Tetenal Ultrafin, heads up =)

[Helinophoto]

Just wanted to inform that when Tetenal Ultrafin starts looking like tea (somewhere between straw-yellow and dark brown), toss it, it's about to fail.

Just found that out after developing a roll of Acros, negatives were really really thin (all of them, ruling out any faulty exposures).
I used the same time and temperature as always, and the result was "meh", low contrast and thiin, glad they were not important shots. =)
(I have been experimenting with Tetenal Ultrafin to gauge it's performance with various films, and to see how long a bottle last with my use)

So when it goes dark, you are pushing you luck, I think my bottle lasted just short of 6 months (it's almost empty now anyway), used the same bottle the whole time, stored in room temperature.

Regards

 

[georg16nik]

Yep, it doesnt keep long once its opened, its say so on the bottle as well. Still a great developer thou.

 

[LJH]

Do you squeeze the air out of the bottle between uses? I've never had an issue with 1 litre bottles.

 

[georg16nik]

I split the dev into smaller glass bottles, add heavy gas and its all set.

 

[Helinophoto]

No I didn't do anything special concerning removal of air and such (that was also something I wanted to test, to see how long it would last).

Indeed, wonderful developer, very economical as well.

 

[Rudeofus]

Can you give us some pointers how many rolls of film went through that batch of Ultrafin? Shelf life is one factor, but number of rolls would certainly be interesting, too.

 

[Helinophoto]

Well, that would be a little difficult to say really, as I have developed both 120 and 35mm in it, always one film at a time and usually 500ml-600ml ready mixed at 1:20 (where I could find times for it).

Roughly, after checking my fixer bottle, I think we're talking about 13-17 120 films and around 10 35mm ones. (mind you, with 600ml in my tank, I can develop two 35mm films in one go, but I haven't had more than one film at a time, so..).

I have changed/exhausted fixer twice during this time, so the markings on the bottle are a bit iffy to read. =)
(I will need to check back the actual numbers)

 

[georg16nik]

Well, that would be a little difficult to say really, as I have developed both 120 and 35mm in it, always one film at a time and usually 500ml-600ml ready mixed at 1:20 (where I could find times for it).

Roughly, after checking my fixer bottle, I think we're talking about 13-17 120 films and around 10 35mm ones. (mind you, with 600ml in my tank, I can develop two 35mm films in one go, but I haven't had more than one film at a time, so..).

I have changed/exhausted fixer twice during this time, so the markings on the bottle are a bit iffy to read. =)

When going 1+30 then aprox 80 films tops, either 135 or 120
In fact, the other day I developed an Ilford PanF 120 with Ultrafin opened last spring, it was perfectly developed.
As I wrote above, I dont store this developer in its factory bottle but in small glass ones, same as Neofin Blue ones.
Also, I am talking about Ultrafin Liquid not Ultrafin Plus.

 

[idleroux]

I have one perfectly clear roll of 35mm film, which I keep in case I ever want to practise my reel-loading skills again. I obtained it by developing a normally exposed film in tea-brown Ultrafin. I was a little annoyed at the time, but frankly, if a developer is civilised enough to change colour before going bad, then I deserve no sympathy for ruining a film by ignoring the warning sign.