Your most commonly used developer poll...

[JWMster]

Often there's a divergence between developer "buzz" and developer usage. Accordingly, this poll is an effort to cut through the flak and see what folks are actually using. Pyrogallo and Pyrocat in particular create a lot of discussion, but for many reasons... folks may either decide this ain't a real interest or something to stick with. Same poll has been run on the rangefinder forum and the results have been somewhat surprising to a newby like me... but I"m curious whether or not (yes there are some overlaps) the different membership doesn't result in a different experience. See what you think, and please feel free to say what you think or add notes to what you actually use if it's in one of the OTHER categories. Thank you for you interest.

FWIW, I'm casting my vote for my favorite two so far, but have yet to try Perceptol, Rodinal, and TFX that I also have in hand. I've used FA-1027 with good results as a D76 type, but not found it has the flexibility of HC-110... my linear favorite and most flexible developer so far.

 

[removed account4]

hi jw

for a store bought developer sprint film developer and dektol in a pouch.

the other developer/s i use for film home-brew- d72 and sumatranol C
(thats caffenol c made with home roasted sumatran beans pour mixed by sight, not measured
with a shake of d72 / dektol )

sprint as directed on the bottle, i won't use any other film developer
dektol ( and d72 ) 1:8ish, 8ish minutes

sumatranol CD about 8-9 mins straight up, or split with dektol ( or d72 ) 4 mins in each bath
dektol 1st 4 mins, sumatra 2nd,

 

[Anon Ymous]

I scratch mix everything and mostly use D76, Perceptol and occasionally Microphen. Sometimes I do bw reversal and use D19 and D72. So, I voted D76, Other - Commercial and Other - Homebrew.

 

[Peter Schrager]

XTOL.. I didn't know there are other developers!

 

[JensH]

Hi,

i use three:
D76 for TMX and TMY-2 in 4"x5" in a rotation drum (Jobo) and Tri-X in 120
Rodinal 1:25 or 1:50 (Adox APH 09 old-style version) for my old glass plates in a tray
Moersch MZB for PanF Plus (sometimes for Tri-X) in 120

MZB is great, but doesn't work for rotation...

Best
Jens

 

[R.Gould]

I never use anything other than rodinal at 1/50, love the negatives from Foma 400 and 200
Richard

 

[pdeeh]

I mostly use D23, which I make myself. I don't believe it's any longer available as a commercial developer so the poll's not right. Should be under homebrew.
When it's not D23, it's either caffenol-cm (for acros) or RO9.
What's "Rodian"?
I googled it and got told that

Rodia was a remote swampy, jungle planet and the homeworld of the Rodian species.

Should that be" Rodinal"?

 

[Anon Ymous]

I mostly use D23, which I make myself. I don't believe it's any longer available as a commercial developer so the poll's not right. Should be under homebrew...

Yes, it's a bit puzzling. The distinction between commercial and homebrew isn't very clear. Microphen and Perceptol are both commercially available, but one can also mix a homebrew equivalent.

 

[JWMster]

Anon: Precision is often an illusion which is why I have offered up to 3 choices, and the ability to change. The Polls here do not allow as many choices as I would have liked to add. But FWIW, PhotoFormulary here in the States sells D23. Some don't consider them a commercial op, I do. But to the question of Homebrew, I simply meant "Do you mix up your own chemistry?" and I meant that without attempting to distinguish between whether you are following a standard, once-upon-a-time commercial formulation, or whether your own varietal. Grayest area would be adding something to a commercial product, or mixing two commercial products (e.g. I've seen folks mixing XTOL and Rodinal and claim great results). I think it's fair to say that folks should fill out a poll however they seem to think it suits them, or however it is they describe to others what they use... or how they use it. Yes, there were not enough choices for Caffenol and Diafine and the like.

pdeeh: Yes, my apologies. That was a typo. Should be Rodinal... and it won't let me edit the text there.

 

[Cholentpot]

I started with D-76, moved on to T-max and then to Rodinal to save money. Then, since I shoot primarily expired film I got some HC-110. I picked up a bag of a D-76 a few weeks ago because I found it to be a bit more pleasant to my eyes. I've found rodinal to be great for Tmax-100 and Tmax-400 in 120. Otherwise HC-110 or D-76. Tmax Dev works great but is a little pricey for me.

 

[Harry Stevens]

Home brew Rodinal type, Promicrol 1:14/:9 and generic paper developer used at same dilutions and times as Rodinal 1:50.

Still got 5 litre of Ilford IDII not mixed up yet.

 

[howardpan]

I started with D76. It is without any doubt one of my old reliable developers.

But I really like the convenience of liquid, ready-to-use, long lasting solutions. For this, I have used DD-X, but I now use Rodinal and Spur developers (Spur 2525 and Spur SLD). I find the latter gives me a real speed boost which gives me more flexibility.

 

[anfenglin]

I sometimes use Rodinal, especially in summer, for all else I use Caffenol-C-H (rs).
I use a lot of different films, Caffenol works wonderfully for all kinds of b&w films, especially my Orwos, Pan F+, FP4+, Tri-X 400...
The only film so far not working in Caffenol is Foma Retropan 320 soft. Grainy like a motherf*****.

In summer, the coldest water I get out of the tab ranges from 20 to 22C°, dissolving washing soda heats it up and I end up at almost 24C°, so I park the mixed Caffenol in the fridge for a while, then I can use it.
Using Rodinal is easier to use in summer but like I said, I use a wide variety of films and I use a tank for 3x 120 so I can develop them all together, Rodinal does not always work.

 

[Arctic amateur]

There are two choices for DD-X, shouldn't the first one be ID-11?

Never heard of Rodian, should it be Rodinal?

 

[rayajko]

I use mosty MCM-100 or Rodinal

 

[carioca]

I'm an XTol fan, but the replenished version. Very economic, as you re-use it over and over, just replenishing it with fresh developer for the quantity of film developed (around 80ml/film). This 'seasoned' version develops with finer grain as stock XTol and mid-tones are more balanced. My batch is 2 years old, occasional filtering. It takes around 20 films to get the initial stock solution to the 'seasoned' state, developing times are roughly the 1+2 times, no change in film speed.

 

[JWMster]

Arctic amateur: Yes, another typo. Sadly, can't correct the text in polls. D76 should be paired with ID-11. Sorry 'bout dat chief.
carioca: Gonna have to look into that more myself.

 

[M Carter]

I must try this "Adox Rodian" developer - never heard of that one!

 

[JWMster]

M Carter: And I hear it's great for developing that new film: F-MAX ^100... the only film to lob F-bombs on every shot.

 

[Vaughn]

Ilford PQ Universal Developer (from 1:9 to 1:19)
Occasionally Dektol (straight to 1:1)
Occasionally a pyro developer
Occasionally HC-110 for roll film.

All the above mostly on FP4+...but also on an assortment of other films.

4x10 with FP4+ in Dektol (straight), carbon print:

 

[Europan]

My home formula is Alma-345, a HP developer.
Blanca is my bleach bath and Clara does the clearing.

 

[bvy]

I've never even heard of Adox Rodian yet it's number 2.

 

[RattyMouse]

Why is D-76 grouped with Ilford DD-X? Those arent the same are they? DD-X is way more expensive than D76.

 

[JWMster]

BVY: Adox Rodian is ADOX Rodinal with a typo. Apologies.

RattyMouse: Ah... yes it was another mistake on my part. That is supposed to be ID-11. I had this correct in a poll on RangfinderForum, but had some cutting/pasting issues in setting it up here and the "EDIT" function here does not let me correct the questions. This was addressed in an earlier back-and-forth and will likely continue to annoy folks.

Again, my apologies to one and all. Please change your responses if necessary. The poll does allow for this. Thank you for your perseverance, your responses, your back-and-forth and especially your comments. Whether or not you realize it, there is an eye opener in the developer "buzz" vs. what folks are actually doing, and I think this is helpful to dispelling myths that may be no place other than my own head.

 

[ozphoto]

I grew up on Atomal FF and still have some bags of it left. It was like a Duracell battery - kept going and going and going, as long as I kept track of use and added replenisher. I'll need to test it before continuing with it, but the tonal range and grain were wonderful; I'm hoping it will be ok and I can begin using my favourite again soon.

I took a hiatus of almost 10 years of B&W developing (previously 20-50 rolls a year, then slipped to 1-4 rolls a year when I moved overseas) and since getting back into the groove, I've been using D76 (as that was all I could get my hands on) and just recently Adox Rodinal.