What's your developer choice?

HC110 and Diafine. Haven't Rodinal'd in a while, but have some handy.
 
The great things about Rodinol besides the nice results you get with slow film, is its longevity and economy.
 
BrianPhotog said:
Actually, I *love* HP5+ and PanF in DD-X but it is just so darn expensive and has a short shelf life, so I settle on LC29 and use DD-X when I want to treat myself. :)
Click to expand...

I checked the price for DD-X on b&h and actually at 15$ it's pretty cheap compared to the 45sFr. (around 35$) it goes for here in Switzerland.
 
Jamie123 said:
Thanks Thorsten and Harry!

Harry, can you elaborate a little more on the "loud" look you were describing? I'm not sure I know exactly what you mean.
XTOL for 5 liters seems to be only about half the price of 1 liter DD-X (which I guess is for 1+4 dilution) so that's quite the price difference.
Click to expand...


Xtol negs are very, very sharp and fine grained and out here in sunny California have enough punch to knock you off your chair. They are wide open in the shadows and retain lots of highlight detail. It's a very modern looking developer, especially in broad daylight. The older style developers like D76 seem to produce a more compressed looking negative. Xtol is almost too good at it's job, for my taste.

DD-X has many qualities of Xtol, but I think the highlights look a little different and Tri-X looks very 'pearly' in it.

I also had problems mixing XTOL. For some reason we just didn't click.

Nothing scientific about the above, just my personal observations.
Besides, buying DD-X supports Ilford... ;-)
 
Last edited:
Thank you Harry

Went out to buy two rolls of acros today but didn't buy a developer yet. I think I may try both out once to see which I like better. I found a "fact sheet" on the internet for fuji acros and apparently they recommend "microfine" for finest grain. Haven't really heard of it. Maybe a fuji brand.

Anyways, thanks again for the info. If you happen to have any samples of acros & x+tol vs. acros + dd-x I'd love to see them.

I already feel like I highjacked the thread a little so I better stop writing now :)
 
FrankS said:
The great things about Rodinol besides the nice results you get with slow film, is its longevity and economy.
Click to expand...

Yep, same with Diafine...which is why I use them. Diafine and Rodinal are a frugal photographer's best friends.
 
Rodinal for slow to medium speed films or when pulling high speed film.
Ilfosol-S for medium to high speed films.
The films I generally use are Acros, Silvertone/APX 100, FP4+, and APX 400.

Peter
 
DDX, T-Max or XTOL for medium format and smaller, HC-110(and TXP) for 4x5 and 8x10 that involves skin tones, PMK Pyro for 4x5 and 8x10 for the rest...
 
Diafine... Favorite with Tri-X at 1000 for 35. Put that in a Yashica Lynx 14 with its 1.4 leaf shutter, and you got yourself ultimate low light tool(s). Fine with other films, super easy, lasts forever...

Then it's plain ole vanilla D76. No, it's not exotic but you know what? I always get good results from it no matter what film I use.

After trying a fair sampling, this is what I've settled on.
 
Rodinal 1+50 for slower films (FP4+, Delta 100, Fomapan 100, APX 100) and DDX for Delta 400...Although I have used Rodinal with Delta 400. It was cool:D

Kent
 
Before Agfa disappeared I used Rodinal 1:50 with Neopan Acros, SS, 400, Kodak's HIE and T3200, it was simply wonderful. Now I'm at a complete loss.

Perhaps it's time to give XTOL another go... and find another film developer that does grain like Kodak 3200 and Rodinal.

Stu :)
 
I've started developing a couple of months ago. I've only used HC-110. The main reasons for me using HC-110 is because of it's shelf life, price, ease of use, availability, and because I like the results I get from Ilford HP5+ and AGFA APX 400 (both rated @ 200-250).:)
 
Another one for HC-110. My shooting is sporadic. I have to lay off from time to time or else what I shoot tends to look all the same. HC-110 is ready when I am.

When I push film, specifically Plus-X or Tri-X, Diafine comes out. It too is ready when I am.
 
Rodinal. Soon it will be gone forever. Like the other great stuff Agfa used to make.
 
Just to let you know...someone bought the rights to produce the chemicals. Rodinal is being made as I write this. ;) I think that Freestyle still has the old stock, but I do believe they'll be getting the new stock, which should be the same formula as the new Rodinal, when they run out.
 
I use T-max cuz it consistently works for me. I've tried Rodinal, but wasn't careful enough with it. I'll try it again. By the way, Rodinal is still available through Photographer's Fomulary if anyone is interested.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom