jalLee2001
jallee55
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
Well-known
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.
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
Newbie
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.
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
Well-known
Assuming you're using new stock not from the batch that Kodak warned about then you should be fine.
kiemchacsu
Well-known
New Xtol not the same
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.
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
Well-known
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
Well-known
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
Member
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**!!
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
Established
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
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
Veteran
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?
So who is worse?
GarageBoy
Well-known
Fomadon Excel - are the times identical to xtol?
Freakscene
Obscure member
lonelyboy
Established
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/
https://petapixel.com/2020/07/13/kodak-paper-and-chemistry-business-sold-to-chinese-company-report/
Freakscene
Obscure member
This substantially predates any sale of Alaris and the problem chemicals are made in the USA.
Marty
Ronald M
Veteran
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.
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.