Most cost effective single use developer?

[sf]

Film developer, not paper,

I guess my real question is, assuming I decide to use Arista developer (liquid) in a big jug that is set to make a couple gallons of developing soup, how many rolls should I expect to get out of it?

Of course, only someone who has used it will know - I can't seem to find any documentation on it. I could call them tomorrow, but I'm being an insomniac right now, and might as well open another thread.

 

[markinlondon]

Is the Arista designed to be stored as stock or used one-shot? Most liquid concentrates don't last as stock solutions. I'd say HC-110 probably works out cheapest overall, used 1+63 that's ~5ml per 35mm roll or 200 rolls per litre. It also lasts forever.

Mark

 

[nrb]

I happen to find Rodinal the cheapest alternative to developping B&W film, one 500cc bottle costing around €5,00 and being able of processing 50 to 100 rolls, that is 5 to 10 cents a piece. 🙂

 

[kmack]

HC110 is not too bad. I typically use 1:100 dilutions so a 500mL bottle will let me devleop about 125 small stainless steel tanks worth of film. At about $15 a bottle.

 

[kaiyen]

It's just math. Freestyle's info sheets or even the product description should say what dilutions that developer should be used at. If it's the Premium liquid, which is Clayton F76+, I think it's 1+4 and 1+9. If you go with 1+9 in a 2 reel plastic, paterson-style tank and fill it full every time (which I recommend), then you need just shy of 600ml each time. So that's 60ml of developer per tank.

allan

 

[bmattock]

If cheap is the only consideration (usually not, but still), one can mix one's own chemicals. Available in bulk from:

http://www.photoformulary.com/

http://www.kyantec.com/photographic.htm

http://www.artcraftchemicals.com/

There are dozens of books and resources on the web dealing with formulae of favorite developers, different properties of each, etc. Most require only a scales and perhaps a filter mask when you mix - nothing really dangerous going on. Some are a bit squiffy, but the instructions always let you know what you're dealing with.

Failing that, I find that Diafine seems to be nearly inexaustible and since you reuse it, the cost per roll just keeps dropping and dropping and dropping...

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[kaiyen]

There are really two reasons to start developing your own film. The main one is to get control of your process. The other is that it is cheaper than paying a lab. However, if, for you, cheaper is the main reason then perhaps C41 is for you. You start to sacrifice control over the process when your concern is whether one developer costs $.75 per roll and the other $.50 or whatever.

allan

 

[GeneW]

I keep a bottle of HC-110 and a bottle of Rodinal on the shelf. Both have excellent shelf life and because they're highly diluted at time of use, they're both economical. I tend to use HC-110 for high-speed film and Rodinal for low speed, though I sometimes like the Rodinal look on high-speed stuff, especially Tri-X.

Gene

 

[RayPA]

I don't think you should split hairs with developer. It's pretty cheap when you DIY. Allan's right. If you're going to count pennies, then you'll never be satisfied. There's always something cheaper, and if you follow that path, you'll start to sacrifice the whole purpose of DIY development. You can develop film in coffee, for crying out loud (not that that's going to be cheaper, especially in Seattle [Starbucks]). 🙂

I keep Rodinal, but I mix my main develpers from scratch, and not for reasons of economy. It's convenient, provides consistency, and fulfllls my mad scientist desires for experimentation, muwahahaha!

Gene, TriX in Rodinal is nice!


.

 

[sf]

There are really two reasons to start developing your own film. The main one is to get control of your process. The other is that it is cheaper than paying a lab. However, if, for you, cheaper is the main reason then perhaps C41 is for you. You start to sacrifice control over the process when your concern is whether one developer costs $.75 per roll and the other $.50 or whatever.

allan

why C-41? You mean for home or to shop it out to a lab that charges a couples bucks per roll?