working solution mixed up from a months-old working solution still gave acceptable results (didn’t do a strictly scientific comparison). So it has a good shelf life even partially used.

Donald Qualls · Jul 22, 2021

It ought to be very easy to remove excess air from those pouches, and they look like the same material wine bags are made of, which is pretty impermeable.

tim48v · Oct 12, 2021

Can't believe it's been over a year since we introduced our SP-Ultra 4LF! One of the only developers optimized for large format film in the last decades.

As promised, we ran another Density vs Exposure test on the pouch that's been sitting on the shelf since last October:

Boring. Boring is good. Indeed, the results are well within the expected limits of our test equipment, shutter accuracy, and everything else that affects the analog world.

We've got just enough of this batch to run one (maybe two) more tests and will update you again in a few months.

SP-ultra LF Developer

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency