What developer do you use?

[André E.C.]

Ilfotec DD-X for everything.

 

[Drifter]

Rodinal 80%
ID-11 20%
Caffenol on the occasional whim.

 

[mooseontheloose]

D-76 1+1 for almost everything (although all infrared is done in stock). I've been using it almost exclusively since I started developing film two years ago. I do have Xtol that I would like to use with certain films, but I haven't gotten around to testing it yet. I'm about to take the plunge with Rodinal -- if I like it, it will be my developer of choice with Fuji Acros.

 

[brian steinberger]

Xtol and Rodinal

 

[darkosaric]

rodinal.

 

[Lanline]

D-76 for Tri-X/Neopan/Plus-X/Efke 400KB
Rodinal for Panatomic-X (Yes, I have lots of it)
TMAX developer for TMAX
Acufine for FOMAPAN 400

 

[DannL]

I use nothing less than the best. Always have, always will.

 

[MattKing]

HC-110 almost exclusively.

I do experiment with dilutions.

Matt

 

[Ian David]

Until recently, I have been using mostly HC-110 for Kodak films and DD-X for Ilford films, with a bit of Xtol and Rodinal on the side.
I am currently experimenting with a switch to Xtol for everything.

 

[tkamiya]

XTOL. I'm limiting myself to just this one until I can get the result I want with it. Went from full strength to 1:1 so far and getting better results.

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

I couldn't agree more.

That is a good phase to be in. I learned the most when I went back to this phase. Honing my technique gives me more benefit than fashionable materials.

 

[sidearm613]

Rodinal, HC-110, and WD2D+, depending on the mood or the film.

 

[Brad Dow]

********
D23, replenished with DK25R.

I'm another D23 user, but I use it one-shot, made fresh from powder each time. I might replenish, but I find that modern films have so much incorporated wetting agent that it accumluates in the replenished developer and with my vigorous agitation scheme turns the developer tank into a bubble bath prone to leaving marks on the negative. These days I'm using it exclusively, for everything, particularly Delta 400 and 3200.

 

[paul_c5x4]

D76 stock to 1+5 dilutions - Mostly 1+3 & 1+4 one-shot.
Perceptol when I want (almost) zero grain.
Techxactol for the odd occasion I need a pyro fix.

 

[werra]

Mostly Rodinal as my films are mostly from Agfa, a bit of HC-110, UP-2 for old DDR films. D76 1+1 looks ok as well tough.

 

[Bertil]

D-76, replenished with D-76R (more and more my standard after having tried a lot of other things from Kodak and Ilford); Rodinal (now Calbe R-09) for Fuiji ACROS 120 and often for sheet films ISO 100; and D-23 (replenished DK 25R), but also 1+1 for special soft development.
My experience with Paterson's FX-39 is very positive (if I have to choose just One film developer, perhaps FX-39 would be my choice (in different dilutions), but I prefer a standard developer that I can mix myself from raw chemicals). Have never tried Kodak's X-tol, but a lot of tests seem to say that this is a Very Good product for modern emulsions. Pyro developers, that a lot of people now seem to use, is beyond my experience, but seems interesting for extra def. in highlights; don't know if it's much better than Rodinal, but perhaps lesser grain.
//Bertil

 

[alroldan12]

hc-110 B for me.

 

[mikebarger]

510 Pyro with Tri-X (400) in 120mm and HP5 (200) in 4x5.

Mike

 

[papagene]

PMK Pyro for everything. I like the results I get with it.

gene

 

[Perry Way]

for all Ilford films: Ilford Ilfotec DD-X
for all Adox films: Adox Adolux ATM 49
all else: Rodinal 1:50 or 1:25 dilutions

 

[darekj]

ID11 1+1 for both sheet and 120

 

[Eric Rose]

I pretty much only use one film (Efke PL100) and one developer, PyroCat-HD. For the occasional flirtations with 35mm I use FP4 and PyroCat-HD. So you might say I'm just a PyroCat-HD kind of guy.

 

[modafoto]

Rodinal and some Caffenol now and then.

 

[Jerevan]

Rodinal and some Caffenol now and then.

It would be strange for the high priest of the Church of Rodinal to not use the holy brew, right?

 

[Karmelo.Martin]

1+ Vote for Rodinal. I almost exclusively use it diluited 1:50 for 4x5 sheets, altohough I have also tried ID-11. After changing a bit my dev times (The recommended times were a bit short, in my opinion), I´m getting nice results.

I find Rodinal to be very convenient for my work. Very cheap, very easy to use, very realible, very long shelf life, with the minor downside apparently it can create excessive grain when shooting with smaller formats, but again... I'm shooting 4x5 and FP4+ (Quite fine grain), so... I think it's the perfect developer for me (Anyway, I like grain as well, so...).

Kar