Developing disaster

If your film is irreplaceable, always develop a test roll first. Always double check measurements when diluting from concentrate. Always double check whenever you do any step of the process differently for any reason and especially if you're tired. When your processing environment changes, when there are interruptions/distractions from friends or family -- double check. I ruined 6 rolls two days ago because I was trying to get out of my son's way in the kitchen :) and neglected to pour 4 more ounces of developer from a second bottle after the first bottle was emptied. I keep my developer in the fridge so my Phototherm processing machine has a cold enough diluted developer to bring up to 68 degrees. The only thing worse than a blank roll is a half-processed roll with visibly good, but unusable shots. Whaaaaaa!
 
wakarimasen said:
My D76 was almost certainly mixed last year and has been kept in concertina plastic bottles since then - and never full to the brim. Would it have deteriorated so much in that time as to be useless?

I'm wondering if - given the low frequency of my developing - whether changing to a concentrate wouldn't just be the best idea from now on. I have some Adox Adonal which perhaps might be a better solution (pardon the pun) for me.
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Yes. Concertina bottle are next to useless: extremely air permeable. Absolute and complere lack of image (even frame numbers) is a surprise, but not impossible. You can of course check developer activity by chucking a scrap of exposed film leader in to it.

And yes: go for a concentrate. DD-X lasts half way to forever.

Cheers,

R.
 
Thanks folks - I've given myself a good taking to, and plan not to 'cheap out' on my developer for as long as I am infrequently using film. Currently carefully measuring out my chemicals and attempting to get some water to 20 degrees C
:)
 
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