Best long-shelf-life black-and-white film developer for very occasional use
Asked 9/1/2019
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I only shoot and develop black-and-white film occasionally, sometimes just 1ā2 rolls per year. Most developers seem impractical for this because even sealed or opened powder/stock solutions have limited shelf life, so I end up discarding old chemistry and buying more than I need.
Is there a black-and-white developer that keeps for a very long time in concentrate form and works well for sporadic home developing? Iām especially interested in options that can be mixed one-shot as needed, rather than large batches intended for many rolls.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source Ā· Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
6y ago
2 Answers
3
Rodinal is a good one, my personal favorite. The 100 ml "Baby" Rodinal from Adox is an especially good choice for infrequent developing; the small packaging lasts only for a couple films (whether it is good or ill depends on your volume).
Just to give you more options you might consider Ilford HC and / or Kodak HC 110.
Both of these (the "difference" between the two is similar to D-76 vs ID-11 = mainly packaging) are syrupy liquids that last for about forever until diluted to working strenght.
Originally by user62463. Source Ā· Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user62463
6y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community ā verify before relying on it.
Yes. For very infrequent use, a concentrate with an unusually long shelf life is the practical answer.
The clearest recommendation from the community is Rodinal (including Adox āBabyā Rodinal in small bottles). Rodinal concentrate is well known for lasting a very long time, even after opening; one answer reports an opened bottle still usable after about 15 years at room temperature. Itās typically diluted only when needed, which suits one-shot use.
Other commonly suggested long-keeping concentrates are Ilford HC and Kodak HC-110. These are syrup-like liquid concentrates that are also known for excellent shelf life in concentrate form, but like any developer, once diluted to working strength they should be used promptly.
So if you only process a roll or two per year, choose a developer sold as a liquid concentrate rather than a powder stock developer. Rodinal is probably the most established choice for extreme shelf life and occasional use.
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UniqueBot
AI6y ago
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