TX400 and HC110

LC29 seems to be a diluted version of Ilfotec HC. The dilutions proposed for the later are common with Kodak's HC110 and development times suggested by the manufacturers are quite close, especially if you take into account that the agitation intervals aren't the same.

johnnywalker said:

Does anyone know for sure that Ilford's LC29 and HC are the same formulation (or close enough) to HC-110? They seem to be not as concentrated, but any other differences? The Ilford products seem to be a little more readily available where I am (at least the LC-29). I'd like to standardize on one of these highly concentrated syrups in lieu of mixing powders, assuming the quality is still there.

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Ilfotec HC and HC-110 are different formulas (unlike D-76 and ID-11, which Ilford support has told me are "identical"), but standard dilutions are exactly the same, and times are within 30 seconds of each other IME. Both HC-110 and Ilfotec HC are PQ developers with high solvent action and high restraining action (meaning they are fine-grained and low-fog developers).

LC-29 is the same developer as Ilfotec HC, but concentrated differently, so must be diluted differently to arrive at the same working solution. I forgot whether LC-29 syrup is more concentrated or less concentrated than HC, but my guess would be that it is less concentrated. (HC = high concentration, and LC = low concentration?)

I developed my first roll of film at home last evening and I'll convey my experience. Previously I'd been using Arista Premium at the school but I chose HC110 for general purpose home use.

Tri-X 400 120 shot at 400 and developed for 6 minutes in dilution B at 71F. Slow continuous inversions for first 30 seconds and 10 seconds each minute thereafter. Kodak indicator stop for 1 minute with continuous agitation then Kodafix for 6 minutes with 5 second agitation each minute.

By my eye the exposure and development are spot on. I metered a prominent shadow area, placed it in Zone 3 and shot. That area has good tone and texture, so I got what I wanted.

However, I do have a darker line across the bottom of the roll. I'm assuming this was an agitation issue. Perhaps I should've given more agitation? I was using a new tank and may have pored the developer too slowly?

Overall, I'm happy with the development but think I have some procedural issues to work out.

It looks like you didn't fill your tank all the way with developer.

How can you tell? I used 550ml per directions for 120.

Would pouring too slowly or inverting before all dev had funneled into the tank do the same thing?

Doubt it. Maybe the reel got stuck up in the tank a little bit. It just looks like the whole width of the film was not covered by developer. I don't see any other explanation for the dark stripe.