Need a new developer, perhaps....

[chrism]

Since I came back to film I have been using Diafine, which is idiot-proof and actually rather good for negatives that will be scanned. But now I have started using my dusty old enlarger again, and I'm finding low contrast negatives a bit challenging. Evidently I must give up the convenience of Diafine, or else go mad in the dark when trying to print. I have a couple of bottles of T-Max developer which I should use up, but then I shall be looking for something to make decent-contrast negs for wet printing.
The films I have in the freezer are mostly Tri-X, with a lot of HP5+, but also T-Max 100, T-Max 400, Delta 3200, Neopan 100, Neopan 400, and Plus X. Photos are mostly portraits with some landscape.
My inclination is to treat this the way I prescribe drugs - get to know one or two inside out and ignore others in the same class. I just know that I will get as many recommendations as replies here, as everyone has their favourites. The developers I can mail-order here in Canada (and from a Canadian source) are D-76, Ilfosol, and less easily our version of Rodinal ("Blazinol"), ID-11, Microphen and Perceptol.
My inclination is to try out Rodinal, rather than Ilfosol or D-76, based on my reading (I rather like to push films to faster speeds, both because I loathe flash photography, and because I'm used to speed with Diafine).
So - convince me what to do!

Chris

 

[Leigh Youdale]

I think you'll find that pushing fast films (i.e. 400 and above) with Rodinal will accentuate grain. I find it very good with ISO 100 films but I don't like the results so much on HP5+. I prefer ID-11 or DDX. I haven't used Microphen because I don't usually push films but if I were going to do so I'd try it.

 

[Jaans]

I short I would use D76 1:1. It really suits all of those films that you mentioned. I switched to Rodinal for a while, but have decided to go back to D76 as I prefer its look for film pushed one stop.

 

[Chris101]

D76 is a great developer, and as Jaans said, it'll work fine with the films you shoot. I use HC110 more though cause it's so damn easy.

 

[filmfan]

D76 1+1 is the obvious choice to me.

 

[mfogiel]

D 76 1+1 will give you the best flexibility plus the best tonality, but not the smallest grain, not the highest acutance and not the highest speed. For slightly beter acutance and speed, slightly smaller grain and slightly worse tonality you could try DD X or XTOL.

 

[chrism]

Thanks for your replies. I have mixed up a litre of D-76 powder this evening that I found in a cupboard in my basement and will try it out. I also ordered some Rodinal from http://darkroomcentral.ca/ in case that is a better choice for me. I guess I could start buying instant coffee, ascorbic acid and baking soda if things get difficult! Somehow I have to justify my recent visits to keh.com, where I have discovered that I can buy all those SLRs of the early seventies that I couldn't afford then, but which are ridiculously cheap now. Two Pentaces, two Olympi and two Nikons are either here or in transit. Life is good!

Chris
My two MPs are complaining about neglect though!

 

[sepiareverb]

I'd say HC-110 also. Lots of options, and if you dilute from the syrup long life of the stuff.

This is a good place to have bookmarked.

 

[chrism]

Oh, shoot. That was interesting enough that I ordered some! Darkroom Central again!

Chris

 

[atlcruiser]

I swap between rodinal and D 76...seemingly at random 🙂

What worked for me was to pick film, film speeds based on light, development times based on film speeds and contrast with developer/agitation.

Rodinal seems to be the best for me overall and the look i like but contrast is low...D 76 better contrast but I like the look a bit less. I am messing with both to find a happy medium.

I have had excellent results pushing film in rodinal 1:50. It was suggessted for me to keep the temp down around 18' to help reduce grain and it realy works.

One big advantage I see with D 76 is it is much faster and if i have a bunch to process I will usually fall back on it... time is always an issue in the dakroom!

 

[semilog]

DDX or XTOL are my first choices. D-76 or ID-11 close behind.

 

[wlewisiii]

Nothing new to add - just another vote for D76 1:1 or HC-110 dilution H.

 

[ChrisN]

I found myself in the same situation after I took up wet printing. With scanning I was getting away with very thin negs, but I've had to develop more carefully to get good printable negs for the darkroom. I'm currently using ID-11 stock solution, or Rodinal 1+50 if I want more grain.