[stevebrot]

This last weekend I was shooting at Mt. St. Helens and managed to finish one of my last rolls of Rollei Retro 100. I was really excited about some of the shots and anxious to process them once I got home. Unfortunately, my stock of Edwal FG-7 (liquid concentrate developer) was getting pretty low, but I thought I had just enough for one roll. Sure enough, there was enough developer, but it did not look so good. I usually displace the air in the bottle with "canned" air between uses, but last time I apparently forgot. The concentrate that came out of the bottle was pretty nasty looking. To make matters worse, the replacement bottle was back-ordered from Freestyle for at least another week and a half.

I think you may already of guessed that I decided to test the theory that "looks bad" does not always mean "is bad". Well, the theory was tested and at least for FG-7 proved to be false. "Looks bad" means "is terrible". The developer was so shot that the outer portions of the reel (where the developer pours in) had twice the density of the inner portions! Yes, it apparently depleted within seconds! What's more, a fine coating of crud was deposited and nicely embedded in the emulsion. Not good. Of the 30 exposures on the roll, only two could be saved.

Memo to self:

• Don't use nasty looking developer
• Aliquot the FG-7 into well-sealed smaller containers to allow for better shelf life after opening
• Be religious about purging oxygen from partially used bottles of developer concentrate
• Don't do testing on images that might be worth having

Steve

(Just a little bit wiser for the experience...)

[tuco]

Memo to self:

• Don't use nasty looking developer
• Aliquot the FG-7 into well-sealed smaller containers to allow for better shelf life after opening
• Be religious about purging oxygen from partially used bottles of developer concentrate
• Don't do testing on images that might be worth having
• Order next bottle when the current one is half empty

[stevebrot]

So true Tuco! I actually placed the order some time ago, but Freestyle has been backordered the entire time. The are supposed to deliver sometime this next week. A happy side affect will be that at least my bottle will be factory fresh!


Steve

(Pity that FG-7 doesn't keep better...pity too that the 1 pint bottle is almost as much money as the quart...I buy the quart...)

[ChrisPlatt]

This hasn't happened to me since I switched to HC110 and Rodinal exclusively.

Chris

[stevebrot]

This hasn't happened to me since I switched to HC110 and Rodinal exclusively.

Chris

I actually got a bottle of HC-110 and will be starting to use it for some films and may move to it exclusively in the future. I originally got started using FG-7 because it provides a compensating effect, high acuitance, and fine grain and is less expensive per roll than D-76. The kicker is that it does this while providing almost a full stop boost to film speed. Magic, eh? The trade-off is that the stock solution tends to oxidize quickly on exposure to air. This is not good for a concentrated liquid developer that you plan to use over several months (one quart is enough to develop over 60 rolls of 35mm film). This time around, I intend to split the big bottle up into eight four ounce glass bottles topped off with canned air.


Steve

[hinman]

Steve, my blogging partner, when can you drop a blog post about film development on my blog page. This is exactly the topic of interest. I know you are busy and no pressure to put on you. Sorry to hear about the Aged to Perfection. For a moment, you really get me to think to buy several developers and open the caps for faster aging. We are all sensitive to the word of "perfection." Well done on the title.

I joined a class with b&w development and it was my first time pouring Kodak HC-110 to two rolls of t-max 100 bw and it all went well under my teacher's guidance. It was driving my patience thin when I have to watch the clock ticking for the agitation per minute but it was darn fun when I finally got to the last part in washing the film and pull the strip out to hang dry.

I can't wait till next week for the contact sheet development and if I do it fast, it may get to the wet printing portion which my teacher calls it the most fun part in the darkroom. And when I showed my new toy with Yashica mat-124G to my teacher, it really got his attention as he actually loved having one for nostalgic path with his past. I may trade in one with him in continuing his 6 week class section for the next two rounds as he allows his students freedom in using the darkroom and facility for wet development.

My 1st test roll with Yashica mat-124g with Fuji pro 400H color can be seen in this Flickr Set where I have the original and those converted to b&w. I paid my local lab for both development and low resolution scanning. And I also discussed it with other Pentaxian with camera and lens porn in Photo.net Pentax Forum in New 6x6 toy from Hin

Warmest,
Hin

[GeneV]

I actually got a bottle of HC-110 and will be starting to use it for some films and may move to it exclusively in the future. I originally got started using FG-7 because it provides a compensating effect, high acuitance, and fine grain and is less expensive per roll than D-76. The kicker is that it does this while providing almost a full stop boost to film speed. Magic, eh? The trade-off is that the stock solution tends to oxidize quickly on exposure to air. This is not good for a concentrated liquid developer that you plan to use over several months (one quart is enough to develop over 60 rolls of 35mm film). This time around, I intend to split the big bottle up into eight four ounce glass bottles topped off with canned air.


Steve

I need to check my bottle of FG7. I like it for the same reasons, but it has been a few months.

[stevebrot]

I need to check my bottle of FG7. I like it for the same reasons, but it has been a few months.

Glad to see another FG7 user in a world full of D76, HC-110, and Rodinal



Steve

[stevebrot]

Steve, my blogging partner, when can you drop a blog post about film development on my blog page...

Done! I am now Hin's official guest blogger...

My First Post

Steve

[tuco]

Done! I am now Hin's official guest blogger...

My First Post

Steve

Ha! I especially like that last rule in lessons learned. Good write up.

[goddo31]

Quite an entertaining anecdote Steve - and I'm not trying to say that I am laughing at your misfortune, but it was kinda fun to read about!

[stevebrot]

Ha! I especially like that last rule in lessons learned. Good write up.

Quite an entertaining anecdote Steve - and I'm not trying to say that I am laughing at your misfortune, but it was kinda fun to read about!

Thanks. Glad I can be entertaining AND informative


Steve

[hinman]

Done! I am now Hin's official guest blogger...

My First Post

Steve

Steve, I absolutely love and adore your writeup. Remember when I invited you into my blog, it was my intention to seek for partner blogger but you are free to choose the frequency of contributions. I love your first post and it is my dream alive.

And please remind me about your rewards with free rentals on equipments. My Rollei should be coming anytime soon and you can pick either the Yashica or the Rollei to play with. Also all of my Tamron adaptall-2 collection is for you to pick and enjoy. My MX should also be back from Eric's CLA and shutter diagnostics and repair.

Though I don't have all the time that I want to spend on my blog, I love sharing my passion with others and my blog has become an integral part of my passion.

Thanks you so..... much and you have made my happiest Friday that I can remember for a while. It is a major milestone for my blogging efforts to have a good partner with insights, film passion, humor and an avid photographer.

Warmest,
Hin

[GeneV]

Glad to see another FG7 user in a world full of D76, HC-110, and Rodinal



Steve

I like it, but I use HC-110 and R09 as well. I may have to accept the fact that I don't shoot enough to support open bottles of all three--or shoot more.

[ChrisPlatt]

I may have to accept the fact that I don't shoot enough to support open bottles of all three--or shoot more.

For me the alternative isn't going to happen; I work nights.
When this bottle of Rodinal is used up, it will probably be HC110 only for me.
There's no more (real) APX100 film anyway...

Chris