Opinions on two bath developers

greenspun.com : LUSENET : B&W Photo - Film & Processing : One Thread

Greetings,

After reading some of the posts about DiXactol and other two bath developers (D-23) I'd like to hear from people that have or are still using them. Which ones do you use? What do you like or dislike, etc? Can HC-110 be used as a two bath developer a la DiXactol and D-23? Thanks!

Regards,

-- Pete Caluori (pcaluori@hotmail.com), September 05, 2000

Answers

I have not tried DiXactol, but in the past I tried divided D-23 and D- 76 with so-so results. HC-110 cannot be so used.

-- Ed Buffaloe (edbuffaloe@unblinkingeye.com), September 05, 2000.

I have used Tetenal Emofin for years now with very good results. Especially for high contrast subjects, as it is a compensating developer. One other interesting point: you can reduce the exposure (one or even two stops!). Sharpness is a little reduced (compared to Rodinal), grain is average.

-- Thies Meincke (meincke@rrz.uni-hamburg.de), September 06, 2000.

I have been using Divided D76 and Diafine for years with GREAT results! Diafine is a higher acutance developer but the grain on either is superb! I didn't much care for the results I got when testing Tmax so I went to the old standby of regular D76 to test and have since gone back to the older emulsions and my 2 baths because of the lack of luster and luminosity of the new t-grains. Highly recommend the split baths, you cannot go wrong and the results are superb. Cheers

-- Scott Walton (scotlynn@shore.net), September 06, 2000.

Like Thies I'm using the Tetenal Emofin. I would say it does decrease contrast by 2 paper grades, so I actually underexpose two stops, compensate that with developing push 2 to get back on papergrade 2-3. Grain is finer than usually, but for my taste sharpness could be higher.

Also use split D-76 for HP5+ at 400 ASA, very happy with grain and sharpness, but since Dmax is limited to a value close to 2-2.2, it is only recommended in contrasty situations, otherwise you'll end up with printing on grade 4-5.

All given papergrades are relative and given for systems similar to Leica V35 multigrade modules.

Regards,

Wolfram

-- Wolfram Kollig (kollig@ipfdd.de), September 06, 2000.


Moderation questions? read the FAQ