Another Chance

SolaresLarrave

SolaresLarrave

My M5s need red dots!
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Jul 30, 2003
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I wanted to run some film through my developer this afternoon, and was surprised to see that all the chemistry is expired. My T-Max developer died in 2011, there's no expiration date in my Ilford fixer, and neither in the Heico washing aid, but I fear I'll have to throw them all out.

What a bummer...

However, this is a chance to try something new or different. Apparently, there's no T-Max developer any more (it's now sold with a small solution B... :confused: ). Since I'm looking for a developer similar to that one, I picked Ilfosol 3.

Rodinal was in my sights, but apparently it's mostly for standing development. I don't want to leave film sitting there for 30 minutes at a time. Can Rodinal be used a bit more quickly (like in agitation for 5 to 7 minutes)? At what proportion? I'm interested on it because of its long shelf life.

Sorry about the long post. Thanks in advance!
 
Well, the web is misleading. The stuff I found about using Rodinal showed agitation for 5 minutes at the beginning, and then standing development for 30 minutes. I believe the dilution was different though.

Only one small glitch: B&H won't ship it.

Any stories about Ilfosol 3?
 
Another question: I'm interested in getting some metal developing tanks and reels (the ones for a single roll). Which brand? Hewes, Kalt?
 
Francisco, any metal tank will do. For the reels, i only recommend Hewes - they're the best I've ever used and there have been 0 misloading accidents since I've been using them.
 
T- Max developer is available through Freestyle Photographic Supply and they will ship it to you. Problem solved:)

Sent from my iPad using Forum Runner
 
Tmax Developer is NOT gone. The local camera store just got another case in yesterday. It is in a different bottle and is now made in Germany, but it is the same chemical. The version with the little Part B packet is Tmax RS, a version made for replenished systems in commercial labs. Its not new, it has been made as long as the regular Tmax Developer has.
 
Thanks for the corrections, folks! :) Since I was feeling frisky I changed my bad habits and decided to go thoroughly Ilford.

Now, I don't think my own T-Max is very dead; the expiration date is 2012, not 2011, and it hasn't turned brown or yellow. I may try it with some trivial, incidental stuff.

Again, thanks for the reassurance about T-Max. I like it and assumed it was no longer around. Believe me, I'm glad I was wrong!

Will keep you posted!
 
If you "decided to go thoroughly Ilford" why not get Ilford's developers - something along the lines of ILFOTEC DD-X.
 
For a first aid kit you should stock on:
Rodinal
HC 110
Diafine

They all last more or less forever undiluted, while Diafine will probably go on for a couple of years in separate bottles. The fixer should last indefinitely.
 
Francisco,
I only have one development recipe that I use all the time:
1+50 Rodinal, 3 turns every 4 minutes for the total of 11-14 minutes (11 or 14 minutes is adjusted to whether you feel the need to overdevelop or not).

This recipe has served me so well because it produces "neutral" negatives that is not too contrasty nor it is "grey" with just the right amount of grain that I like.

This way, I can work in the darkroom to achieve the look that I want, which I much prefer than tweaking development recipe.
 
I may go the Rodinal way later (I do like contrasty negs). For now, it's Ilfosol 3, with Ilford quick fixer. For stop I may use water in case my old Kodak Stop doesn't do it... but then, it's supposed to last forever. I still have Photo-Flo. As for wash aid, Heico.

The whole shipment should arrive on Thursday. We'll see... Thanks for the advice and suggestions! :)
 
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