What is your favorite B&W film developer.

[clcolucci58]

I like D-76 and Ilord Ilfosol 3.

 

[John Bragg]

Kodak HC-110 is my favorite by a long way. Simple, versatile and very economical. Great when used with Tri-X and just perfect for me..

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

PMK is my favorite, but I use a lot of D-76 and Rodinal too, and Tmax Developer is really the only developer I have ever found to give good results with Ilford Delta 3200 and the now-discontinued Kodak Tmax 3200 film.

 

[Adso]

DDX. Just rocks with Delta films!!!

BTW, can anybody explain me why being Ilford an European brand 1 DDX bottle costs $13 in NYC and more than 40EUR in Spain (and many EU countries)? Arbitrage is not working here...

 

[JSU]

D-23 - - Elon (metol), sodium sulfite & water.

I've never seen it for sale in a mix, you have to brew it yourself. I've been using it since 1974. When I have the time I'll use it 1:1 but it doesn't seem to have a significant impact on IQ.

It is somewhat compensating and I believe I get better shadow and highlight detail than doing the same film and image in D-76.

HC-110 when I'm rushed and have no D-23 mixed. Somewhat different developers, but the "H dilution" is not too dissimilar.

 

[Mackinaw]

Xtol for most films, because it's a true-speed developer. I do use Rodinal when I shoot Efke 25.

Jim B.

 

[stompyq]

No diafine in your list? What could be better? A developer that can last almost indefinitely and be able to develop hundreds of films. It's also non toxic and I rarely if ever get blocked up highlights. Plus no more messing around with stupid time and temperature!!

 

[mfunnell]

I'm rather partial to HC-110. It is no longer available in Australia, though, so I suppose I'll have to look into Ilfotec HC once I run out, to see if it's a reasonable substitute. I've made some use of it's cousin, LC29, and had some success (though I've not yet used it with Tri-X).

...Mike

 

[dcsang]

GO XTOL GO!!! 🙂

Cheers,
Dave

 

[mob81]

I personally like D-76 a lot but because it's Powder form, I use it a bit less than I like. I used HC-110 for more than 2 years and found it great too. I started using Rodinal (Compard R09 One Shot) and found it also good.

 

[helen.HH]

my first Love was rodinal 😎
Now I am an HC110 junkie 😀

(but i'm considering ilford ddx 😱 )

 

[Keith]

Used to love Xtol and now love Rodinal ... and only return to Xtol when pushing 400 to 1600.

Use Rodinal for this and you have to really like grain!

 

[raytoei@gmail.com]

i recently found the combination of
xtol 1+1 at 7mins 30 secs @30C (!)
+ BW 400 @1600 iso
+ old lens
very irresistible.


TG Flight from Lahore to BKK
M3 + (v2) 50 Lux
Neopan 400

 

[stillshunter]

Only recently happened on a bottle of original Rodinal. My jaw has dropped witnessing the outputs of the two rolls of Foma 100 I've put through it so far. I thought I loved Xtol - and I do with TMY2 - but this ancient potion reveals something else altogether on slow film.

P.S., does "Rodinal" in this poll imply Adonal, R09, etc.? Or are we just talking the original (and best) only?

 

[colyn]

Rodinal has long been my favorite but HC-110 is a close second..

 

[noisycheese]

I like D-76 @ 1:1 strength for developing Tri-X.

This film/developer combination produces really nice results to my eye.

 

[Maiku]

In Japan Super Prodol is readily available and cheap. It works wonders with Fuji Neopan 400 and Tri-X 400.

 

[Bill Clark]

In no particular order:

Wimberley Developer #2 Version D+ (WD2D+)

PMK

D-76/ID-11

Microdol X/Perceptol

Rodinal
(Stand Development)

 

[presspass]

Another vote for D-23. Usually 1:1, sometimes 1:3 or 1:4. Simple to mix, gives good compensation - think white gas station with dark interior in August Tennessee sun near high noon with detail inside and out. Less frequently now, used as first part of a divided developer. 98 percent of the time with Tri-X/Arista 400.

 

[dof]

I've used a lot of Rodinal and HC-110 (favoring dilution B mostly), but my heart now belongs to D-76.