Better developer for faster films and push processing

menthel

menthel

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Jim
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I finally got around to developing my neopan 1600 in ilfosol 3 the other day (it was either that or R09!) and it is very grainy, with quite a lot of detail lost. I am therefore thinking that I would like a better developer, once the Ilfosol 3 runs out, for faster (400 iso+) films and also for when I rate these films at higher ISOs. A couple of conditions: I would like it to be a liquid (no mixing or dissolving!) and also to have a good shelf life (unlike ilfosol!). I mainly use HP5+ at higher speeds although do experiment with other films. Ideas everyone? Example shots? I will stick up some of mine once I am happy with my scans (that old chestnut again...).
 
I used to use ID11 1+1, got really nice results.
But from recent tests (5x4 FP4+/TRI-X) XTOL does everything better!
 
Edtog said:
I used to use ID11 1+1, got really nice results.
But from recent tests (5x4 FP4+/TRI-X) XTOL does everything better!
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Thanks Ed, unfortunately both powder formulations that require mixing, so not for me.

How about DDX or TMAX developer? Do either of these last well?
 
Jim, bear in mind that HP5+ isn't a t-grain film so pushing it will be inherently grainy, regardless of developer. I feel like my developed rolls with T-Max Dev have very unobtrusive grain, but I have no standard or much else to compare them to.
 
freecom2 said:
Jim, bear in mind that HP5+ isn't a t-grain film so pushing it will be inherently grainy, regardless of developer. I feel like my developed rolls with T-Max Dev have very unobtrusive grain, but I have no standard or much else to compare them to.
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I know the neopan 1600 and the HP5+ @1600 will be grainy, I don't expect any less but I do think that using Ilfosol 3 has made it worse, however with my low usage I will use it up first and then move on from there.

Just to clarify you have developed HP5+ in TMAX, correct? I have heard its a good developer generally but being Kodak I can't be sure of its longevity on the market! ;)
 
Hey Jim

I haven't tried it yet, and I know it's a powder, but maybe consider D-76? I bought 1ltr packs...mix up in a jug and stick it straight in a 1ltr bottle that's what I intend to do.
 
Mahoneyd187 said:
Hey Jim

I haven't tried it yet, and I know it's a powder, but maybe consider D-76? I bought 1ltr packs...mix up in a jug and stick it straight in a 1ltr bottle that's what I intend to do.
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I knwo its (relatively) easy but I already have enough clutter around the place to make the wife angry, let alone adding to it even more! ;) How long does D-76 last mixed?
 
menthel said:
Just to clarify you have developed HP5+ in TMAX, correct? I have heard its a good developer generally but being Kodak I can't be sure of its longevity on the market! ;)
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I meant Neopan 1600, sorry. I have two rolls of HP5+ to try but I haven't shot them yet - haven't shot much in general recently :shrug:
 
freecom2 said:
I meant Neopan 1600, sorry. I have two rolls of HP5+ to try but I haven't shot them yet - haven't shot much in general recently :shrug:
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Sounds like it would have been good for my roll of Neopan 1600! ;) Mind you I am also going to try a rescan as negative then invert in lightroom- sometimes I find it reduces the amount of digital noise added by scanning.
 
menthel said:
I knwo its (relatively) easy but I already have enough clutter around the place to make the wife angry, let alone adding to it even more! ;) How long does D-76 last mixed?
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No idea how long it lasts (surely someone can help here?), but I'll be using it at 1+1 and one shot.

So each 1litre pack, mixed up the day before or whatever, will do 4 films. For £1.50 or whatever it is, it's a bargain, approx 38p per roll.
 
Blimey, it would only do 2 tanks worth for me (mine take 485ml per develop) but that is usually 2 films per go.
 
menthel said:
Blimey, it would only do 2 tanks worth for me (mine take 485ml per develop) but that is usually 2 films per go.
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Yeah it makes 1litre stock, you can use it stock, but you can also use it 1+1, or 50:50, so essentially 2litres of usable developer, that's 4 tanks at 500ml a go :cool:
 
Mahoneyd187 said:
Yeah it makes 1litre stock, you can use it stock, but you can also use it 1+1, or 50:50, so essentially 2litres of usable developer, that's 4 tanks at 500ml a go :cool:
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Looks like HP5+ would need 18 mins in 1+1 or 14 mins at stock at 1600. Not too bad and I guess I could just pop into siverprint at some point and grab a single sachet.
 
menthel said:
Looks like HP5+ would need 18 mins in 1+1 or 14 mins at stock at 1600. Not too bad and I guess I could just pop into siverprint at some point and grab a single sachet.
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At £1.50 odd, you can't go wrong. I've yet to use it, but I've got 3 sachets of it...it's part of my "standardise" my workflow project.

The times don't seem too bad, the longer it is the more controllable it is too I guess :)
 
Mahoneyd187 said:
At £1.50 odd, you can't go wrong. I've yet to use it, but I've got 3 sachets of it...it's part of my "standardise" my workflow project.

The times don't seem too bad, the longer it is the more controllable it is too I guess :)
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I like a middling time personally, around 7-8 minutes. Any faster is harder to control and any slower and I get bored and distracted and may forget to do something! ;) Silverprint charge £2.20 for it! Can't complain though, its relatively easy for me to get to and they are very helpful in there.
 
It's £1.66 for a packet at Process Supplies in Farringdon, FYI.
 
freecom2 said:
It's £1.66 for a packet at Process Supplies in Farringdon, FYI.
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Thanks. A little more out of the way for me but possible. Depends on how lazy I feel and if saving 50p seems worthwhile!
 
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