microphen stock

[WoolenMammoth]

Ive been using micrphen 1+1 for a while, wondering if anyone has had any luck using it stock and reusing it. Ive been using LOTS of this stuff lately and constantly mixing the stock solution up is starting to wear on me, would be convenient if the stock solution was reusable.

Anyone have any luck with this?

I would imagine that contrast is going to increase a bit using it stock...

thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[ChrisN]

I have not tried Microphen as yet (I have some waiting in the cupboard), but I certainly re-use ID-11 1+1, up to 10 rolls of 35mm with a litre of 1+1. No problems with this as yet and into my second batch.

 

[palec]

I've used microphen stock when I've returned to film last year. Later I was adviced against doing this but I haven't got any problems with it and to say I liked the results. That time I developed only one film per session increasing time by 10% after each. I've done 10 films in one liter also some pushing, mostly Tri-X which is very forgiving.

It depends on what you want. So far I've had best results with D-76. With one gallon (3.7l) package and dillution 1:1 (one shot developer) you can develop at least 16 films and it costs only bit more than 1l Microphen (with 10 films) while you get consistent results and nicer grain in my opinion.

 

[Roger Hicks]

The drawback to re-using any developer is halide build-up, resulting in a loss of activity and speed at a given contrast. This is seen at its extreme in a 'seasoned' (stable, fully-replenished) developer, where you typically lose a stop in speed compared with the same dev used fresh.

Of course you can compensate for this in two ways: rate the film slower, or develop for longer -- but the latter means more contrast, at least, after you have compensated for the loss of activity. I am always amused by those who think they are using the Zone System but are ignorant of this.

The great advantages of a seasoned developer are that it is extremely predictable, very convenient (especially in a deep tank with a floating lid) and very cheap indeed. I have used both ID-11 and Microphen this way, but the true ISO of HP5 is about 200 in the one and 320 in the other. Allow an extra 1/3 stop for tonality and you're looking at EI 160 and 250.

Finallly, the 'plus ten per cent' rule is very much a rough rule of thumb, but as palec says, Tri-X is very forgiving. So are most cubic-crystal films, followed by Ilford's epitaxial crystals and then by Kodak's T-grain, though the latest T-grain 400 is a lot more tolerant than the former version.

Cheers,

Roger

 

[WoolenMammoth]

what problems would be expected from using microphen stock?

fyi, for anyone curious about microphen, I did a test last night at 1:3 and cant see very much different in speed vs the same time at 1:1. A difference, but not very much. Worth running a test of your own on the subject if you use microphen regularly, I was pretty suprised. In the frames with flat lighting, there was virtually NO difference but you do start to see it in the black with higher contrast lighting.

 

[ARCHIVIST]

What many seem to miss here is that Microphen is a compensating developer.

It was formulated to give a slight increase in speed (FP4 @ 200 instead 0f 125 - refer to Ilford tech. data sheet)) and retain very fine grain and excellent tonal range. It was not intended for re-use in its diluted form, although some photographers do this.

Re-use in its stock form is Ok but an increase of 10% in the process time for each addtional film through the same quantity of dev. is needed.

Regards
Peter
( ex-Ilford tech. rep. )

 

[palec]

Microphen is sometimes referred as Ilford Replenisher Developer. And I found this sentence on the Microphen package:

A separate replenisher is not available. When using stock solution as a replenisher the volume required is 1l/m2 film (eg 1x135-36 = 50ml / 1x120 = 50ml)

According to this note, it's possible to use fresh stock as replenisher of working stock solution.