Question about D-76

[Pirate]

I've used D-76 before but I may have been using it wrong. I was using it as a one-shot developer. After going through the literature on it, it does not say one-shot, but it does not say how many films can be had from x amount of developer.

So, is it a one-shot? And if not, how many rolls have you gotten through x amount before using a replenisher or making another batch?

Thanks

 

[meso]

I always use it 1+1, so one shot. but you could use it full strength and use it again but I would think using it diluted as a one shot dev is more consistent.

 

[Moto-Uno]

For what it's worth, I too use it at 1:1 and only use it once,does a nice consistent job as such.
Regards,Peter

 

[BillBingham2]

I've only used it for one tank/tub of film and thrown it out.

B2 (;->

 

[Pirate]

Thanks guys, I think I'll stick with using it as a one-shot.

 

[ChrisN]

I use ID-11, the Ilford version. Their doco suggests you can re-use undiluted stock solution for (from memory) up to 10 rolls of film per litre, by extending the dev time by 10% with each successive roll. I tried that for a while, but found it harder to get consistent development results (probably my poor record-keeping) so I now use it 1+3 as one-shot developer.

 

[Pirate]

I read from Kodak that the 1:1 mixing will give sharper results but with more grain.

Has anyone found that to be true?

 

[venchka]

I read from Kodak that the 1:1 mixing will give sharper results but with more grain.

Has anyone found that to be true?

I only used D-76 diluted 1:1. I trust Kodak to know what D-76 does. Most delevopers behave like that the longer you leave the film in the solution. Kodak's Tech paper on D-76 says the same as Chris reported for ID-11. There was a D-76 replenisher but I think it was discontinued.

I have since moved on to Xtol 1:3. Sharper. Finer grain. Regardless of what the World Famous Experts may say.

Wayne

 

[Moto-Uno]

My experiences with it are only in 120 format and grain isn't much of an
issue,but possibly I'm not as critical as some.

 

[Pirate]

I've got 135 and 120 so I'm just curious for the sake of the 135.

 

[venchka]

I can see a difference between my 135 film developed in D-76 1:1 and Xtol 1:3. That is why I switched to Xtol for everything - 135, 120, 4x5. Unless I am having a Rodinal Kind of Day.

Wayne

 

[Mablo]

I've used 'seasoned' Xtol where you have one liter of working Xtol stock and remining four liters are used for replenishing the working solution. You simply add 70ml of fresh Xtol per developed roll to your working solution and fill the bottle with the Xtol liquid in the tank. It works very well, your working solution never goes bad and you get consistent results every time.

I think Xtol is the only developer you can replenish this way. D-76 will go bad after a month or two even if you try to replenish it.

 

[Rangefinderfreak]

During my early career, D-76 as stock solution was "the norm" for TRI-X replinshed with fresh stock solution so that you discard 10% of solution from the tank and pour in unused stock solution. That tank solution was good for 3-4 months depending of the volume developed. gradually it turned dark and a layer of all kinds of goo developed on the bottom of tank. It was thrown away and new batch was mixed. That new batch was "burned in" with unexposed raw bulk stuff (film leaders etc)
Now my standard developer for TRI-X, Double X ( Eastman 5222) and Rollei RPX-400 is a 1:1 mix of 30cc HC-110/ Rodinal syrups. Great stuff, superior to anything I have ever used. Combines the best features of HC -110 ( Nice smooth gradiation) and Rodinal ( Nice peppery grain, sharp like hell...

 

[Pirate]

You mix 30cc of HC-110 and 30cc of Rodinal together?

 

[Roger Hicks]

I've used 'seasoned' Xtol where you have one liter of working Xtol stock and remining four liters are used for replenishing the working solution. You simply add 70ml of fresh Xtol per developed roll to your working solution and fill the bottle with the Xtol liquid in the tank. It works very well, your working solution never goes bad and you get consistent results every time.

I think Xtol is the only developer you can replenish this way. D-76 will go bad after a month or two even if you try to replenish it.

No, there are lots of developers you can replenish, including D76/ID-11 (we used it in the 70s when I was an assistant) though normally, the replenisher formula is not quite the same as the dev formula. It's also recommended that you dump it and start again every now and then. See http://photo.net/black-and-white-photo-film-processing-forum/003gzb

As you say, you get very good consistency with the fully seasoned developer, but until it's fully seasoned, there are variations: fully seasoned normally gives significantly lower true ISO film speed (up to 1 stop) than fresh, thanks to bromide build-up.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Nokton48]

I mix my own D-76 derivitive (called ADOX Borax MQ) and replenisher, as well. When I am coming close to running out of replenisher, I dump the soup. Usually after about fifty rolls. It's very easy to do and economical, and my favorite developer with Eastman 5222 Double-X. I can also process Neopan 400 and Tri-X in the same tank along with Double-X (my favorite film) and it works well for me.

20cc per 36 exposure roll are added after a processing run. So usually 160cc are added per processing run.

 

[venchka]

During my early career, D-76 as stock solution was "the norm" for TRI-X replinshed with fresh stock solution so that you discard 10% of solution from the tank and pour in unused stock solution. That tank solution was good for 3-4 months depending of the volume developed. gradually it turned dark and a layer of all kinds of goo developed on the bottom of tank. It was thrown away and new batch was mixed. That new batch was "burned in" with unexposed raw bulk stuff (film leaders etc)
Now my standard developer for TRI-X, Double X ( Eastman 5222) and Rollei RPX-400 is a 1:1 mix of 30cc HC-110/ Rodinal syrups. Great stuff, superior to anything I have ever used. Combines the best features of HC -110 ( Nice smooth gradiation) and Rodinal ( Nice peppery grain, sharp like hell...

You mix 30cc of HC-110 and 30cc of Rodinal together?

That is only half the recipe. How much do you dilute your 60cc mixture of HC-110 & Rodinal? I'm curious because I have both on hand. Care to share some times/temps/films?

Wayne

 

[Ronald M]

Use it full strength one shot, full strength with replenishment, diluted 1:1, !:2, or 1:3 or one shot.

You need 4 oz of stock regardless of dilution for 36 exposures. 1:3 therefore requires 16 oz of developer solution, 4 stock, 12 water. It gets amazingly sharp , but has prominent grain.

If you go with replenishment which I do not recommend, you will need control strips and a densitometer to keep the process under control.

Let fresh mix cool/stabilize 24 hours before use. decant stock into small one time use bottles. Mine are 4 oz. Regardless of what Kodak says, never ever leave a bottle half full even for a day. There is a chemical change that first makes it more active, then it dies fast. Results are unpredictable. One diluted, you can not save it more than an hour.

Other than that, it is my developer of choice.

It lasts for 6 months in full airtight bottles, after which it dies slowly. First 6 months, no change at all.

Mine is made a liter at time from my chemicals and weighed out. Results are the same as package mix.