Kentmere 400 + HC-110 times, developing multiple batches

[mooge]

Soooo did another 4 rolls in two tanks just now. Kentmere 400 in HC110 dilution H. Massive dev chart says 5 mins dilution B and dilution H is 1/2 of dilution B so I've tried 10 mins before, but that made for thin negs so I've been doing 12 minutes lately. Today my water was 22 degrees C so I gave it 10 minutes at 22C, dil H. First two rolls look okay, second two rolls look quite under-developed (they were developed right after each other)...

questions:


1. Any suggestions on times for Kentmere 400 and HC-110?

2. How much time should I add for the second batch? or in theory should the developer still be perfectly good?


you'd think I'd know what the dev times work out to after shooting 100+ ft of the stuff but, you know...

 

[x-ray]

Are you running multiple runs of film through used developer. IF SO the reason your second run looked under exposed is because the developer is depleted or near depleted after your first run. There's not enough developer in solution to run that much film. Discard your developer after each run. Actually your film would be under developed not under exposed.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

H and using twice. 😱 Don't be scrooge.

 

[kiemchacsu]

I prefer dilution B, shorter time and quite economical.
Kodak says 1 liter B can develop 10 rolls before discarding.
In fact, I have tried up to 14 rolls with time compensation and the results are still good.
I use Hc110 (B) 6 mins to develop K400 for first 2 batches (3 rolls/section)
In The third batch, develop time is 7 mins.
The 4th batch would be 8 mins. (*NOT recommended*)

EDIT
Disclaimer: Try it at your own risk. Even I've tried myself with reasonable results, I cannot guarantee that the recipe will work for you.

 

[twhittle]

You need to add 10% of your original time ever time you reuse hc110.
I used Dil. b and a maximum of two batches of film.
Not developed Kentmere for a few years, so not too sure of times. 400 @ box speed is probably 6-7 mins.

 

[x-ray]

I prefer dilution B, shorter time and quite economical.
Kodak says 1 liter B can develop 10 rolls before discarding.
In fact, I have tried up to 14 rolls with time compensation and the results are still good.
I use Hc110 (B) 6 mins to develop K400 for first 2 batches (3 rolls/section)
In The third batch, develop time is 7 mins.
The 4th batch would be 8 mins.

I wouldn't recommend this for anyone that really cares about quality. The developer is seriously oxidized way before 14 rolls and and some of the key components are mostly depleted. This is why we have replenisher.

Different people have different standards of acceptability. If you really care about what your images look like follow recommended protocols.

 

[kiemchacsu]

I wouldn't recommend this for anyone that reall cares about quality. The developer is seriously oxidized way before 14 rolls and and some of the key components are mostly depleted. This is why we have replenisher.

Different people have different standards of acceptability. If you really care about what your images look like follow recommended protocols.

Me neither do not recommend to push the limit of 14 rolls per liter of hc110b. I normally stop at 9 rolls (3 batches).
The provided information is only for experimental purpose.

 

[forceusr]

My best results from Kentmere 400 and HC-110 was to do stand development. If I remember correctly, it was 1:100 for 55 minutes. Gentle agitations for the first minute, then 2 agitations after 27 minutes, then rinse, fix, and Photo-Flo as normal.

Edit to add: I bought a 100' roll of KM 400 and tried various different developers and dilutions without getting results I liked. I tried D-76 in a stock solution and 1+1, tried R09, tried HC-110 (b) and stand developing (don't remember the letter designation but I believe it was 1:100 or 1:120.) The best results, to my eye, came from the stand development.

My goto black and white film is Tri-X in HC-110 (b.) 99 times out of 100, I get pleasing results. I'm pretty meticulous to be consistent with water temp, agitations, and time, and get results that I like.

Even with that consistency, I just didn't get much I cared for in KM400 (even tried shooting at various speeds.)

FWIW, I don't reuse developer. Everything for me is one-n-done.

 

[x-ray]

I always hesitate to put up information that's on the fringe of problems because there are a lot of people that read this forum that are beginners. Processing film is a very individual thing. What works for me won't necessarily work for you. The farther out from recommended protocols that we go the higher the chance of disaster for someone that doesn't have much experience.

I would never run 9 rolls in 1L of HC110 B or even 8 without replenishing. Having a degree in chemistry and 50 years as a professional photographer I know the problems that can result and understand what's happening with the chemistry.

There are a lot of practices I read about on this forum and others that make me cringe and then when I see the results I cringe again. Part of the problem is the level of expertise isn't high with some people and what one person is proud of another would toss in the trash. I'm not putting anyone down just stating what I've observed. No one starts with experience, it all comes with time and PROPER guidance. Bad information just slows the progress and creates problems that eventually have to be addressed.

 

[mooge]

yeah, I'm cheap and I guess this time I cooked a couple rolls from my trip to Newfoundland. Which is doubly unfortunate because a bunch of the slides I took were underexposed too.

I just find it weird that dil H HC110 is depleted after two rolls ish because I'm pretty sure I've been developing two batches of two rolls exactly like this for a while now. But considering Trung's Kodak numbers I guess that makes sense (1 L dil B -> 10 rolls / 0,6L dil H -> 3 rolls)


Thanks everyone.

 

[pschauss]

My personal preference is to use HC110 one-shot. It's not that expensive, especially when you consider what a small amount of the concentrate you need to use for dilution H.


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