developers for sheets

[Professional]

I am planning to start shooting with LF again soon when the weather and time-situation getting fine/better with me soon, meanwhile i keep reading more about LF photography here and there, and here is one question or topic i want to get more info about it:

Which developer i can use to develop sheets in tanks?

I have HC-110 and Ilfosol 3 and TMAX and just bought D-76, i have reading on TMAX sites whether from the stores or Kodak that TMAX is not recommended for sheets or say only for rolls, well, didn't read that on HC-110.

Now if i will neglect TMAX, and was deciding to keep that HC-110 for rolls only, i bought D-76 to go with sheets only or mostly, what another developer i can go with for sheets? Also ID-11 is same as D-76 so this is neglected as well.

I bought raw chemicals to produce Rodinal, Caffenol, and would like to get raw chems for Pyrocat-HD

Note: I did use D-76 on rolls and even it is giving gret results i didn't favorite it over TMAX, not even Ilfosol 3 for some films, and HC-110 seems to be another great one that i will use over D-76 on time.

[Leigh]

I strongly recommend Diafine, which is a two-part compensating developer.
The results are consistently excellent with different films.

It works at any temperatures from 70°F - 85°F (21°C - 29°C), and does not require temperature control within that range.
Developing time is the same for all films, from 3 to 5 minutes in each solution, and is not critical within that range.
It requires minimum agitation.

These characteristics make it ideal for tank/tray development.

Large quantities of developer can be used (as in tanks) since it requires a very simple replenishment scheme.

- Leigh

[Professional]

I strongly recommend Diafine, which is a two-part compensating developer.
The results are consistently excellent with different films.

It works at any temperatures from 70°F - 85°F (21°C - 29°C), and does not require temperature control within that range.
Developing time is the same for all films, from 3 to 5 minutes in each solution, and is not critical within that range.
It requires minimum agitation.

These characteristics make it ideal for tank/tray development.

Large quantities of developer can be used (as in tanks) since it requires a very simple replenishment scheme.

- Leigh

I see, good, i have one box not used yet, was planning to keep that for rolls push/pull processing only, maybe it is time to buy another one for sheets only.

Thanks.

[Leigh]

One nice thing about Diafine (and some other two-part developers) is that it keeps almost forever. Store it in a dark cabinet.

- Leigh

[Lenny Eiger]

Xtol. Much better that D76. Or Pyro...

Lenny

[Professional]

One nice thing about Diafine (and some other two-part developers) is that it keeps almost forever. Store it in a dark cabinet.

- Leigh

Yes, i heard about it, this is a big plus for me, so i am planning to get another Diafine just for LF 4x5.

Xtol. Much better that D76. Or Pyro...

Lenny

I have XTOL, but its storage shelf life is short and it may exhaust even before i know that, and that 5L to mix is a pain in......, so i will keep this developer for the future when i will shoot in range of 20-60 sheets, so i can burn those 5L quick without wasting much of it before expired life of XTOL.

Pyro... got mt attention last months ago or since last year, the more i read about it the more i want to get this developer, i may go with one of it and see.

Tareq

[Leigh]

One point regarding Diafine that I forgot to mention... very important.

Take great care to avoid contamination of Solution A with anything else.

Get a complete set of vessels (including measuring graduates) and utensils and use those only for for Solution A.

- Leigh

[Professional]

One point regarding Diafine that I forgot to mention... very important.

Take great care to avoid contamination of Solution A with anything else.

Get a complete set of vessels (including measuring graduates) and utensils and use those only for for Solution A.

- Leigh

I really don't understand this point, i would like to have more explanations about this point so i can put it as VI instruction.

[Leigh]

Hi,

You do not want to get any other chemicals mixed in with Solution A (usually caused by contamination of the containers).

It's very important that Solution A be kept absolutely pure.

I use a completely separate set of vessels and utensils for A. Those tools are not used for any other chemical.

Solution B always gets contaminated with Solution A during normal processing. That does not matter.
The other chemicals downstream (stop and fix) are normally contaminated by carry-over from earlier solutions anyway.

It's only Solution A that you need to be careful with.

- Leigh

[Professional]

Hi,

You do not want to get any other chemicals mixed in with Solution A (usually caused by contamination of the containers).

It's very important that Solution A be kept absolutely pure.

I use a completely separate set of vessels and utensils for A. Those tools are not used for any other chemical.

Solution B always gets contaminated with Solution A during normal processing. That does not matter.
The other chemicals downstream (stop and fix) are normally contaminated by carry-over from earlier solutions anyway.

It's only Solution A that you need to be careful with.

- Leigh

OK, i will see if i can do something for that, will buy separate containers[measuring, storage,.....etc].