Stephanie Brim
Mental Experimental.
I got my Diafine today and I am so happy to be on the bandwagon again that I figured this question is overdue. What developers do you use with what films and why? This is mainly out of curiosity on my part and also a general desire to learn more about your ways of doing things as compared to mine. We all know that I'm a bit...er...different. 
I'll start. I'll be using Diafine for my faster films like Tri-X, TMY, and HP5. I'll be using Rodinal for my TMX, Neopan ACROS and Plus-X. I really do want to try Plus-X in Diafine, though, because of the Diafine thread. I'll be using recommended speeds for the films I dunk in Diafine with one exception: I like Tri-X at 1250 like most people here. I'll be using box speeds for those I dunk in Rodinal.
Eventually I'll be going to three films. Tri-X as my everyday shooting film developed in Diafine. Foma 100 as my slower film developed in Rodinal. Efke 25 as my super low-grain film developed in Rodinal. I'll keep doing my experiments with other films for the heck of it, but these will be my tried and true choices.
Now then...anyone else want to take a stab at it?
I'll start. I'll be using Diafine for my faster films like Tri-X, TMY, and HP5. I'll be using Rodinal for my TMX, Neopan ACROS and Plus-X. I really do want to try Plus-X in Diafine, though, because of the Diafine thread. I'll be using recommended speeds for the films I dunk in Diafine with one exception: I like Tri-X at 1250 like most people here. I'll be using box speeds for those I dunk in Rodinal.
Eventually I'll be going to three films. Tri-X as my everyday shooting film developed in Diafine. Foma 100 as my slower film developed in Rodinal. Efke 25 as my super low-grain film developed in Rodinal. I'll keep doing my experiments with other films for the heck of it, but these will be my tried and true choices.
Now then...anyone else want to take a stab at it?
rxmd
May contain traces of nut
ADX A+B. Two-component one-shot developer for excellent, accentuated but not extreme contrast and good sharpness, while retaining sensitivity. Not good for Delta 3200 and the like, but I rarely shoot anything over 250 ASA in B&W anyway.
For anything below 50 ASA (Pan F, Efke 25) I've still got some Neofine Blue standing around, but once that's gone it will be ADX A+B for that, too.
For anything below 50 ASA (Pan F, Efke 25) I've still got some Neofine Blue standing around, but once that's gone it will be ADX A+B for that, too.
W
wlewisiii
Guest
Hi Stephanie!
I use either Diafine - and Plus-X is always at EI400 - or D-76 stock. I do not know of a film that can not be handled with either of them.
William
I use either Diafine - and Plus-X is always at EI400
- or D-76 stock. I do not know of a film that can not be handled with either of them.William
Michael I.
Well-known
Tetenal liquid 1+20 with Tmax 100 and 400.
It's not for T grain yet I love it. Gives just the right gray and makes these films perfect for scanning.
examples are on my blog
It's not for T grain yet I love it. Gives just the right gray and makes these films perfect for scanning.
examples are on my blog
markinlondon
Elmar user
ID-11 stock up to EI400 (sometimes Ilfosol-S), Microphen stock above EI400. I find it wasteful to keep stock of more than one or two developers.
Mark
Mark
Jamie123
Veteran
What developer can you guys recommend for Fuji Acros? I've only developed about 5 rolls so far of (mostly) HP5 in Ilfosol-S and am quite happy with the results but I'm looking to buy some new film and developer since I'm running out of both.
Stephanie Brim
Mental Experimental.
If you like your results, stay with Infosol...no reason to stop using something if you're getting GOOD results. I can recommend Rodinal if you're dead set against going with the same thing you've been using.
Mike Richards
Well-known
Jamie123 said:
Got very nice results with Tetenal Ultrafin Plus.
BrianPhotog
Well-known
Low Speed: PanF in LC29 (1+19)
Everyday: HP5+ in LC29 (1+19), Tri-X in HC-110, or Classic Pan 400 in either
High speed: Tri-X @ei1250 in Diafine.
Why?
LC29 is a decent one-shot economy developer that renders good tonal range in old-type emultion films. Can be re-used in case of emegency.
HC-110 works for Tri-X
Diafine works better then HC-110 for Tri-X pushed more then a stop, especially for shooting high contrast/high key lighting situations like at night.
Everyday: HP5+ in LC29 (1+19), Tri-X in HC-110, or Classic Pan 400 in either
High speed: Tri-X @ei1250 in Diafine.
Why?
LC29 is a decent one-shot economy developer that renders good tonal range in old-type emultion films. Can be re-used in case of emegency.
HC-110 works for Tri-X
Diafine works better then HC-110 for Tri-X pushed more then a stop, especially for shooting high contrast/high key lighting situations like at night.
kully
Happy Snapper
HP5 is great in DDX - even pushed to 1600.
I put some Tri-X@1600 and HP5@800 through Diafine yesterday.
I liked the blacks of the Tri-X, I think I need to get used to the different type of the grain though. HP5 seemed too bland/grey.
So for me, DDX and Diafine it will be. I also have a couple bottles of TMAX which I got cheap and need to use.
I put some Tri-X@1600 and HP5@800 through Diafine yesterday.
I liked the blacks of the Tri-X, I think I need to get used to the different type of the grain though. HP5 seemed too bland/grey.
So for me, DDX and Diafine it will be. I also have a couple bottles of TMAX which I got cheap and need to use.
Jamie123
Veteran
Stephanie Brim said:
The resluts with HP5 are very good but I tried a roll of Delta 100 and the results were ok but not overwhelming.
Ilfosol-S is available here only in bottles of 250ml at around 5$ so I will definitely buy another bottle even if only for developing HP5.
However, I've would like to also use a film that is a little bit smoother/creamier than HP5 and I really like what I've seen so far from Acros. Will Rodinal give me fine grain with Acros?
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Jerevan
Recycled User
Well, I use Rodinal and Efke 100 right now. I like that you can get different things from Rodinal with different dilutions. But if we're talking love, I have a thing for Rodinal 1:50 and Tri-X. I am thinking of going back to that again, after the last bulkloaded Efke is gone from the stash.
I've also been doing Tmax in Tmax RS, both in small and big formats, and while I liked that back then, looking at it now, I can't really figure what the hell I was thinking...
I thought a bit about it, and looked at my own photos and others, and found that I like sharp grain, so why not bring it on big time with Tri-X and Rodinal?
I've also been doing Tmax in Tmax RS, both in small and big formats, and while I liked that back then, looking at it now, I can't really figure what the hell I was thinking...
I thought a bit about it, and looked at my own photos and others, and found that I like sharp grain, so why not bring it on big time with Tri-X and Rodinal?
John Bragg
Well-known
Hi Stephanie,
Been using Tri-X for everything except copy work, (FP-4), and usually rate at 200 iso and dev in HC-110 dilution H for 9 mins @ 20c / 68f. I agitate 30secs to start and then only 2 gentle inversions at the start of each minute from there. This seems to be the optimum for my printing set up, and the negs have a good range of tones, and fine regular typical Tri-X grain. Mostly my shots enlarge onto Multigrade @ G 2 1/2 with hardly any dodging or burning required.
Regards, John.
Been using Tri-X for everything except copy work, (FP-4), and usually rate at 200 iso and dev in HC-110 dilution H for 9 mins @ 20c / 68f. I agitate 30secs to start and then only 2 gentle inversions at the start of each minute from there. This seems to be the optimum for my printing set up, and the negs have a good range of tones, and fine regular typical Tri-X grain. Mostly my shots enlarge onto Multigrade @ G 2 1/2 with hardly any dodging or burning required.
Regards, John.
Nachkebia
Well-known
I just wish I could buy anything but ilfosol localy
thorsten
rf explorer
Since I re-discovered b&w-developing I exclusively use Xtol 1+1. When I was still developing rollfilm I tried out different developers: ID-11, Ilfosol, Spur, Rodinal... the results pretty always have been good. I always had difficulties to really find mentionable differences between the different developers (using Ilford films). Nowadays I mainly use Acros, Tri-X and Neopan 1600 and get great results in Xtol 1+1. May it be the different films, may it be Xtol or may it be the fact, that I took time to test my personal film sensivities.
thorsten
rf explorer
Jamie123 said:
I have very good results with Acros in Xtol 1+1, rated at EI 80 and developed for 9,5 minutes (30 seconds agitation at the beginning, then 10 seconds at the beginning of every minute); nice tonal range, oohmph contrast and a lot of acutance.
A friend of mine recommended Acros to me (was using some rolls PanF before), which he was using extensively since some time with his Pentax SLRs. He always brought the films for developing to a local lab that uses D-76. Last weekend I offered to develop one roll with him together in Xtol and he was pretty impressed. Now he's buying all the stuff to start developing himself.
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Harry Lime
Practitioner
Tri-X is my all time favorite film and I shoot it 90% of the time. I settled on developing it in Ilford DD-X, which gives me great shadow and highlight detail and full filmspeed. Grain is fine and the images are very sharp. DDX is also great for push processing.
I prefer DDX over XTOL. While XTOL produces excellent results, I find that the negatives it produces are very 'loud' and have a very modern look. To my eye DDX has a slightly more classic look.
I also develop Tri-X in Divided D76, which is very convenient and consistent with large batches. Again a very classic signature, especially with older lenses.
My ultra high-speed stock is Ilford Delta 3200. I rate it at 1200-1600 and develop it also in DD-X.
My favorite slow film was Agfa APX100 in Rodinal 1:25 or 1:50. Absolutely gorgeous stuff. Printed on Agfa Classic Glossy Fiber, prints just glowed.
Now that Agfa is RIP, I need to find a replacement film. At least Rodinal is back in production.
HL
I prefer DDX over XTOL. While XTOL produces excellent results, I find that the negatives it produces are very 'loud' and have a very modern look. To my eye DDX has a slightly more classic look.
I also develop Tri-X in Divided D76, which is very convenient and consistent with large batches. Again a very classic signature, especially with older lenses.
My ultra high-speed stock is Ilford Delta 3200. I rate it at 1200-1600 and develop it also in DD-X.
My favorite slow film was Agfa APX100 in Rodinal 1:25 or 1:50. Absolutely gorgeous stuff. Printed on Agfa Classic Glossy Fiber, prints just glowed.
Now that Agfa is RIP, I need to find a replacement film. At least Rodinal is back in production.
HL
Jamie123
Veteran
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 (wich I guess is for 1+4 dilution) so that's quite the price difference.
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 (wich I guess is for 1+4 dilution) so that's quite the price difference.
BrianPhotog
Well-known
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.Jamie123 said:
kmack
do your job, then let go
If you like DD-X you will like Clayton F76+. They are very similar developers. I just finished a 120 roll of Acros 100 in F76+ and it looks great. HP5 in F76+ is really nice also.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.
HP5 in Clayton F76+
