Developers for B&W film

[Bingley]

While we have threads on particular developers for BW film and on what RFF experts have used, we don’t appear to have a thread where members can post examples of bw photos using their favorite developers. So I’ll start one. Please contribute your BW photos, with details on the developer you used, including dilution and development times.

 

[Bingley]

I love the fine grain of TMax 400 and, inspired by Erik van Straten’s work, have been shooting TMax 400 at iso 200 and developing in Perceptol 1+2 (not one of the “official” dilutions) for 10 mins. @ 20C. Here are some samples:

Edge of the World by Steve Macfarlane, on Flickr

The Riders by Steve Macfarlane, on Flickr

Cypress by Steve Macfarlane, on Flickr

 

[Bingley]

For TMax 400 in 120, I’ve been shooting at box speed and recently developing in Ilfotec DDX, 8 mins. @ 20C:

Purisima Creek Trail by Steve Macfarlane, on Flickr

Incoming tide by Steve Macfarlane, on Flickr

 

[Bingley]

In 2021 and 2022, I also experimented with Cinestill’s D96 Monobath. The results were, um, variable, and hitting the right temperature appeared to be important to getting an image w/ a wide tonal range and manageable grain. Here are some samples where D96 produced good results:

Kentmere 400 in D96 Monobath, 6:30 mins. at 22C:

Late winter on the beach by Steve Macfarlane, on Flickr

Cinestill Double X film in D96 Monobath, 6:30 mins. @ 21C:

Young oaks by Steve Macfarlane, on Flickr

Cinestill Double X in D96 Monobath, 6:30 mins. @ 21C:

Aspens in Winter by Steve Macfarlane, on Flickr

 

[johnf04]

Kentmere 100, developed in Rodinal 1:50, 15 minutes at 20 degrees C. I was testing a Kiev 4 camera - it has a light leak.

 

[Freakscene]

View attachment 4815849

Kentmere 100, developed in Rodinal 1:50, 15 minutes at 20 degrees C. I was testing a Kiev 4 camera - it has a light leak.

Is that Bay View Road? I love Dunedin, but haven’t visited for some time.

Marty

 

[steveyork]

Of course I keep Rodinal and HC110 around for their shelf life and predictability, but I really like Clayton F76. Once a bottle is opened though, probably have to use it up in 2-3 months. I've been using some Tetanus developers recently -- Paranol-S and Ultrafin -- they're ok, but probably won't repeat.

covered lane by Steve, on Flickr

Fomapan 100 in Clayton F76

 

[titrisol]

Of course I keep Rodinal and HC110 around for their shelf life and predictability, but I really like Clayton F76. Once a bottle is opened though, probably have to use it up in 2-3 months. I've been using some Tetanus developers recently -- Paranol-S and Ultrafin -- they're ok, but probably won't repeat.

covered lane by Steve, on Flickr

Fomapan 100 in Clayton F76

F76 has a decent shelf life, I tested it in the early 00s and was a very good developer.
Like any other developer break it into smaller containers (I use cough syrup bottles) filled to the brim and store it in a dark cabinet. That should extend life tremendously (Micrphen lasts 1yr+)

 

[Deleted member 65559]

Tri-X in Pyrocat HD (120, cropped Rolleiflex negative)..... I've been using staining developers for a long time now: first PMK now Pyrocat HD.....I can't remember when i used anything else.

 

[markjwyatt]

Here are a couple 6x6 (used Mamiya 330f, 80mm f2.8) Agfapan (expired 2004) developed with WD2D+ per the gian dev chart and adjusted to temperature (cannot be more specific than that).


roots by Mark Wyatt, on Flickr


classical by Mark Wyatt, on Flickr

 

[markjwyatt]

I have been using a fair amount of ADOX CHS 100 II. Here are shot developed in HC110, Rodinal (ADOX), and ADOX FX-39 II (my standard for this film now).

HC110:


stump by Mark Wyatt, on Flickr

Rodinal:


Guatemala City View by Mark Wyatt, on Flickr

FX-39 II:


fallen by Mark Wyatt, on Flickr

 

[johnf04]

Is that Bay View Road? I love Dunedin, but haven’t visited for some time.

Marty

It is Bay View Road.

 

[Bingley]

Tri-X in Pyrocat HD (120, cropped Rolleiflex negative)..... I've been using staining developers for a long time now: first PMK now Pyrocat HD.....I can't remember when i used anything else.View attachment 4815859

Beautiful work. The staining adds drama to the scene.

 

[Bingley]

Tri-X in HC 100 dil. h: This is one film/developer combination that I quite like. I meter/expose at 250 and develop at 400; Tri-X seems to like the extra exposure.

Listening by Steve Macfarlane, on Flickr

Skyline by Steve Macfarlane, on Flickr

 

[Bingley]

Tri-X and Diafine. Diafine doesn’t seem to get a lot of love these days, but it works very well with Tri-X. It gives the film a little speed bump up, which can be handy. Without a color filter, I expose it at iso 800; with a yellow filter, I expose it at 400. I develop it for 4 mins. each in solution A and B.

Without a yellow filter, exposed at 800:

At the Frick by Steve Macfarlane, on Flickr

Three generations by Steve Macfarlane, on Flickr

Reading by Steve Macfarlane, on Flickr

 

[p.giannakis]

Here is a copy of my developing notes together with pictures.

-----------------------------------
Kodak Tri-X in Rodinal
Dilution 1:50. (6ml developer in 294ml of water)
Overall time: 13mins,
Chemicals temperature: 19oc
30sec continuous initial agitation.
1 slow invertion every minute



-----------------------------------

TMax 400 in Rodinal

Dilution 1:50. (6ml developer in 294ml of water)
Overall time: 12mins ,
Chemicals temperature: 19oc
30sec continuous initial agitation.
1 invertion every minute



-----------------------------------

TMax 400 in HC-110

Dilution 1:50. (6ml developer in 294ml of water)
Overall time: 9mins 30 sec,
Chemicals temperature: 20oc
30sec continuous initial agitation.
1 invertion every minute





-----------------------------------

Ilford Delta in HC-110

Dilution 1:50. (6ml developer in 294ml of water)
Overall time: 12mins
Chemicals temperature: 20oc
30sec continuous initial agitation.
1 invertion every minute



-----------------------------------

HP5+ in HC-110

Dilution 1:50. (6ml developer in 294ml of water)
Overall time: 8mins 00 sec,
Chemicals temperature: 20oc
30sec continuous initial agitation.
1 invertion every minute



-----------------------------------
Ilford Pan 400 in HC-110

Dilution 1:50. (6ml developer in 294ml of water)
Overall time: 9mins 30 sec,
Chemicals temperature: 20oc
30sec continuous initial agitation.
1 invertion every minute





--------------------------------------------------------
Foma 200 (120 roll) in HC110

10 ml developer in 490ml water
Overall time: 5mins 30 sec,
Chemicals temperature: 20oc
30sec continuous initial agitation.
1 invertion every minute

 

[Bingley]

Those are very useful notes, Pan, as well as very nice photos! I especially like the tonality and composition of the last photo; I have used Foma 200 a bit in the past and quite liked it. Still got some, so I’ll try your recipe!

 

[cjm]

I've used Diafine almost exclusively going on 15 years. Only with Kodak Tri-X the last few years.

Notes:
Time - 3 minutes in each bath
Temperature - I only pay attention to this if I suspect it is too cold. In that case, I heat up the gallon jugs in a warm bath for a few minutes.
15 seconds of continuous initial agitation
1 slow inversion every 30 seconds
Water as stop bath
Apply drying agent

 

[Deleted member 65559]

PMK, Tri-X, Fuji GSW690iii

 

[Steinberg2010]

Tri-X in HC 100 dil. h: This is one film/developer combination that I quite like. I meter/expose at 250 and develop at 400; Tri-X seems to like the extra exposure.

Listening by Steve Macfarlane, on Flickr

Skyline by Steve Macfarlane, on Flickr

Hi Bingley - curious to understand a little more of your method. When you say you expose at 250 and develop at 400: do you mean you meter at 250 and then use the development time published for 400?

Thanks,
~S