Massive Dev Chart Usage

Massive Dev Chart Usage

  • All of it, I try everything I can.

    Votes: 9 11.1%

  • About 25% of it, I like to test out some of the names I know.

    Votes: 18 22.2%

  • About 1%, I stick to what I use and use the MDC as a memory jogger.

    Votes: 54 66.7%
  • Total voters
    81
L

Larky

Well-known
Local time
12:29 AM
Joined
Dec 18, 2007
Messages
515
Hello.

The Massive Dev Chart is indeed massive, it has so many combinations it's quite scary. But how many of those combinations do we think actually get used? I always shoot Fuji or Adox and soup in Rodinal or the special blue dev for the Adox, I never try anything else. I wonder how many people feel the same. So I did a poll. :)

Take care.

A.
 
I used it for my first ever (8) films last week, was useful for estimating timings for a +2 push (which wasn't on the list for the film/developer I was using). It's a really useful resource for experimentation in my opinion, I will submit the combination for the push process I used presently.
 
If you want way overdeveloped negs, that`s the place to get the times.

Somehow the manufactures time time work perfectly for me, but I test each new film before I use it for anything at all.

Ocassionly I needed a time like for 1:100 Rodinal or
r09 or D23 which is not listed in Manufactures spec sheets. It usually proves to not even be a decent starting point.

Whoever makes up that data needs to calibrate their thermometers or densitometers or get some fresh paper developer/paper or however they they do it.

If they just put up data some schmuck mails in, it ought to be tested out first.
 
I'm continually cross checking between RFF (some great experts here!), MDC, Flickr discussions and some b&w-blogs that I follow. There is a new kid in town too; see http://filmdev.org/. You can check most of the given recipes against pics uploaded on Flickr.com.
 
Personally I find that the information stored there is often not sufficient to use it - especially the agitation data are often missing.
 
For me - it's just a place I go to for quick starting points. I agree with one of the posters - the times for the most part are way too long - especially since I tend to overexpose everything - so I keep copious darkroom / development notes once I have the starting times - and then work it out from there on my own.
 
I try to stick to Tri-X and now Double-X 5222 and D-76 1:1 or HC-110. Where I find the chart useful is when I'm doing somebody "a favor" and souping some exotic film they want to try out. It beats blind guessing.
 
One should remember that any given time for any combo is just a startpoint for your own work.

Everyone has their own kind of agitation, tanks, exposure, water, ...

and of course taste / preferences.
 
The Massive Dev Chart is a great internet reference, but remember it's not a comprehensive guide in how to process film. All it claims to do is offer suggested starting times. Notes there on things like agitation or manipulation of speed, or contrast, or whatever are sometimes a bonus; but you have to know that you will have to test and tweak your times, dilutions, agitation, etc., to get the results you are after in your lab.

That said, it is a nice reference resource when trying new materials. Keep good notes on everything you do, and you'll develop your own database which will be far more useful to you.
 
Mablo said:
I'm continually cross checking between RFF (some great experts here!), MDC, Flickr discussions and some b&w-blogs that I follow. There is a new kid in town too; see http://filmdev.org/. You can check most of the given recipes against pics uploaded on Flickr.com.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip. That filmdev.org is great. It's very nice to see the actual images alongside the formulas.
 
Larky said:
Hello.

The Massive Dev Chart is indeed massive, it has so many combinations it's quite scary. But how many of those combinations do we think actually get used? I always shoot Fuji or Adox and soup in Rodinal or the special blue dev for the Adox, I never try anything else. I wonder how many people feel the same. So I did a poll. :)

Take care.

A.
Click to expand...

As you said, it became massive.
For me, it is too much.
I've found out that sticking to one emulation and one developer (and 1-3 exposure indexes) is the key to great development.
Nevertheless, as a starter, the MDC is the place to begin with in experimenting new stuff.
 
I just started with home processing. Haven't developed my own film since high school/college, 25+ years ago. I used the chart as a starting off point, but the results were so good, i don't think i have a need to experiment.

My first 'test' was with Rollei Retro 100 and ID-11/D-76. I'll use the chart for Tri-X and Plus-X times, but i don't think i'll shoot any other films. I will, though, experiment, eventually with Rodinal and Ethol UFG.
 
I never know what to trust on the Massive Dev Chart. I usually stick with Freestyle Photo's dev chart, as it lists manufacturer recommendations, and if I can't find a combination there, I look elsewhere.

It sure it nice to standardize on a few film/developer combinations so that I don't have to go searching for development recipes every time I soup.

filmdev.org looks pretty neat. I'll start tagging my flickr photos with recipes there.
 
I don't think you can trust any site with sample images or other subjective "proof" more than any other chart.

If the times are not way off on the chart/site, then anything should work and every user probably needs to adjust the times for their own developing process, which is unique for everyone.

Also most of the massive dev chart data for original film ASA is taken directly from the manufacturers guide I think.
 
I use it as a starting point and adjust from there...
I also use it to see which films I might be able to develop together...Mix and Match different films with the same developing times...
 
They don't even need to have the SAME devloping time. If one requires 9 minutes and the other one requires 10 then giving them both 9.5 minutes should give perfectly good negatives. there are so many other variables anyway.
 
Yeah, a minute should be enough tolerance for processes around 10-20 minutes. Maybe if it is 5 min it should be more accurate.

Most people here wont expose their films that accurate neither... I dont really think even a zone-freak would ruin their negs doing as Al said.

Ans seriously, different agitation (every 30 sec vs. once a minute) or a slight temperature change (1 celsius) will easily change the desired time 10% or more.
Same thing, except probably weaker effect with different tanks, water quality... Even camera shutter.
 
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