Desert Island Dev

John Bragg

John Bragg

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So, if you were to name your desert island combination of film and developer, (only one of each please), what would it be and why?

Mine would be HP5+ and HC-110. I think that combination would be capable of producing a variety of looks, depending on how you treat.
 
Desert Island implies lots of light, and blue skies and seas, so would have to be colour and slowish, so Fujicolor 200 and the Tetenal C41 (no issue about keeping it at 38C). Lovely blues and inexpensive film to keep some money for coffee (my luxury!).
 
Assuming it's not an island in a lake, and it doesn't have wastewater treatment... an environmentally friendly developer that works best with seawater, which one does? And slow film for a desert climate, there should be plenty light and slow film keeps longer in the heat. Am I taking this too literally? :p
 
retinax said:
Assuming it's not an island in a lake, and it doesn't have wastewater treatment... an environmentally friendly developer that works best with seawater, which one does? And slow film for a desert climate, there should be plenty light and slow film keeps longer in the heat. Am I taking this too literally? :p
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Slightly, but there is no wrong answer to this.
 
Ok, my favorite film, if I could only use one, is TMY-2. It can do almost everything. I like X-tol for giving speed, sharpness and being reasonably environmentally friendly.

Currently I'm thinking about other films though, because Kodak's last price increase is a bit too much. I'll probably move to Ilford films, but I think I'll need at least two different ones to replace TMY-2 - Delta 400 or HP5+ for when I need the speed, FP4+ or Delta 100 for when I want finer grain. So no more island film for me.
 
I think I’d rather eat one food item for the rest of my life than be limited to one film and one developer, but okay, if I have to. After considering all the options, for me it would be Panatomic-X and Xtol. Seriously.

If only limited to the realm of the possible it would be Acros 100 and Xtol. Since I haven’t yet shot enough Acros II to be sure I like it as much as the original, maybe Tmax 100 and Xtol then.
But, seriously, I think I’d just rather die or go full digital (same thing ?) if film photography only meant one film stock and one developer. I know there are good reasons for honing in on one narrow road, but still, what a straightjacket on that island.
 
Larry Cloetta said:
I think I’d rather eat one food item for the rest of my life than be limited to one film and one developer
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FP4+ and Pyrocat HD all day long ..... and a myriad of foods & wine.
I'm not particularly fond of experimenting w films & developers, just for the pleasure of it. I'm usually more focused on the print outcome. Life in that respect was easier before the loss of Forte papers....just sayin'. As a side note, have look at B&H..... almost no FB papers in stock, except Ilford (& you pay shipping on special orders) I waited 3 months for a special order of Foma Variant 16x20....
 
Count me in for the HP5 and HC110 camp. At least at the moment, and in 120.

retinax said:
Currently I'm thinking about other films though, because Kodak's last price increase is a bit too much. I'll probably move to Ilford films, but I think I'll need at least two different ones to replace TMY-2 - Delta 400 or HP5+ for when I need the speed, FP4+ or Delta 100 for when I want finer grain. So no more island film for me.
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Same reasoning, TMY is supposed to be an outstanding film but in Europe its cost is a good $2 more/120 roll compared to Delta, FP/HP even cheaper in comparison.


XTOL I'll eventually try, at least I've got a satchet of Fomadon Excel which is a clone. HC is however so convenient.


I'm with the opinion of not experimenting too much with different films for sake of consistency, specially as I'm not yet been that long into darkroom printing. However, part of the fun is to have a pallette of different materials as well.
 
in the past past was Neopan 1600 day & night rodinal

in the recent past Tmax 400 & HC110

now for my desert island ‘lockdown’ HP5 & DDX

not sure how long it will last, need to buy developer again, 1+4 with DDX
HC110 a mere 15-20ml
 
helenhill said:
in the past past was Neopan 1600 day & night & rodinal

in the recent past Tmax 400 & HC110

now for my desert island ‘lockdown’ HP5 & DDX

not sure how long it will last, need to buy developer again, 1+4 with DDX
HC110 a mere 15-20ml
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Hey Helen. Lockdown is the time to experiment. I just found out I like the look of HP5+ in Ilfosol 3 , but for this exercise I stayed with HC-110 for its sheer durability.
 
John Bragg said:
Hey Helen. Lockdown is the time to experiment. I just found out I like the look of HP5+ in Ilfosol 3 , but for this exercise I stayed with HC-110 for its sheer durability.
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I never tried Ilfosol 3... Wonder how it differs from DDX, both are clear liquids but rendering properties , hmmmm
 
Plus-X in Xtol. Particularly if I could take a medium yellow filter and if my desert island could be in the past.

In the present TMY II and Xtol would do ok.

Marty
 
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