Which films develop best for you with Ilfotec DD-X?

JPSuisse

JPSuisse

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Hi Everybody

So, I've been developing with Ilfotec DD-X for a good half year now. Since I'm an enthusiast only, I am sticking to one developer only. I can't have bunches of chemicals around that just don't get used.

My goals are simply black and white with good tonality and a fairly contrasty negative write out of the scanner (assuming a raw scan without any adjustments by the scanner software.)

GOOD
I have found that Ilfotec DD-X with Kodak 125 PX and Fuji Neopan 1600 (EI 800) pretty much achieve my goals. Especially 125 PX has great tonality and is a little less contrasty. Neopan 1600 is a little more contrasty or punchy with slightly less tonality.

BAD
Ilford FP4 Plus 125 and Ilford PanF 50 seem to have much more restricted tonality and contrast when developed in Ilfotec DD-X. I'm just now testing Kodak Tri-X 400. We'll see.

What are your experiences with this developer? Which films develop best in this developer and why?

Cheers,

JP
 
neopan 400 pushed to 1600 in DD-X for 15 minutes should give you some great contrasty negs. I develop at 13min, but that's because i like my negs a little flatter.

EDIT: this is the only film i've used DD-X with, so i can't really compare to other films, however I love the way it looks.
 
I've only used it with Neopan 1600 but I like that. I rate mine at EI 640.
I've been meaning to try it with Eastman XX 5222. That should be a good combo.
 
Thanks for the posts folks.

I'll try some Neopan 400 too then. I'm looking to put together a group of films that work well over a certain ISO range and have similar looks with one developer.

Anybody have any experience with one of the slow Rollei films in DD-X? Like Pan 25 or Ortho 25? I've never used any either of these, but since Ilford Pan F 50 wasn't very good, I might try one of these.

Cheers,

JP
 
I regularly use Neopan 400 & 1600 with ddx. Sometimes abit of tri-x. It gives me good results too. When I have more time on my hands, I'll try pushing the 1600 to 3200. Hm, the Pan F 400 gave me smooth tones too FWIW.

I have the slow rollei films also, so can't wait to shoot that too.
 
Rollei Development Times in Ilfotec DD-X

Rollei Development Times in Ilfotec DD-X

Yeah, I just looked at the Rollei website (www.macodirect.de) and couldn't find any references to development times with DD-X. Looks like we're going to have to experiment some!

JP
 
JPSuisse said:
Hi Everybody

So, I've been developing with Ilfotec DD-X for a good half year now. Since I'm an enthusiast only, I am sticking to one developer only. I can't have bunches of chemicals around that just don't get used.

My goals are simply black and white with good tonality and a fairly contrasty negative write out of the scanner (assuming a raw scan without any adjustments by the scanner software.)

GOOD
I have found that Ilfotec DD-X with Kodak 125 PX and Fuji Neopan 1600 (EI 800) pretty much achieve my goals. Especially 125 PX has great tonality and is a little less contrasty. Neopan 1600 is a little more contrasty or punchy with slightly less tonality.

BAD
Ilford FP4 Plus 125 and Ilford PanF 50 seem to have much more restricted tonality and contrast when developed in Ilfotec DD-X. I'm just now testing Kodak Tri-X 400. We'll see.

What are your experiences with this developer? Which films develop best in this developer and why?

Cheers,

JP
Click to expand...

If you are happy with Plus-X then stick to it. No need to switch. I am a little surprised at your negative experience with FP4+, it should be quite similar to Plus-X. It is actually my favourite film but that is neither here nor there.

Again, if happy with Plus-X then stick to it. Excellent and well established film overall.
 
I do use DDX for Delta 3200 when doing high-speed B&W in my Hasselblads. I rate @ 1000EI and it's my lower-light choice. Should also work in 35mm.
 
I have liked Plus-X and Tri-X in DDX. From everything I heard I have ordered some Neopan 400 since I like using DDX and like what I see from others with this combo.

I have not gotten along well with HP5. I can't find a developer I like it in including DDX. So, HP5 is out of my rotation.
 
Hmm, I use DDX for PanF+ @32 and HP5+ @400 pretty much exclusively.

54427A.jpg

Pan F

543118.jpg

HP5+
 
Well, I use DDX for the "new" emulsions like Delta and Tmax, and I use Rodinal for the "older" emulsions like FP4+ and HP5+ etc. I find that the the different types of film respond differently to the type of developer used and I've had very good results with the two combinations I mentioned above.
 
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