D76 anyone?

GeneW

GeneW

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The recent threads on D76 got me thinking about this classic developer. Going over my negs from several decades, one thing I notice is that I've never been disappointed with ANY roll of Tri-X film developed in D76. I quit using it mainly when I wasn't shooting frequently enough to keep the developer fresh.

The tonality always seems pleasing and the grain structure crisp but not overwhelmingly grainy. I always use it diluted 1:1.

So when I was in the camera store today, I picked up a pouch and will use D76 for the next while... It *is* a classic after all 😀

How many of you use this developer regularly? Anyone tried it with Neopan 400?

Gene
 
Hi Gene I'm a begginer developing my own film, and I use D-76.
I have used it with Ilford FP4, Hp5+, with agfa APX 400, Tri-X and T-Max, now I'm planning to use it with Neopan 1600, and I've read that it's recomended diluted.
From my short experience I have grown fond of Tri-X 400 and D-76, maybe is just because they where made for each other.
 
I've used it since 1966 when I was in Junior High School. Had to re-mix it a few times to have fresh stock since then.

Actually, I have about 8 packages I acquired almost 20 years ago. I mixed up one last month after I rediscovered it in a closet. It is still good! No discoloration or oxidation to speak of. The Microdol-X I was hoarding was all bad and had to be thrown out.

I sometimes play around with Acufine, but I generally use D-76 full strength and Microdol-X 1:3 if I'm playing around with film sizes smaller than 35mm. Tried HC-110 many years ago, but could never get the results that everyone else talked about. Just wasn't worth the trouble to change.

-Paul
 
i haven't done my own negs in a while but i started with d76 when i was young (about 100 years ago) and then move on to other developers.
it must be a forgiving soup because i was pretty clueless at the beginning. that and it's been around a very long time.

joe
 
Gene, I use D-76 or Ilford ID-11 for any film of 400 ASA/ISO rating. It and Rodinal (for slower than 400 films) are all I use. Like you, I dilute my D-76 1:1 and have always been pleased with the results.

It's a classic alright and there's a reason it's been around for so long...... it's good!!

Walker
 
D76 is a real classic, and seems ideal with Tri-X. I turned to other developers to avoid mixing solutions from powder. They seem reluctant to dissolve fully, and using hot water just gets the oxidation off to a fast start!

Of course, that same grumble applies to Diafine too, but once mixed it lasts nearly forever.

I recall liking the FR X-44 liquid developer because it was packaged in 1-oz bottles for handy mixing 1:15. But, looking back through my records, along with D-76 and Diafine, Edwal FG-7 was a major favorite for Tri-X developing.
 
I am not that long in the business of developing my own films and I use D76 diluted 1:1 for Tri-X and Plus-X. For the Neopans I used only Adox ATM49 so far.
 
Thanks for all the replies re D76. I'll mix up a gallon this weekend and develop a roll or two.

Yeah, me too on having trouble getting powders to mix completely. For years all I used was Edwal FG-7 and I saw a big bottle of that today and was *so* tempted. It's a longtime fav of mine. My worry though is how long it will be on the market. Wish I could get some Diafine without importing it, but no Toronto stores that I'm aware of stock it -- and I've looked.

So, time to link up again with good ol' D76. I'm looking forward to it.

Gene
 
Gene,

I don't use film any more but I used the Tri-X D76 combo for years and years (large and small format film). If you haven't tried this yet, try rating the film at 250 ISO and then cut back the development time from 10 mins to 8.5 mins (1:1 mix, 68 degrees, agitation for 5 secs. every 30). The result is usually well-exposed shadows (because of the increased exposure) and highlights that aren't overly dense (because of the reduced development time). So you end with a slightly flat (in terms of contrast) rich, long-scale negative that can be the starting point for all kinds of different print interpretations.

Cheers,

Sean
 
Doug, I use HC-110 quite a bit and it's a good developer. But it produces a subtly different look than D76.

Sean, I've done that with D76 and other developers -- i.e. rate it around 200-250 -- and the results are gorgeous. My only problem with that is low light. I often need 800 and a push development to handle the lighting I'm in.

Gene
 
Hi Gene,

I did a lot of work on the NYC and Budapest subways rating TMZ (TMax 3200) at about 800 ISO which (souped in T-Max developer) worked beautifully. Have you tried that combo?

Gosh...I have't talked about film development in ages.

Cheers,

Sean
 
I have an untried roll of TMZ, Sean, and have been just waiting to give it a go. Some folks claim that Tri-X pushed to 800 looks better than TMZ pulled to 800 but I need to try both to see.

BTW, since you're talking film 😀 ... do you know if TMZ can be processed well in D76?
 
Tri-X and D76 1:1 since 1968. No regrets. (Almost forgot: Plus-X, too).
 
My own experience is that D76 is not the best developer for TMZ or for push processing Tri-X. YMMV... I've worked with acufine and other less common developers but in the end TMZ in TMAX developer has given me the best shadow detail and tonality. The grain is certainly evident (esp. with strong cropping and enlargement) but the negative is rich and gives a lot to work from. Pushing Tri-X tends to give very thin shadow areas - not my cup of tea but it may work for other styles.

Cheers,

Sean
 
I too heard that HC-11- was the liquid concentrate equivalent of D-76. I tried some as result and fouynd that to be untrue.It's poosibgle to use it in a way that gives results very similar to D-76, but as long as D-76 is available, why bother?

I think HC-110 may have been originally created for commercial applications back when you could actually get B&W developed at the drugstore. Some people love it, I'm more than happy to let them have it.

-Paul
 
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