sputnik
This question is for Mirko.
I’ve just noticed that Diafine is still listed in the shop, but isn’t currently in stock.
I had a quick look at the competition: same story.
Mine should easily last out the summer, but I can’t help wondering anxiously whether we’ll have to get used to ordering it from the US soon?
MirkoBoeddecker
Things are looking bleak for Diafine on three fronts:
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1) We now have the Dragi lira instead of the euro (meaning the euro has fallen by 25% in value since our last purchase)
2) REACH is now coming into effect, leading to significant cost increases for niche products (no safety data sheets, no European labels)
3) The developer has been underpriced by the competition for years (so even without Dragi and REACH, it was already margin-free for us)
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It is, of course, possible that the competitor has now realised this and is reacting accordingly.€
But let’s be honest: what does Diafine offer you that A49 or Silvermax-dev. don’t also have? The spirit of American freedom?
It’s just another methanol-hydroquinone balanced developer, after all.
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Best regards,
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Mirko
MirkoBoeddecker
No need to reply – I remember: that’s A49 as a two-bath formula, and when used correctly it balances things out even more.
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Hmm, I suppose you could recreate it, of course... ;-)
michael-kielgmxnet
There are other two-bath developers available as alternatives: Moersch MZB, for example, and Tetenal also has (or had?) something along those lines.
ThomasPauly
Unlike MZB and Emofin, Diafine works at any temperature between 20 °C and 30 °C and for development times ranging from 3+3 to 5+5 minutes (5+5 always works). This means you can develop very different films together.
With many (but not all) films, there is a marked increase in sensitivity without loss of detail or other drawbacks in shadow and highlight rendering (I expose Tri-X at 31 DIN, APX 100/old at 24 DIN)
Endlessly economical and long-lasting.
The quart pack (just under 1 litre) was handy, but it seems to have been discontinued for some time now.
It would be nice if one could recreate this developer.
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Regards
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tepe
sputnik
Exactly. No faffing about with temperature control in the height of summer. Just mix the powder once every two years.
Every roll of film is developed in a matter of minutes.
AND ABOVE ALL: What other developer gives me such crisp contrasts without blown-out highlights?
Certainly not A49 or Emofin. I haven’t tried MZB yet, but I’m told it’s different too.
OK, Diafine isn’t easy to control, but that doesn’t matter much to someone who hardly ever shoots a whole roll under the same lighting conditions anyway.
The advantages clearly outweigh the disadvantages, in my opinion.
It doesn’t last forever, though. At least not if you expect reproducible results.
I’m still crying bitter tears over that 1-litre pack.
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I’m actually surprised that none of the usual suspects have copied and marketed this stuff yet.
At THAT price?!
The formula can be found online, anyway.
Although, if I remember correctly, experts tend to advise against the borax variant.
AchimBauer
Hello everyone,
This is an interesting topic, as I’ve also been thinking about giving two different developers a go.
I’ve read a lot about Diafine and get the impression that it’s almost a religious topic.
It’s a shame that Diafine isn’t available in Germany because of labelling and safety data sheet requirements.
The fact that it doesn’t come with labels isn’t too bad; I’ve also noticed that this is part of the company’s philosophy.
Now a few questions for the experienced users: is it really that simple to process every film for just 5+5 minutes and get the right result? Does Diafine make better use of the film’s sensitivity, or not? If so, do you have to, or can you, take this into account?
You often read that the compensating effect disappears after a few films due to carry-over from Bath A to Bath B – is that true? And do the DIY recipes refer to D76 two-bath developers?
It would be great if I could get some information on this.
I’ve also been thinking about trying Mrsch MZB, but the widely varying times for Bath A and B make it difficult for me to find a way to test it that isn’t too time-consuming.
Regards, Achim
sputnik
Is it really that simple to develop any film for just 5+5 minutes and get the right result?
Yes. Except that it’s usually 3+3 minutes, and only very rarely 5+5 minutes.
Doesn’t Diafine make better use of the film’s sensitivity?
Ilford PaF 50 – ASA 80
Ilford FP4+ – ASA 160
Kodak TX400 - ASA 800
all in 120 format
I don’t use any other films. The speeds listed above refer to shadow zones 1 and 2 (measured with Densi), so they are ‘real’ values, not perceived ones. The 1250 or 1600 ASA values probably apply more to shots of dark subjects when using the camera’s metering system, which tends to overexpose them anyway as black tends to pull towards grey.
If so, must or can one take this into account?
It depends on your quality standards.
You often read that the compensating effect disappears after a few films due to carry-over from bath A to bath B; is that true?
In my experience: definitely not. On the contrary. I’ve found that after a few years, the contrast overall noticeably (!) starts to break down.
And are the home-brewed recipes for D76 two-bath developers?
Diafine is Diafine. D76 two-bath is D76 two-bath.
For the sake of completeness, it should be mentioned that Diafine negatives really do exhibit a CONTRAST BEHAVIOUR ALL OF THEIR OWN.
Some people love it (myself included), others hate it.
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PS:
The quote function in this forum software can really drive you mad. You don’t see that in any Russian film. :-(
AchimBauer
Hello Sputnik,
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Many thanks,
I’ll give it a go if it ever becomes available again.
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Best regards, Achim
AchimBauer
Hi Sputnik,
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You asked why none of the usual suspects are reproducing this stuff?
I don’t know either.
Now that I’ve found a recipe too (usually people try to pass off a D76 two-bath process as Diafine), I had a bit of fun working out what it would cost. For 4 litres (a bit more than a gallon), I’ve calculated a chemical cost of €9.11 excluding water and postage, though the latter is also added to the price of the ready-made solution.
OK, the calculation is a bit off, as I can’t get the chemicals weighed out exactly as I need them. The initial investment would be just under 50 euros, which would then decrease over time.
Just in case the stuff doesn’t come back on the market after all.
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Regards, Achim
