XTOL compliants and problems?

**Sirius Glass** · 25-Oct-2010, 10:20

Jim,

That could happen with any developer, powered or liquid.

When? Back in the early days of XTOL? If so that problem has been taken care of.

Steve

**jdaivpmed** · 25-Oct-2010, 10:24

Originally Posted by Sirius Glass

Great developer undiluted that I have used for years with and without replenishment. Undiluted replenished XTOL gives the best results.

The only problem that I have had was using the JOBO processor and the 3010 drum with replenished XTOL, was that the recommended 15% reduction in time was too agressive when I used it on HP5+. Use the time for 20 degrees C 8 minutes plus 1 minute for the replenishment = 9 minutes on the Ilford website and use the full 9 minutes, do not reduce the time.

Steve

Steve,

I'm a bit confused by your comment... do you mean that undiluted replenished XTOL gives better results than fresh XTOL? I'm a one-shot chemistry guy so I don't generally replenish everything. If you were using fresh stock XTOL in the Jobo would you run the full 8 minutes?

Thanks,

John IV

**Ron Marshall** · 25-Oct-2010, 10:37

Info on Xtol:

http://www.covingtoninnovations.com/xtol/

**Andrew O'Neill** · 25-Oct-2010, 13:01

I second pyrocat-hd. It's been my main developer for years.

**Mark Barendt** · 25-Oct-2010, 21:02

Originally Posted by jdaivpmed

do you mean that undiluted replenished XTOL gives better results than fresh XTOL?

My experience is like Steve's in this sense. Yes Replenished Xtol is better.

The only problem I have ever had with Xtol was my own ineptitude.

**jnantz** · 26-Oct-2010, 06:02

i used to use xtol undilute / replenished as well as single shot undilute / dilute
but i never really liked it. it seemed that i always had to over develop my film
to get halfway decent contrast. the developer was OK i guess, one could over develop by 30%
without worry of blocked highlights ... i did have premature death when i used it dilute
but i was foolish enough to dilute it beyond 1:3 as the (old/original) datasheets
used to suggest to do .... i eventually gave up on it (around the same time i gave up tanks and hangers. )
other developers like sprint film developer allow for over development without blocked highlights
and can be used in a replenished system or single shot ... and give great results ... i just got tired of thin film ...

YMMV

**venchka** · 26-Oct-2010, 11:42

Diluted 1:3 and stored for 13+ months may make it one of the most economical developers. The German Xtol data book is where I started. Tweaked the times a bit to offset the variable temperatures in my apartment.
Xtol has done nothing bad for me.

**IanG** · 26-Oct-2010, 12:43

Xtol's a great developer, I used it from it's release until last year always replenished. I only stopped using it because of traveling between two locations and leaving stock for months on a time usually about 6 months.

In terms of keeping it's no better or worse than any other powder developers like ID-11/D76, Perceptol etc.

Ian

**Robert Budding** · 26-Oct-2010, 13:20

Originally Posted by jnanian

... i just got tired of thin film ...

YMMV

Thin? I've never had a problem, but I ran film tests when I first started using it.

Let's see - I'm supposed to say something bad about XTOL. Hmmm. The price went up! But it's still inexpensive!

**BetterSense** · 26-Oct-2010, 13:42

When I developed film from my latest vacation, I accidentally developed a roll of Tri-X 400 in Xtol instead of Diafine. I shoot it in my P&S camera with the meter set on 1600, and usually develop it in Diafine. I was surprised how well the negs came out with a normal (not 'pushed') development time in Xtol 1+1. I might start using Xtol instead of Diafine.

Basically, Xtol is just so good at everything it's gradually taking over all my other specialty developers. Kind of how TMAX 400 is so good at everything it's gradually taking over all my other films in all my formats. Cost is a concern in both cases...I use replenished D23 for sheet film because it's cheap, but then people replenish Xtol...