Is HC-110 no more?

[Dave Gesell]

I haven't got any direct experience with XTOL yet, but a lot of folks recommend using distilled water to mix the stock, and the shelf life is 6+ months in a full container, 2 months or so in a partially full one. With that in mind I've bought a bunch of 500ml amber Boston Rounds for storing stock, so in my 3 reel Patterson tank 1 bottle will do one processing run at 1+1, or two runs at 1+3.

If you want to keep using HC-110, you could just pour out the concentrate into 4 smaller bottles to keep it fresh longer. I'm using up my last bottle of HC-110 that "expired" January 2012, and it's still fine, and all I did was add marbles to the bottle to keep air to a minimum.

[Kirk Gittings]

For really long shelf life I would stick with Rodinal, HC110 (or their substitues) or my preferred-Pyrocat HD in Glycol (mix it right before using).

[David R Munson]

I guess the new version of the packaging hasn't shown up on B&H yet? A search for "HC-110" yields only the one, discontinued result. Just the sight of it nearly made me cry, though. Even with the availability of substitutes, the actual, full-on discontinuance of HC-110 would pretty much be the beginning of the filmpocalypse for me. I'd have to start dressing in black and listening to Cradle of Filth in order to compensate.

[Jac@stafford.net]

Gosh, how very discouraging.

I am going to try this if I can find it again.

[okcomputer]

Just ordered the double-size from Freestyle. As has been mentioned, the familiar size is discontinued, but not the product. Freestyle also has their own copy of HC-110, if worse comes to worse.

[neil poulsen]

I read a review on B&H that HC110 is now made in Germany, and that from his experience, it's different. What's the experience from others? Has it changed? Is it still a good developer?

B&H won't ship it, stating that it's only available in their N.Y. Super Store. Just checked with Freestyle, and they anticipate continued availability in liter bottles. Currently at $35.99 there. (Compared to $28.50 at B&H.) Portland's local store sells it for $40.00! Are there other, more reasonably priced options?

[Wayne Aho]

In the past, the EU concentrate was diluted more, don't know why the difference.

Wayne

[Fredrick]

Isn't Ilfotec HC the same thing?

[adelorenzo]

There was a recent discussion on APUG about the new HC-110 packaging. Some people are saying they get different results although I asked Kodak and was told that it is the same formula.

I'm still working through a couple of the older bottles so I don't have any firsthand experience.

[C_Remington]

I just acquired 14 unopened bottles of HC110. They're all US made and have an expiration date of 2014 on them.

I don't know when these bottles were purchased new but, is the expiration date really indicative of when this stuff will go bad?????