Has anyone noticed inconsistencies in different batches of Ilford ID11 developer ? All my developer was purchased recently. I've been through three boxes, and I get different results each time. I've been doing calibrations, because I want to standardize on HP5 developed in ID11.
Without going into too much detail, I'm pretty sure my methods have been good. I've been tray developing using a Zone VI compensating timer to allow for differ ences in temperature, which have been at 72 degrees (+/- one degree), the 1/8th speed that I've been using on my 180mm lens varies between 126 and 129 milliseco nds, and I would estimate that exposures on my rear illuminated frosted glass te st source have been within 1/10 stop, as measured on my Pentax V 1 Degree spotme ter. I've conducted tests on my timer, and if I'm within 1.5 degrees, my develo ping times after 13 minutes will be within 5 seconds of Ilford's recommended tem perature compensated times. This isn't enough to account for the differences th at I'm seeing. All my film is from the same production lot. Etc.
To give you an example, for the same exposure, I've gotten densities of 1.53 and 1.43 at 15.5 minutes of developing, and a density of 1.66 at 15 minutes of deve loping. This is enough inconsistency that there's no point in proceeding furthe r until I figure out the source of variation.
Back to the original question, has anyone else noticed inconsistencies in differ ent batches of ID11?
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