concentrated fine-grain developers?

[grapejohnson]

What options are out there for fine grain developers that come in a concentrated syrup like Rodinal does? Do they have equally long shelf-lives?
I want a finer-grain developer for some more clinical kind of work, but I probably won't use it all the time as I prefer D76 and Rodinal for most applications. I generally use HP5 and Tri-X, and less often use Foma 100, FP4, and Delta 400. Is there a fine grain developer that's concentrated that handles both t-grain and cubic grain film both well, or would I have to choose?

 

[John Bragg]

HC-110 is amazingly long lived.

 

[Kkiuru]

HC-110. The best!

 

[sepiareverb]

Studionol (R09 Spezial) is one I quite like on HP5+. One is supposed to open the bottle and then use it all up in short order, but with the addition of some Bloxygen to the open container it lasts fine.

 

[Photo_Smith]

Ilfotec HC is very similar to HC110 and I've found pretty long lasting.

 

[grapejohnson]

How much different are the results of HC-110 and D-76? I thought they were pretty comparable, if not interchangable.

 

[redisburning]

dd-x

10char

 

[Roger Hicks]

dd-x

More of a speed increasing developer than a fine grain developer, though.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Jockos]

Maybe a bit unorthodox, but Tanol Speed should fit the bill. Concentrate, fine grain and pretty good speed to boot!

http://www.moersch-photochemie.de/content/shop/negativ/89/tanol_speed

 

[matt_mcg2]

HC-110 and Ilfotec HC are decent developers, and I use Ilfotec a fair bit, but they aren't quite as fine grained as some others. I get comparable grain levels with Rodinal (assuming I'm using slow/medium speed films and not pushing).

 

[grapejohnson]

HC-110 and Ilfotec HC are decent developers, and I use Ilfotec a fair bit, but they aren't quite as fine grained as some others. I get comparable grain levels with Rodinal (assuming I'm using slow/medium speed films and not pushing).

Ok. This is what I meant, I love and use Rodinal, but I don't want that much grain all the time, so I'd probably count those two out.

 

[eric rose]

Can you still buy Microdol-X?

http://www.kodak.com/global/en/professional/support/techPubs/j4027/j4027.pdf

or build your own:

http://www.project-double-x.org/formulas.html

 

[Photo_Smith]

Ok. This is what I meant, I love and use Rodinal, but I don't want that much grain all the time, so I'd probably count those two out.

HC110 will be fine. The big issue here is you use HP5/Tri-x those films and the finest grain developers do not work well together.
If you need minimal grain try Tmax films or a slower emulsion like Pan F or Acros.
Those will open the door to you being able to use fine grain developers like Patterson FX39 or speed reducing extreme fine grain developers like Ilford Perceptol which will give EI25 with Pan F and EI 50 with FP4
The upper film speed limit for these developer types is 200ISO which will give an effective speed of EI 100.
The best all round developers for faster films aren't typically 'fine' grain and although HC110 will give marginally finer grain than Rodinal with those films; if you want to get really fine grain then using slower film is a better bet.

One suggestion for high speed and good grain (albeit smoother) is TMax 400 in Tmax developer; others (on reflection) would be Adox Atomal or Tetenal Ulrafin although I have no experience of those developers they are said to maintain speed and give fine grain.

 

[John Bragg]

Ok. This is what I meant, I love and use Rodinal, but I don't want that much grain all the time, so I'd probably count those two out.

Don't discount HC-110 as a coarse developer. It is not ! I know it is personal, but I have trusted it as THE best developer for Tri-X for as long as I have used it. Dilute it 1:63 (Dilution H) and it will give crisp regular grain and great sharpness. Far less coarse than Rodinal which I happen to also like.

 

[grapejohnson]

Don't discount HC-110 as a coarse developer. It is not ! I know it is personal, but I have trusted it as THE best developer for Tri-X for as long as I have used it. Dilute it 1:63 (Dilution H) and it will give crisp regular grain and great sharpness. Far less coarse than Rodinal which I happen to also like.

I'll remember that... what kind of agitation do you recommend?

 

[Ronald M]

Ilford perceptol is similar to microdol X.

Mix a batch and put into small one time use bottles like 8 oz. After it is cool of course.

 

[John Bragg]

I'll remember that... what kind of agitation do yout recommend?

I go minimal. 5 inversions to start and 2 inversions every 4 mins. However, that is me, and your needs may vary. I also rate Tri-X at 200. My dev time for this is 12 mins.

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