New Xtol not the same

[jalLee2001]

I live in Singapore. I have had every single developer go bad after the package or container is opened-HC110, Extol, Rodinal, and Diafine. These days, if I have an important group of films. I buy fresh if something looks, suspect. I toss it.

 

[kiemchacsu]

just bump this thread,

anyone has updated status of new xtol NOW?
I am about to order several packages from B+H now but better wait until being confirmed about the situation.
Thanks.

 

[franson]

Bad xtol batch

Bad xtol batch

Hello 2twenty. I experienced the same issue you did with xtol back in November 2019 and wrote the review of xtol on bhphoto. Since then I've come across a few references to recent xtol issues, one of which coming from a Kodak twitter feed here: https://twitter.com/KodakProFilmBiz/status/1197212541753143297
I've used xtol for years with zero issues until my experience a few months ago. Xtol was my go to, I don't trust Kodak now.
I'm on to Ilford ID-11 (their D-76), a great, classic developer, but not the same. I've used the EcoPro Ascorbic Acid xtol equivalent with good results. BTW, "The Film Developing Cookbook" by Anchell and Troop is a fantastic resource on developer formulas, maybe you have it.

 

[jawarden]

just bump this thread,

anyone has updated status of new xtol NOW?
I am about to order several packages from B+H now but better wait until being confirmed about the situation.
Thanks.

Assuming you're using new stock not from the batch that Kodak warned about then you should be fine.

 

[kiemchacsu]

New Xtol not the same

Assuming you're using new stock not from the batch that Kodak warned about then you should be fine.

That is very tricky,
I do not know if the batch currently sold by B+H is still the faulty 2019/08/09 batch that other have mentioned.

 

[jawarden]

That is very tricky,
I donnot know if the batch currently sold by B+H is still the faulty 2019/08/09 batch that other have mentioned
k

I'm sure they would tell you if you ask. B&H must certainly know about the problem.

I ordered some Xtol in early December that ended up being from the problem batch, so I didn't use it. I contacted Kodak and they had replacement Xtol on my doorstep within the week.

 

[brbo]

Since basically all people that had problems with the new Xtol reported different "structure" of the powder it should be fairly easy to spot the bad ones.

 

[almost]

I just had THREE failures with 3 different batches. Latest batch is 2020/02/25
what is truly disgusting is that I wrote to kodak pro support and alerted to this issue last week, and they replied they knew nothing about it...
Then I come on here and i see they knew all about it a whole YEAR ago.
What a bunch of clowns.
I am supposed to run a professional business on their products?
Sh**!!

 

[relistan]

I'm over here in Europe (Ireland) so maybe we're getting different stuff, but I've had zero problems with XTOL over the last nearly 5 years. It has all been made in Germany, including the recent batch I just bought a week ago, which is fresh dated. This batch has different packaging: both A and B are in an outer white package to make sure they stay together. The inner packaging is the same as always.

If you are struggling with XTOL I can fully recommend Foma's clone Fomadon Excel. It comes in 1L packs but is otherwise identical in behavior. It's about $4.20/L over here so it costs roughly 50% more than XTOL if you are going to actually use _all_ the XTOL.



Karl

 

[Ronald M]

The part that gets me is our government wants to insource medicinal supply chain to USA from China which is a good idea. Kodak was one of several chosen.
So who is worse?

 

[GarageBoy]

Fomadon Excel - are the times identical to xtol?

 

[Freakscene]

Fomadon Excel - are the times identical to xtol?

The Xtol times have always worked for me with Fomadon Excel.

Marty

 

[lonelyboy]

I heard that Kodak has sold all its chemicals and paper business to its China distributor. So I think the chemicals are now made in China and that maybe the reason that you experience the difference in product quality.

https://petapixel.com/2020/07/13/kodak-paper-and-chemistry-business-sold-to-chinese-company-report/

 

[Freakscene]

I heard that Kodak has sold all its chemicals and paper business to its China distributor. So I think the chemicals are now made in China and that maybe the reason that you experience the difference in product quality.

https://petapixel.com/2020/07/13/kodak-paper-and-chemistry-business-sold-to-chinese-company-report/

This substantially predates any sale of Alaris and the problem chemicals are made in the USA.

Marty

 

[Ronald M]

I use D76 made in my darkroom for around 10 + years. Same stock chems well kept and never had a failure. Same with Dektol (D72.).

Can be mixed mixed with borax from laundry aisle and SS and sodium carbonate ,4 D72, from The Chemistry Store. Super cheap. Hydro quinone I bought in 1960 is used up, but I inherited a few quarts. Metol form Photographers Formulary.
Cost is .50cents per liter and works exactly as packaged from Kodak and lasts the same.

Use a magnetic stirrer and plastic erlenmeyer flask from amazon. Graduated to inherited digital scale a year back. Same brown quart bottles from 1960 and the still have the Kodak labels on them.