Talk me into my next chemistry

[burancap]

Hi all,

I returned to the darkroom a few years ago after nearly 25 years. To get my feet wet again, I went for simplicity and have been using the liquid Ilford trio for my developing.

Nothing really wrong, nor any real disappointments, but I am looking for something with a bit more shelf life (as in A LOT more shelf life)!

I shoot a lot of different film, but mostly Ilford and Kodak. I have an abundance of Arista at present. I will shoot anything from 25-3200. When my local C41 shop dries up, I may run that too as B&W. I am looking for a sort of "one size fits all" developer, stop, and fixer for low volume (3-5 at a time), "weekend kitchen" type of developing. I prefer liquid. Type of results: I am all over the place ... sometimes I like clinical, other times grain. I just want simple and durable!

Thanks in advance!

 

[Peter_S]

Not sure you can get it where you live - but Tetenal Ultrafin T-Plus may fit your bill. Works with a lot of developers, long shelf life (6 months for opened bottle). http://www.fotoimpex.de/shop/images/products/media/44755_4_Produktbroschuere.pdf

Else - good old HC-110, especially if you shoot more traditional films.

 

[Corran]

Acufine! It's great developer.

 

[KevinVH]

Well I know you're looking for something liquid, but I've been doing everything with D76 for almost 2 years now, and like you I've shot from 25-3200 and it handled everything good. Shelf life for me has been around 6 months once cooked up.. I usually make 3 liters and develop everything in those 6 months with the same developer. if I would have to guess I've been doing around 20-30 films maximum with 3 liters, without any real change in developing time..

 

[f16sunshine]

Hi Jeff

Try Tmax developer. I mix a half gallon bottle at 1:4 (12.8 Oz mix plus water to reach 64 Oz total).
The mix last for months and can be re-used for 15 rolls before adding additional developing time for out to 20-25 rolls.
Check the MDC for different films and times.
It's been great with just about everything.
I've tried it with 50-1600 for tmax, hp5, and tri-x.
Box speed for Acros, Neopan SS, and plus x.
Holding back tri-x and HP5 to 100 with Tmax dev gives a nice sharp neg with a sparkle to the grain I really like.

Cheers!

Here are 2 HP5@1600 tmax dev ... 9.5 mins @20c scanned with epson V700 so the grain is bubbly liking ... sorry

And tri-x at 200 7mins at 20C (same time/temp I use for 400)

 

[oftheherd]

Rodinal is another that seems last forever. But some think the grain is objectionalble.

 

[stompyq]

Diafine. Mix the powders once and the stocks last forever. Plus no mucking around with a thermometer

 

[mfogiel]

One versatile developer is HC 110. If you scan, and don't mind flatter negatives, Diafine can be a good choice - make sure you agitate every 30 sec to avoid streaking, and dilute stock for double the tank capacity, as over time you need to add, particularly solution A.
A newer option would be the Spur HCD pull and push developer.

 

[Fotohuis]

R09/Rodinal for the medium and slow speed films and HC-110 for medium and high speed films. The lifetime of Rodinal is over 10 years and HC-110 3-4 years depending if you refilling in smaller glass bottles. For both developers you need a syringe of 10ml for an easy dose. Most popular dilutions for Rodinal is 1+50 and for HC-110 dilution B (1+31) or H (1+63). If you want a real semi-compensating type developer with a longer lifetime you can try the new Rollei Supergrain (dilutions 1+7 till 1+15 (1+19 in rotary) ) very easy in use and quickly good results and large Grey tones even on regular box speed. Made by SPUR for Rollei-Maco. Replacement for the in Europe very popular AM74 from Amaloco Photochemicals which factory closed in 2008.

 

[Steve M.]

Acufine or Rodinal. You can replenish the Acufine, the Rodinal will last forever on it's own. They give totally different looks too. If you're going to use a one shot developer like Rodinal then shelf life is not so crucial an issue.

I like D76, but not the shelf life aspect, so I use TD-16 from Phorographers' Formulary. Unfortunately, it is a powder and you like liquids. It's supposed to last 6 months after you mix up your stock solution.

I would suggest playing around w/ some developers before making any big decisions. It's amazing how different you can get the negs to look by varying your developer and/or agitation schemes, even w/ the same film.

 

[De_Corday]

I love my Rodinal, but its an acquired taste with HP5+ or Tri-X (It's a little friendlier to Tri-X, IMHO).

FP4+ @100 in Rodinal 1+25:

Tri-X @320 (expired, so a little grainy to start) in Rodinal 1+50:

HP5+ @400 in Rodinal 1+50:

 

[burancap]

Thanks everybody! Lots to digest here! I am surprised by the diversity as I thought it would possibly be a bit more lopsided in favor of one or two. Rodinal (Adonal?) has been on my radar. Acufine/Diafine as well, but perhaps less so, as powders. Right now, my lean is towards T-Max as a liquid and its familial line similar to my Ilford set now. Thanks Andy for the nice samples. I will look further into these three!

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

I'm a Rodinal lover, but for a special look, or for low light, I recommend you TMax developer with TMax3200: really really amazing tone, and beautiful sharp tight grain!
Cheers,
Juan

 

[Fotohuis]

Acros 100, E.I. 100 in Rollei Supergrain 1+15, 7 1/2 minut at 20C.

Tour Montparnasse (Paris, last week end).

M7+Elmarit 21mm.