Photographers' Formulary BW-65 vs. Bromophen

[david@bigeleisenlaw.com]

I've been using Ilford Bromophen to develop paper for many years. It's just fine. I came across Photographers' Formulary BW-65. Has anyone tried BW-65? How does it compare to Bromophen? Will I notice the difference?
Thanks in advance.
David

[Michael R]

You’re not missing anything.

Is BW-65 even made anymore?

[david@bigeleisenlaw.com]

According to B&H's website, BW-65 is still available. Thanks for your comment.
David

[Mark Sampson]

Never having noticed BW-65 before, I took a look at the Formulary's site. It's not listed there.
I've been using their Liquidol with good results for the last five years or so. I haven't done any paper developer comparisons in probably 25 years, so I don't know how it would compare with Bromophen. But if that's what you like, stick with it.

[Greg Y]

I used BW65 (pre-covid) when i used to travel through Montana and was able to stop and pick it up. It was my day to day developer (i saved 130 for exhibition prints). It came in 2 x 1 gal containers. I used it instead of Ilford Multigrade. I got good results and it was convenient to use. I no longer see it listed in the Formulary catalog.

[esearing]

Sometimes a call to PF will determine if they can mix some up or not. They may be scaling back on things that dont sell well so they don't expire on the shelf.

[Doremus Scudder]

BW-65 is a glycin developer. Glycin is rumored to give a certain "glow" to highlights. I found it to just be a subtle coloration of the emulsion that showed in the whiter areas of the print. I liked it alright, but for some reason the BW-65 altered the way my prints selenium toned.

I'm now back to very clean whites and selenium toning (Bergger NB and MG Classic FB usually) and developing with ID-62, which is, essentially, Bromophen, a PQ developer that delivers very clean whites.

Best,

Doremus

[mihag]

I guess Bromophen is as good as it gets. It's my standard developer, very robust, offering great tonality: Ilford MG RC 5th gen (slightly warm tones, great visual DMAX), Fomabrom FB graded (beautiful paper), and ADOX Vario Classic / Fotokemika Varycon (I still have some left).

[Drew Wiley]

I don't see it on their current listing. I tried BW-65 once long ago and it was a fine convenience product. According to them, it was a unique formula designed to reasonably mimic the image tone of amidol developers on graded bromide papers of the time like Seagull G, and I found that to be true. It didn't itself contain any amidol. But it was cheaper just to mix real amidol as needed. I've never tried Bromophen.

[david@bigeleisenlaw.com]

Thank you to everyone.

David