developer that is extremely durable and of comparable quality to X-TOL

linhof · 2009-10-25T17:33:07+00:00

Ich habe viele Jahre mit X-TOL als Entwickler gearbeitet. Meine Lieblingsfilme sind Fuji Neopan 400 und die Kodak T-Max 100 (selten) und 400. Meist 6x7, aber...

linhof

I’ve been using X-TOL as a developer for many years. My favourite films are Fuji Neopan 400 and Kodak T-Max 100 (rarely) and 400. Mostly 6x7, but also 35mm. Unfortunately, I now only shoot 3–5 rolls of black-and-white film a year, so X-TOL doesn’t last long enough for me; I always have to prepare 5 litres, and I only use a tiny amount during the year it lasts. I’m now looking for a good replacement with as similar properties as possible. I want relatively fine grain, great grey tones and no hard negatives. The developer should last as long as possible. (I’ve been thinking of Kodak HC110, for example – but I suspect it might produce too coarse a grain?) Does anyone have a recommendation? (Please include information on shelf life. Also the shelf life of the solution once prepared, if a batch needs to be made) Many thanks

Gast

Hello, Why not give ADOLUX ADX 2 a try? It’s from our host. It consists of two parts that are mixed together just before developing. It has a shelf life of at least a year, probably longer. Spur SD 2525 works in a similar way. Kodak HC-110 has an indefinite shelf life. The fine grain isn’t as good as with Xtol, but that shouldn’t be a problem with 6x7: http://www.stefanheymann.de/foto/entwickler/hc-110.htm Best regards, Wolfgang

Tandemfahren

Hello—er, Linhof(?) Who are you, then? Having never worked with Xtol—the most stable of all developers is, of course, Rodinal, which can be fine-tuned for fine grain film with a bit of love and patience, but probably not with your films. I don’t know. But ATM49 is Max-compatible, dangerously having a fine grain and available as a powder for 1 litre. It makes the most of the film’s sensitivity and, with many films, produces a fairly flat curve ‘all the way to the horizon’, without any tricks whatsoever. Best regards, Frank

Tandemfahren

Oops, Wolfgang was quicker... The ADX, however, significantly reduces the speed. Oh, and I almost forgot about the ATM – with a bit of dedication, you can even store it in the hip and it will then – naturally with Protectan or similar in glass bottles – keep for so long that I can’t yet say how long... just don’t forget to dilute it back, otherwise it’s a sure-fire disaster. Frank