X-TOL, Microphen, or Acufine for long shelf life pushing developers?

[Unbuiltbread]

I always end up pushing my film so I’m looking for a developer made for pushing, with a longer shelf life since I cut back a lot on b&w film lately. I’ve always used D76 and had some pretty good results with some pretty extreme pushes (K400 @ 25600), but wondered how it would look with a developer more suited for pushing. Right now I am using Agfa Aviotphot 200 (Rollei 400s) but use a ton of the 400 speed Ilford films. I usually have a 1-3 stop push when shooting.

X-TOL, Microphen, and Acufine are all the developers that are good from pushing in my experience, so which is the best for shelf life? I’m wary of X-TOL since I heard it can die quite suddenly

 

[John Wiegerink]

Well, I'm just about the opposite of you and almost never push my film. That said, Acufine was always noted for a speed increasing developer. I never tried it, but I did try and still use some discontinued Ethol UFG and that's a near twin. UFG will give you a good 1/2 stop with just a normal development, but even more if you push. So I'd say Acufine would be worth a try, but Microphone is right there too. All this depends on the film and I know nothing on pushing either of the films you mention. If it were the old Tri-X I'd say break down and buy some Diafine, but you're not talking that film.

 

[otto.f]

I’m wary of X-TOL since I heard it can die quite suddenly

That’s true. 6 months of shelf life after making the liquid at best, but what’s more is that it goes down suddenly, an X-tol solution which works half or so-so hardly exists. In my memory Acufine has the longest shelf life

 

[retina_restoration]

The best developer for long shelf life is one made from scratch from the component chemicals. Fresh whenever you need it and the chemistry lasts for years (decades?).

 

[npl]

If by pushing you mean both underexposing then overdevelopping :

My understanding is that developers that are good at keeping details in the low zones (good shadows details, full box speed) such as XTOL are natural candidates for pushing so when underexposing the shadows still get a fighting chance.

But if we're talking extreme pushing such as more than 2 stops below the actual box speed (note : Aviphot 200 is not ISO 200 for pictorial use but lower) I'm not sure it would matter much because the shadows will be crushed no matter what. At this point anything works and I would recommend HC110 for it's very good shelf life.

 

[Paul Howell]

I always end up pushing my film so I’m looking for a developer made for pushing, with a longer shelf life since I cut back a lot on b&w film lately. I’ve always used D76 and had some pretty good results with some pretty extreme pushes (K400 @ 25600), but wondered how it would look with a developer more suited for pushing. Right now I am using Agfa Aviotphot 200 (Rollei 400s) but use a ton of the 400 speed Ilford films. I usually have a 1-3 stop push when shooting.

X-TOL, Microphen, and Acufine are all the developers that are good from pushing in my experience, so which is the best for shelf life? I’m wary of X-TOL since I heard it can die quite suddenly

I recently mixed up the last gallon of my Acufine stock, and have used Microphen in the past, no experience pushing with Xtol , used D76 a lot in the 70s and 80s. Kodak still recommends D76 over Xtol for pushing. I think all three developers you are interested in have a life of about 6 months in stock solution. If you are willing to keep looking at Ebay you can find old stock Acufine in cans in the quart size. I think Mircrophen is only available in 1 liter size, while Xtol is only sold in 5 liter size. Foma does sell a liter size of their version of Xtol but it is expensive. If you are pushing in the 1 stop range for for cost, mix your own D76 as needed. For 2 to 3 stop push, old stock Acufine in quart sizes. It might be hard to find.

 

[MattKing]

By two packs of XTol. Mix one up into stock/working solution and divide it into a few well sealed smaller bottles.
Use that at first for six months - I'd suggest 1 + 1 dilution - then start doing clip tests before developing each film.
If/when you start to see a sign of change in activity, discard any unused XTol stock, mix up the next batch, and order another package.
Or do what I do - use XTol in a replenishment regime.

 

[koraks]

The best developer for long shelf life is one made from scratch from the component chemicals. Fresh whenever you need it and the chemistry lasts for years (decades?).

^^ This!
It's also super flexible; with half a dozen ingredients one can mix dozens of different formulas.

 

[WhereSs]

I recently mixed up the last gallon of my Acufine stock, and have used Microphen in the past, no experience pushing with Xtol , used D76 a lot in the 70s and 80s. Kodak still recommends D76 over Xtol for pushing. I think all three developers you are interested in have a life of about 6 months in stock solution. If you are willing to keep looking at Ebay you can find old stock Acufine in cans in the quart size. I think Mircrophen is only available in 1 liter size, while Xtol is only sold in 5 liter size. Foma does sell a liter size of their version of Xtol but it is expensive. If you are pushing in the 1 stop range for for cost, mix your own D76 as needed. For 2 to 3 stop push, old stock Acufine in quart sizes. It might be hard to find.

For what it’s worth, Bergger Berspeed is a Microphen clone and it can be found in 5L bags. (The times are identical with Microphen (1+1) and I have treated it as Microphen stock solution with no issues.) Probably not that much easier to find or cheaper, but it’s an option that exists

 

[benderscameracorner]

For the past couple of years I've used Microphen almost exclusively (local shop sold me their entire chemicals stock for 10% of retail price to get rid of it all) and found the 1L working solution is good for many, many months, just stored in a plastic 1L bottle. You can certainly dev a couple more rolls beyond the 10 per 1L guidance from Ilford, if you want, though I wouldn't and don't do this with any 'critical' films.

I've only deliberately pushed fresh film a few times in recent memory - all worked as it should - but have developed a metaphoric tonne of expired Tri-X which I've rated at anywhere between EI100 and EI1600 depending on my whim/moon phase, and develop at either EI500 or EI800 and have never failed to get reasonably usable images.

Microphen is good stuff, very capable and excellent value too if you're only developing a few rolls a month.

 

[retina_restoration]

^^ This!
It's also super flexible; with half a dozen ingredients one can mix dozens of different formulas.

I would add to this: you can use FX-55 which is an Xtol clone of sorts (Phenidone + Ascorbate) that you can make up quickly and easily if you make up the stock solution of the alkali/sulfite (Part A, diluted 1:9 to use) and add the Ascorbate powder and Phenidone (from a stock solution of Phenidone in Glycol) and you have an ideal "on-demand" Xtol copy that you need never worry about suddenly failing.

FX-55 is:

Part A
Potassium Carbonate: 20g
Sodium Bicarbonate: 1.5g
Sodium Sulphite: 25g
Sodium Metabisulphite: 12g
Water to 1,000ml and dilute 1:9 for the working solution. Before use add B to the diluted 1:9 diluted A solution to form the working strength developer.

Part B
Sodium L-ascorbate: 1.3g
Phenidone: 100mg (0.1g) I highly recommend making up a 1% solution of Phenidone in Glycol and use that to make the working solution. When dissolved in Glycol, you can expect the Phenidone to remain viable for at least a year (or two).

This developer is nearly identically to Xtol in every way. You can even use your Xtol times as a reasonable starting point (may require some adjustments to suit your needs)

 

[Craig]

So part A is a stock solution and B is a recipe for working strength?