Looking for feedback from people who have used Photographers' Formulary products. Different from name brands such as Kodak, Ilford, etc? Better? worse? No different? thanks

-- carol maurin (cbmaurin@earthlink.net), June 14, 2000

Answers

I've been doing business with Photographer's Formulary since 1984. I got some old amidol from them a long time ago, but in recent years the amidol, the glycin, and all the other touchy chemicals have been fresh. (In fact, I don't think anyone else makes glycin anymore.) PF don't use fancy containers. Most chemicals keep best in brown glass bottles but are only available in plastic now. Small quantities from PF will arrive in a plastic bag instead of a phial. (Just a pet peeve.) Quite frankly, Photographer's Formulary is a pleasure to deal with. Bryant Labs in Berkeley has cheaper gold chloride, if you buy it by the gram, but most everything else they sell is more expensive than that of Photographer's Formulary. However, I've had good luck with them over the years.

-- Ed Buffaloe (edbuffaloe@unblinkingeye.com), June 14, 2000.

Think about it this way; Kodak, Ilford etc are rather concerned about the mass market, and product decisions are driven by ease of shipping, keeping, and idiot-proofing. Photographers Formulary, otoh, is a chemical supplier for homebrews, sells variants of common products, and sells products for which there is no longer sufficient market for the biggies.

-- John Hicks (jbh@magicnet.net), June 14, 2000.

I have used PF for several years. They are one of the most trustworthy and competent photo suppliers I've ever used. Their TF-4 Archival fixer is the ONLY fixer I use for film. Over the years I've bought pyro by the pound and have NEVER had a problem with poor quality. WHOLEHEARTEDLY RECOMMENDED!

-- Michael D Fraser (mdfraser@earthlink.net), June 15, 2000.

Carol,

I buy PMK and TF-4 from PF. The TF-4 fixer is my favorite one, especially when I'm travelling and want to develop film on the road. TF-4 is a concentrate, packs easily, and mixes quickly (you don't have to dissolve powdered fixer in hot water and then wait till it cools down).

I've tried several of their film developer formulations, some with great success, others are frankly no better than the common, brand name counterpart. Some of the write-ups on their products can be a little optimistic, but, then again, maybe I just did not use the product long enough, or carefully enough.

Their little catalogue is very interesting to read and a wealth of information. Some of the chemicals they sell you cannot get elsewhere.

And, on the business side, I've never had any problem with PF.

Good luck, Sergio.

-- Sergio Ortega (s.ortega@worldnet.att.net), June 16, 2000.

I use their TF-4 fixer exclusively for films; it does a thorough job on the "new technology" (T-Max and Delta) films, and it's economical. Somewhat easier to mix than a powder, although you have to shake the stock solution for a while to break up the white crud in the bottom of the bottle.

-- Chuck Albertson (chucko@siteconnect.com), June 16, 2000.

Besides being very good on the chemical end they are very helpful with information, a first class outfit. Pat

-- pat krentz (patwandakrentz@aol.com), June 18, 2000.

Had a problem with one of their products, and asked for advice from them by email. Never got a reply.

-- Chris Ellinger (ellinger@umich.edu), June 20, 2000.

The short answer is "better." For instance, if you like Kodak's D-76, but have noticed it develops more contrast with storage, try their improved D-76--I believe they call it TD-16. Or, for high acutance film developers, their improved version of FX-2, TFX-2, does a better job with T-grain films. The Formulary also makes some primo paper developers, including BW-65. Other writers have already mentioned their alkaline fixer, so I won't belabor the point. Ask for a catalog and order with confidence.

-- Brian Hinther (BrianH@sd314.k12.id.us), June 21, 2000.