Liquid Developer suggestions...?

C

Chinasaur

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Greets!

Looking to expand my developing skills with a new solution. I like keeping it simple (Rodinal 1:100 user here) so I'm looking for advice for next "branching" out developer.

  1. Want it LIQUID - Don't have the space to store syrup AND a working solution.
  2. Want finer grain over accutance this time (vs Rodinal)
  3. "One shot"ish-ability
  4. Long-ish shelf life..



Prefer chemicals I can use at higher dilutions...because I'm cheap....THIS time...

Suggestions?
 
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Hey Paul :) Have that in my Freestyle cart already, along with L110...for test. How much do you use it? Differences vs Rodinal?
 
Indeed I use it because it gives me the same crisp grain Rodinal gives me... I wouldn't call it a solvent developer (fine grain developer). Apart from higher price and shorter life, it gives great tone and works better than Rodinal for Kodak P3200 @ 3200. I doubt it's the developer you want.

Cheers,

Juan
 
I did a quick search of Adorama. I haven't used them, but what about either Ilfosol, or Edwal FG-7? Both come in liquid form. Ilfosol is fine-grain. I don't know how fine-grain FG-7 is, but it is supposed to be very economical. Well, actually, I bet "FG" stands for "Fine Grain."
 
I suggest HC 110. For instance, I developed these negatives for my friend Timothy Briner's Boonville USA project in HC 110 (dilution B, mixed directly from syrup and used for a few runs before dumping). They were shot on 4x5 and 120 Ilford FP4 and HP5 films. I get excellent results from Tri-X and Fuji Neopan in HC 110, too. It's quite a versatile developer.

There's a good resource page at Covington Innovations' page here. I end up doing most of my own film in either HC110 or Rodinal. I don't mind mixing powdered chemicals, but these two are basically my favorites for the films I use.
 
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For the nice fine grain and excellent acutance try Photographers Formulary FX2. Comes in two bottles. 50 ml of each plus water and you've got a litre of developer.
 
The best liquid developer for good sharpness, speed, reasonable tonality and fine grain I know (and use) is Ilford DD-X. It has smaller grain and higher speed than HC110, and is good for all medium high speed films, although it has been designed for the modern emulsions.
 
For 400 up I use DDX. For slower films I have used Ilfosol with success. I have also used Rodinal which lasts forever in the bottle.
 
Fine-grain liquid developers are a bit thin on the ground, especially if you want long life in the bottle. DD-X will give you similar grain to Rodinal (well, maybe a little smaller) but a stop more speed. Dunno about Ilfosol's life and tonality. Was never impressed with HC110. TMax is pretty good. But have you considered 2-bath? Just go on using 'em indefinitely...

Cheers,

R.
 
All

Thanks very much for suggestions. Much appreciated. Have L-Max and L110 on order. Will try DDX after that.

What about Beutler/Neofin Blau?
 
Chinasaur said:
  1. Want it LIQUID - Don't have the space to store syrup AND a working solution.
  2. Want finer grain over accutance this time (vs Rodinal)
  3. "One shot"ish-ability
  4. Long-ish shelf life..
Click to expand...
Pyrocat HD ticks all your checkboxes. In glycol it lasts for years, too.
 
With a slow film like Acros, Rodinal at 18ºC 1+50 gives you really fine grain, and those work very well together... Have you tried them?

Cheers,

Juan
 
Juan

That's about ALL I've tried :) I've burned through an order of Legacy PRO 100 and 400 in the last few months. Rodinal and I've done 1:25, 1:50 and 1:100. Haven't tried it on push or pull yet though...
 
Second Roger's two bath suggestion. You have to mix it from dry chems, but they are cheap and go together with no problem. You can easily get 20 rolls of 35 out of a liter. Compensates, and they tend to be sharp and fine grained. The late Barry Thornton had a version of D-23 that works well and is still on his website.
Good luck.
 
5 liters of Xtol is a liquid.
Stored in an oxygen free container it has lasted for a year+ for me.
Mixed 1:3 it goes a long way.
Turns Kodak p3200 into fine grain. Medium & large format are grainless.
Superb tonality.
 
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