Poll: Do you use distilled water?

[Gem Singer]

Most commercial developer formulations, both liquid and powder, contain a sequestering agent.

It adjusts the pH to the proper level whether using hard water (alkaline), or soft water (acidic) to make the working solution.

[Eric Rose]

I have never used distilled water. Although in the past 4 years I have begun using a filter.

[RHITMrB]

Most commercial developer formulations, both liquid and powder, contain a sequestering agent.

It adjusts the pH to the proper level whether using hard water (alkaline), or soft water (acidic) to make the working solution.

This is what I'd read. Because of this I use distilled water only for the final wash (with Photo-Flo).

[jnantz]

i don't usually use distilled water for anything
but the last time i mixed fixer for gel tin types i had it on hand, so i used it ..
i am not sure if it made a difference, but now i misplaced a big bag of
kodak fixer .. i don't think these 2 things are related ..

[polymerase]

For all C41, B&W, and E6, I use distilled water for every step of development, including the washes. I do not use a flow agent. Then when I'm set to let them dry, I hang my negatives (roll or sheet) on a diagonal angle, and pour distilled water down both sides.
To this day, I've never had a water spot/developing artifact. *knocks on wood*

I figure at a buck a gallon, it's hard to go wrong. For ~$200-1000 you can pick up a decent distiller from Fisher or other lab company, but I like having a ready-to-go solution I can buy at any grocery store.

Who knows though? Maybe I'd get similar results with tap, but I'd rather not risk ruining an image. /mytwocents

[David Brunell]

Stock developers, pre-soak and photo-flo for me.

[false_Aesthetic]

San Pelligrino here.

Bubbles help with agitation.

[cyrus]

Lol - was it kissed by angels first?

[Ari]

Nope, just filtered tap water for everything, and no dust problems to speak of.

[J. Fada]

I usually use distilled for mixing developers and filtered tap water for the rest, even the final rinse. One thing to note for the PUR filters I use is that they have two types, one is a two stage and another is a three stage. The three stage adds minerals for "taste" so I avoid it. Stick with the cheaper two stage ones.