Are developing times the same for HC-110 and D76?

Steve Ruddy

Steve Ruddy

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I’m developing 120 FP4+ and switching from D-76 to HC-110. I have been using the massive developer chart time for stock D76/ASA125/@68 which is 8.5 minutes. The time for HC-110 is a listed as a time range so the same conditions suggest 7-9 minutes. Would it be safe to assume that using 8.5 minutes will give me the same results as D-76 at the same time, speed and temp?
 
I've been learning FP4+ in D76 for a year now, and have settled on Ilford's data with Chris Crawford's D76 1+1 recommendation. Seems the slower I go ISO the better it gets. ISO 50 and D76 1:1 is sweet to me.
Please show your results here, as you get some you like.

FP4+ ISO 50 D76 1+1, 9min. @ 68f (Ilford's data)
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You will be within 20% or so. Adjust after your first roll and go on. You will nail it after a few runs.
 
I found that the published times for FP4 and HC110 gave way to much contrast for my taste (landscapes printed with 0 and #1 filters). I started cutting back on the times and then on the dilution of the HC110. My most recent efforts have me using HC110 at 1:75 dilution for 7 minutes at 68 degrees with the FP4 rated at box speed of 125. As the saying goes "your mileage may vary", so the only way to find out is to do your own tests.
 
What Ken said. My water is not your water, and my thermometer and agitation scheme are not yours either. The only way I know of to nail this is to keep careful notes and test a few rolls. Photorio, formally APUG, should have plenty of info to get you in the ballpark initially.
 
davidnewtonguitars said:
Seems the slower I go ISO the better it gets. ISO 50 and D76 1:1 is sweet to me.
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I agree, I think the ISO speed/contrast standards are surely not mine. I haven't used FP4+ but other films so maybe this is different.

But Steve, your idea of just changing the development time is a good one. Agitation, temp., known camera and meter should remain the same at this stage.
 
charjohncarter said:
Have a look at this; I've used it for one off films that I've been given. I start out with a compromise of the times, temp and agitation.

http://filmdev.org/recipe/finder

Then type in FP4+ in HC-110 then click on 125.
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Interesting, thanks

Mcary said:
For reference here the development chart from Ilford



https://www.ilfordphoto.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Film-processing-chart-.pdf
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Geeze, I didn’t even think to look at the film manufacturers time chart. I went with their time of 9 minutes which is 30 seconds less the my equivalent time for D-76. I think I’m happy with the results. I’ll post an image later.
 
I've used roughly the same time but reduced agitation. Seems HC110 is more apt to overdeveloping highlights and reducing agitation helps with that.
 
Steve Ruddy said:
I’m developing 120 FP4+ and switching from D-76 to HC-110. I have been using the massive developer chart time for stock D76/ASA125/@68 which is 8.5 minutes. The time for HC-110 is a listed as a time range so the same conditions suggest 7-9 minutes. Would it be safe to assume that using 8.5 minutes will give me the same results as D-76 at the same time, speed and temp?
Click to expand...




Why are you using the Massive Development Chart instead of using the times that Ilford has determined through proper testing? Ilford's tech data for FP4+ gives times for both D-76 and HC-110 and while I have not used HC-110 for that film, my experience with Ilford's films is that most of the time, their recommendations are spot on.

Here's their FP4+ tech Data

The Massive Development chart is worthless. The times on it were contributed by people who may or may not be skilled workers; often they have multiple, very different times, for the same film and developer combination. Completely unreliable.

When trying something new, ALWAYS use the manufacturer's recommendations as a starting point. They're usually correct. That is especially true for Ilford and Kodak in my experience.

If the manufacturer doesn't have times for your film/developer combination, then try to find times from a photographer who has tested it and posted info on his/her testing and has sample images for you to see.

My website has my tested times for a number of films in D-76, Tmax Developer, Rodinal, and PMK. With Kodak and Ilford films, I am usually pretty close to the manufacturer's times for developers they give times for.
 
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