Xtol 1:1

[Mark Crabtree]

I like Xtol at 1:3, but the times get quite long. I believe Kodak quit recommending this dilution early on, but it has been very reliable for me across a wide range of films. I had been using replenished Xtol, but think this looks crisper and gives about the same economy. 1:1 or 1:2 (in the common Kodak meaning of those dilutions) would probably not be much different. Kodak cited a small increase in speed, sharpness, and grain as you diluted the developer.

My times with Xtol for the past several years have been way off of the recommendation (longer), so I don't usually quote them. I've tried distilled water, with no difference. My results are consistent over the long term (including replenished Xtol), so I just bake it til it's done.

 

[mrred]

Got any times for FP4, Tri-x, or HP5?

No. I have not shot those in a long while. But there is always the massive dev chart. 1:2 is quite common.

But lately, I have just been doing a strip test. My girl mixed up a bag of my unlabelled bulk film canisters from my last vacation. She didn't get the need for two piles. So I take a leader and partially dip it into my soup (what ever I have been using). When the soaking part goes from lighter to as dark as the not dipped part, divide the seconds by 3 for drum and by 4 for small tank. The result is in minutes. I have never compared tray, but you could figure that one out. It really does work.