newbie question: D-76

[Florian1234]

Hi guys,
I'm still quite new to developing my own negs. So far I used AM74 and in the last months Rodinal (1:50 mostly, last film was 1:25 dilution).
Now I'm looking to try out D-76, since I heared it would make better blacks and overall look than Rodinal.
What "scares" me a bit is that I have to set up a gallon of it's stock liquid to then either use it undiluted or 1:1.
Also I don't know how many films I can soup with one gallon-package of D-76 (given the fact that I have a small Jobo tank with 485ml volume).

Can you help me with it, please?
What to expect when developing APX100 or Tmax100 (or later Tri-X at 400 or Tmax400) in D-76? How many films can I soup with one gallon-pack?
Thanks in advance.

 

[EmilGil]

One gallon (US) is just under 4 liters metric (3785ml) so at 1:1, you'll be looking at about 14-15 full tanks.

How many films can you load in the tank at once? 2? In that case, you'll get about 30 films developed from one gallon of stock D-76.

 

[ARCHIVIST]

G'day mate.
D-76 is very good with the Tmax emulsions @ 1:1 but for my liking I would stick with the Rodinal, especially for the APX100.
We buy D-76 in 3.8ltr. quantities here in OZ and not in the 1 gallon (4.5ltr.) that you have.
Allowing 300ml per roll of 35mm film diluted 1:1 then your one gallon will make 9ltr. of working solution. Divide this by .3Ltr. and you get 30 rolls processed - easy maths.

Regards
Peter

 

[ARCHIVIST]

Sorry - I was thinking of an imperial gallon which is 4.5 litres. the US gallon is of course 3.8ltr.

This changes my calculation to 25 rolls processed @ 1:1 dilution allowing 300ml. per roll of 35mm film.

Peter

 

[imush]

There are packages sold of Kodak D-76 to mix 1L rather than a gallon. They make more sense to occasional users like me (I mostly use Rodinal).

 

[venchka]

The official party line from Big Yellow Box, aka Kodak, states: 8oz (convert to ml as required) of D-76 stock solution per 8x10 equivalent of film. At a dilution of 1:1, that means 8 oz of D-76 and 8 oz of water for 1 36 exp. roll of 135 film. Kodak may be conservative. I've never tried using less D-76. Xtol is more economical, only needing 100ml per 80 sq. in. area of film.

On the other hand, I routinely use 1 liter of D-76 1:1 or 400ml of Xtol 1:3 in a Jobo 3010 Expert tank for 4 sheets of 4x5. That's the same film area as a 36 exp. roll of 35mm film. I didn't know Jobo made tanks as small as yours. My 2500 tanks have a maximum volume of 1.4 liters and hold 2 35mm or 1 120/220 reels.

Good luck!

 

[Carlo]

It depends upon your method: Rotation or agitation. The Jobo tank takes 485 ml for two 35mm films in agitation. With the same amount of developer you can run 5 35mm film in a rotation tank (what I do). I prefer to run D-76 undiluted (for Tri-X), however it is reported that the 1:1 dilution tends to deliver finer grain than the stock solution.

 

[gns]

1 gallon = 128 fl oz. x 2 (at 1:1) = 256. divide by 8 fl oz (amount needed /roll) = yield of 32 rolls.

(note: at 1:1, you throw it out after use, of course)

 

[venchka]

Not according to Kodak

Not according to Kodak

1 gallon = 128 fl oz. x 2 (at 1:1) = 256. divide by 8 fl oz (amount needed /roll) = yield of 32 rolls.

Again, I haven't experimented using less D-76, but........

128 ozs. per gallon divided by 8 ozs. D-76 per roll = 16 rolls per gallon of D-76. To use D-76 diluted 1:1, you need 16 ozs. total developer + water per 80 sq. inches (1 36 exp. roll of 35mm film) of film to be developed.

If anyone else is using less D-76 with good results, please let us know.

At 30ml/ounce, Xtol only needs 3.3 ounces per 80 sq. inches of film. That's why I'm using Xtol at the moment. It's the only way I can run diluted developer and 10 sheets of 4x5 in my Jobo tank. If I like the results, I'll stay with Xtol. I will then have to decide what to do with the 10 gallon size bags of D-76 I have in the cupboard.

 

[gns]

Wayne,

You still use just 8 oz (4 + 4) of total solution per roll. Of course the time is longer and as I added above, throw it out after 1 use. I haven't looked at Kodak's specs, but I'm sure this is normal. Done hundreds of rolls that way

Cheers,
Gary

 

[venchka]

We may both be right

We may both be right

Wayne,

You still use just 8 oz (4 + 4) of total solution per roll. Of course the time is longer and as I added above, throw it out after 1 use. I haven't looked at Kodak's specs, but I'm sure this is normal. Done hundreds of rolls that way

Cheers,
Gary

Gary,

That's the type of real world information I've been looking for about D-76. I know I read in Kodak's data that they said to use 8 ounces minimum per roll. However, I just went back to the data sheet and it's slightly different. More in line with what you are saying. I may have to mix up another gallon of D-76 and try the 4 ozs. + 4 ozs. mixture.

From Kodak:

D-76.......

DEVELOPMENT TIMES
The development times in the following tables are starting-point recommendation; for critical applications, run tests to determine the best development time. If your films are consistently too low in contrast, increase the development time slightly (10 to 15 percent); if they are too contrasty, decrease the development time slightly (10 to 15 percent).

If you use D-76 Developer diluted 1:1, dilute it just before you use it, and discard it after processing the batch of film. Before using the diluted developer, make certain that there are no air bubbles in the solution. If air is coming out of the solution and forming bubbles, let the solution stand until the bubbles dissipate. Don't reuse or replenish the diluted solution. You can develop one 135-3 roll (80 square inches) in 473 mL (16 ounces) or two rolls together in 946 mL (one quart) of diluted developer. If you process one 135-36 roll in a 237 mL (8-ounce) tank or two 135-36 rolls in a 473 mL (16-ounce) tank, increase the development time by 10 percent (see the following tables).

And Xtol...

Using Diluted Developer
Choose the appropriate development time and temperature table for starting-point recommendations for specific films in small tanks, tray, and rotary tubes.

You can dilute XTOL Developer 1:1 with water (developer:water) for one-shot (single-use) processing. Dilution at 1:1 will provide slightly greater film speed, enhanced sharpness and shadow detail, and slightly more grain.

Use diluted developer only once. Do not replenish or reuse diluted developer.

Note: If your water supply is exceptionally hard (above 200 ppm of CaCO3), you may need to use conditioned water to avoid cloudiness when you mix higher dilutions. Contact your water authority for information on the water in your area.

The volume of diluted XTOL Developer needed to cover the film will depend on the size of your tank or tray or the design of your rotary-tube processor. However, the minimum amount of diluted developer needed to cover the film may not contain enough active ingredients to develop the film fully in the recommended time. We recommend always starting with at least 100 mL (3.5 fluidounces) of full-strength developer to prepare the diluted solution for each 135-36 or 120 roll (or the equivalent of 80 square inches [516 square centimetres]). For example, when processing 4 rolls of film with developer diluted 1:1, use at least 800 mL even if the processing equipment will allow the use of less solution.

 

[shadowfox]

*If* you don't want to mess with powder and stock solutions, consider Clayton FP76+. It's liquid and from the name, it's a clone of D76, although having used it a while I start suspecting that it's closer to Microphen (dev. time wise).

 

[Florian1234]

Thanks for all the comments, guys.

Wayne, my Jobo tank is a "UniTank 1520" with 485ml fitting into it and I usually soup just one roll in it, since I just have one spool for it.

About that Clayton FP76+: I'm in Germany, and couldn't find it yet. Any hints where to look?

I can get D-76 powder in packs for 1 liter from a shop at Berlin. That's what I found out just some minutes ago. Looks promising and not that pricey.

 

[gns]

Wayne,

I read your Kodak info above and that does sound like they are suggesting you use 8 + 8 for 1 roll. Of course, you would need a 2 reel (16 oz) tank then to process a single roll. That sounds strange and I have never heard of anyone doing that. I have always used a 32 oz tank for 4 rolls and diluted 16 + 16. Normal time would be 10 minutes at 68F, but I have always gone with 8 minutes (or sometimes even 7) to cut down contrast.

Cheers,
Gary

 

[venchka]

There is also Ilford ID-11.

 

[titrisol]

D76/ID11 are nearly identical and there are/were lots of clones of this chemical

D76 has been the "standard"developer for while quite good if you ask me butat 1+1 results are not very different from Am74

If you mix the full gallon pack, "break"it into small bottles (cough syrup bottles or nalgene) and fill them to the brim. That should last for 6-12 months and allow you to usse it gradually.
For 1 35mm film you';d need about 300ml of developer, so 1+1 D76 is 150ml. So 3,800 ml shoul dbe good for 24-25 rolls.

 

[Florian1234]

D76/ID11 are nearly identical and there are/were lots of clones of this chemical

D76 has been the "standard"developer for while quite good if you ask me butat 1+1 results are not very different from Am74

If you mix the full gallon pack, "break"it into small bottles (cough syrup bottles or nalgene) and fill them to the brim. That should last for 6-12 months and allow you to usse it gradually.
For 1 35mm film you';d need about 300ml of developer, so 1+1 D76 is 150ml. So 3,800 ml shoul dbe good for 24-25 rolls.

Now that's a really good help. Thank you very much! So I'll probably use it from stock and not 1+1 then (have to order next week or so. just spend a bit on new film supply).

 

[ampguy]

using less

using less

my 2 dual 35mm tanks only hold 10 oz of liquid, so the gallon stock at 1:1 does about 50 rolls. After about 10 rolls and having to squeeze pretty hard to keep the air out of the gallon jug, I put the d76 stock into 2 1/2 gallon containers to keep air out easier.

Again, I haven't experimented using less D-76, but........

128 ozs. per gallon divided by 8 ozs. D-76 per roll = 16 rolls per gallon of D-76. To use D-76 diluted 1:1, you need 16 ozs. total developer + water per 80 sq. inches (1 36 exp. roll of 35mm film) of film to be developed.

If anyone else is using less D-76 with good results, please let us know.

At 30ml/ounce, Xtol only needs 3.3 ounces per 80 sq. inches of film. That's why I'm using Xtol at the moment. It's the only way I can run diluted developer and 10 sheets of 4x5 in my Jobo tank. If I like the results, I'll stay with Xtol. I will then have to decide what to do with the 10 gallon size bags of D-76 I have in the cupboard.

 

[venchka]

Filling empty "Wine in a Box" is my solution for 5 liters of Xtol. YMMV.

 

[nikon_sam]

...they said there wouldn't be any math...