HC-110 (new formula)

MJ Buckpitt said:
John and Marty, Thanks for the advice, and yes this is pretty shoddy. Sounds like the product is not ready for prime time.
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Very true. This product is a shell of its former self; unworthy of the HC-110 name.

Kodak couldnt win in this case. They lose their blender, Tetenal due to bankruptcy, and had to move production to another facility. Kodak lost their experienced people years ago and are a shell of their former self. The reformulation has been an abject disaster.

Water, in HC-110? Seriously?
 
Does anyone know who manufactures Ilfotec HC for Ilford ? As far as I know there have been no such issues for them and they will get my £ for a consistently produced quality product.
 
John Bragg said:
Does anyone know who manufactures Ilfotec HC for Ilford ? As far as I know there have been no such issues for them and they will get my £ for a consistently produced quality product.
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I recall seeing some word about German manufacture, but don't take my word. I haven't had an Ilfotec HC bottle anywhere close.

I noted you mention favourable £ pricing for Ilfotec compared to HC110 but that relation flips notable in EU. Ilfotec is about 50€/1L where HC110 hovers around 28-30€. I don't think that may signal a mainland European manufacturer if shipping were a factor for the pricing.

I still have a good 1/3 of my HC110 bottle and using Dil E-H mostly, it seems may last another year at least.

All I know about the new HC110 is what people write about it, seemingly its action (on a good batch) should be equivalent although the change in formula has been almost absolute. But then, XTOL had also a problematic batch.
 
Prest_400 said:
I recall seeing some word about German manufacture, but don't take my word. I haven't had an Ilfotec HC bottle anywhere close.

I noted you metion favourable £ pricing for Ilfotec compared to HC110 but that relation flips notable in EU. Ilfotec is about 50€/1L where HC110 hovers around 28-30€. I don't think that may signal a mainland European manufacturer if shipping were a factor for the pricing.

I still have a good 1/3 of my HC110 bottle and using Dil E-H mostly, it seems may last another year at least.

All I know about the new HC110 is what people write about it, seemingly its action (on a good batch) should be equivalent although the change in formula has been almost absolute. But then, XTOL had also a problematic batch.
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Yes. My bottle says Made in Germany. So does my Ilfosol 3. Adox perhaps or maybe Tetenal if still going under receivership?
 
My still unopened NEW bottle of HC-110 says it was made in USA in Rochester NY. This is even though it was produced by Kodak Alaris which is in the UK. The price I paid was $32.99+California sales tax (~8.5%).

I'm going to have to re-format my measuring, with the OLD HC-110 I used a syringe and had a scratch mark for fill spot. This NEW HC-110 I will probably use a measuring test tube like graduated cylinder. Either using 10ml plus 630ml of water or 15ml plus 945ml of water.
 
charjohncarter said:
My still unopened NEW bottle of HC-110 says it was made in USA in Rochester NY. This is even though it was produced by Kodak Alaris which is in the UK. The price I paid was $32.99+California sales tax (~8.5%).

I'm going to have to re-format my measuring, with the OLD HC-110 I used a syringe and had a scratch mark for fill spot. This NEW HC-110 I will probably use a measuring test tube like graduated cylinder. Either using 10ml plus 630ml of water or 15ml plus 945ml of water.
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Hi John. Ilfotec HC is about £24.99 and HC-110 is about £10 more in the uk. That is a total turnaround from 3 years ago when Kodak was the cheaper option. Go figure ! Charging more and likely no where near the phenomenal shelf life we have come to expect from it.
 
My calculator says your Ilfotec HC is about $31.27 without tax. I could have got maybe a dollar off with B&W but I got mine at a local independent photo store. So, pretty much the same as here. Have you tried your Ilfotec HC yet? If you haven't let us know how it works, I'm sure it will be fine, but I'm thinking grain, contrast, tonality.

I think I wrote here that I tried Arista Liquid Developer just for a whim once. And it worked just fine. It was cheaper, but there wasn't any info on self life, etc. It is also probably a rebrand so who knows where it comes from or who makes it.

Here is the Arista L D site: https://www.freestylephoto.biz/1641-Arista-Liquid-Film-Developer-12-oz.-(Makes-1-Gallon)
 
charjohncarter said:
My calculator says your Ilfotec HC is about $31.27 without tax. I could have got maybe a dollar off with B&W but I got mine at a local independent photo store. So, pretty much the same as here. Have you tried your Ilfotec HC yet? If you haven't let us know how it works, I'm sure it will be fine, but I'm thinking grain, contrast, tonality.

I think I wrote here that I tried Arista Liquid Developer just for a whim once. And it worked just fine. It was cheaper, but there wasn't any info on self life, etc. It is also probably a rebrand so who knows where it comes from or who makes it.
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I will report when I open it. May be a while, as I have at least 750ml of old HC-110 to use first . I expect it to be as identical as ID:11 is to D76 though. I will also be using more Ilfosol 3 as it has a look that I like and seems to have potential for the Cardwell treatment.
 
Incidentally, I recently received a bottle of the "new formula" HC-110.

There are no crystals in the liquid.

I have not used it to develop anything yet, as D-76 is generally my "go to".
 
I developed a roll of 100TMX today with the "new formula". I have to say, I like the lack of viscosity. It makes measuring easier in my set up. Great tones and VERY high acutance. Shot at box speed, M3 and 6 bit Summicron.

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Great result, I also feel the less viscous formula will be easier for me. I don't like Rodinal for 35mm film (grain) but I use it often with 120 and much less often with 4x5. It is so much easier to measure using Rodinal, and I'm sure the new HC-110 formula will also; plus be less messy, less cleanup, and probably more accurate.

I won't be developing until the shut down is over, so the B&W is stacking up.
 
Reading this thread left me a bit confused. Does every one consider Kodak HC110 and Ilford HC to be identical? In my experience they're not. HP5+ for me has an EI of 320 in Ilford HC, 160 in Kodak HC110 (measuring dlog 0.10 for Zone I).
I still have to see about results with Kodak films.
I don't develop many films so the shelf life is far more important to me than price at purchase. So if the new HC110 formula is shorter lived Ilford HC it is.
 
lshofstra said:
Reading this thread left me a bit confused. Does every one consider Kodak HC110 and Ilford HC to be identical? In my experience they're not. HP5+ for me has an EI of 320 in Ilford HC, 160 in Kodak HC110 (measuring dlog 0.10 for Zone I).
I still have to see about results with Kodak films.
I don't develop many films so the shelf life is far more important to me than price at purchase. So if the new HC110 formula is shorter lived Ilford HC it is.
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Like you, longevity is the key factor in my choice of HC-110 over the last 20 or so years. That is something that remains to be seen with the new "improved" recipe. I have not used Ilfotec HC before, but I know it can be trusted long term, hence my move over and I will adjust accordingly. I am very used to measuring and dispensing syrupy concentrate and whilst it is easier to measure a thinner solution, the fact that old HC-110 and Ilfotec HC contain no water is what makes them last. I am, to say the least, scheptical that the new recipe will share that near indestructable nature that makes it so beloved.
 
UPDATE: I have recently been in correspondence with Tim Ryugo of Kodak Alaris. He very kindly sent me a new bottle of HC-110 that is from a more recent batch (I think). He also included 5 rolls of Kodak film (35mm). One was the 3200 TMax which I have never used so that will fun. In a way, I wish he hadn't done that because I think my older new bottle will be just fine. But still a good bit of marketing, so thanks Tim.
 
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