Bobka
Hello
I have a question
Which film developer (for films up to 400 ISO) gives good sharpness and a fine grain?
Best regards
Gast
Definitely with ADOX XT-3.
Good sharpness, fine grain, environmentally friendly.
https://www.fotoimpex.de/shop/fotochemie/adox-xt-3-developer-zum-ansatz-von-1000-ml.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwgO2XBhCaARIsANrW2X3bGy2Cj7H3MqIK-aazfnODxHbtc_6RIHBzvSY8niFB2lV9X6Cv2woaAg1sEALw_wcB
RalfMichael
Hello,
As well as Adox, I’d also recommend the three Ilford developers: ID 11, Microphen and Perceptol. Unfortunately, they’re a bit of a faff to mix, but as they come in powder form, they can be stored for a long time in their original packaging.
Best regards, Ralf
ManfredAnzinger
Microphen and Perceptol are certainly specialised solutions! What was needed was a universal developer. And all the developers mentioned need to be mixed, although XT-3 produces the least dust and dissolves the quickest. It’s also not a good idea to try out every possible developer. It’s important to start by gaining experience with just one (1!) developer and using that to optimise your own processes.
Wolf_XL
...it also depends on how many films you develop on average. If it’s only a few a year, I’d advise against using powder developers. Although the powders themselves have an almost indefinite shelf life, the prepared stock solutions do not. I would therefore recommend liquid single-use developer concentrates such as Rodinal or HC-110. I have also had good experiences with Ultrafin in terms of shelf life.
Nordmar
I’ve discovered a two-bath developer called BTTB. It has an indefinite shelf life as the components are kept separate, and it produces an extremely fine grain too. I do, however, use it with films of normal density and exposure. The formula can be found online. I sourced the chemicals from Moersch, or rather from their mail-order service for chemicals. It’s a bit of a faff to prepare initially, but once you’ve done that, you’re sorted.
FYI: Have a look on YouTube and here on ‘Fotofreunde’ – they’ve done a series of lab tests with it.
For sharpness and distinct grain, I use Rodinal (with a 6×6 pinhole camera) with 400 film. It simply looks better with this type of camera. Otherwise (also 6 x 6), but with ‘normal’ exposure times (because it has a lens) and 100 film, I just use BTTB.
Warm regards from the far north of Lower Saxony
