Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2007/07/23
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]D-76 forever! :-) Jim Daniel Ridings wrote: > Hoppy, > > I certainly agree with you about false economy! I would have dumped that > jug without giving it further thought. > > The only reason to use it is to experiment with Xtol's shelf life. That, > the shelf life, has never been an issue with me. The 5-liter bags are a > good size for me. I run through them at a rate of about 1 bag a month. > That is much shorter than the 6 months storage Kodak mentions. > > So, I agree about not taking any chances with developer that has been > around about a year. > > My guess, though, is that it would work just fine. It was in a full > bottle, stored in a dark area ... > > But why take the chance? I agree. > > Daniel > > > G Hopkinson wrote: > >> Daniel I agree with all that your opinions on the XTOL. I use only >> that now myself (1:1) I've had zero problems with it myself (not >> that I'm a volume BW user). I have read a number of reports in the LUG >> of problems. >> I was just commenting on what seemed false economy to me if you were >> doubtful, taking any real or imagined risk to save a couple of >> dollars of chemicals and the effort of mixing the new batch. >> >> Just my opinion of course. Probably our original poster will come back >> and say that it was all good and I should have had faith. >> >> Cheers >> Hoppy >> >> -----Original Message----- >> Subject: Re: [Leica] xtol question >> >> G Hopkinson wrote: >> >>> Very interesting detail from Marty. >>> But I have to say, given the XTOL reputation of rapid onset and >>> catastrophic failure to soup, don't even mess with the current >>> batch. >> >> >> XTOL's reputation of catastrophic failure is about as exaggerated as >> the reports about Mark Twain's death that he got tired of hearing. >> >> Here is a snippet from a commercial processor from another list: >> >> --------------- snippet begin ------------------ >> I know I am not about to change anyone's mind on their favorite and >> least favorite >> developer but, in defense of XTOL I will chime in. >> >> I do custom film processing for a handful of people and have done >> since 1981. I switched >> to XTOL when it was the hot new developer back somewhere in the early >> 90s. In the early >> 80s I used FG7 mostly until I got tired of the inconsistancy and >> switched to D76 so I could >> replenish. Then I switched to XTOL because the people I worked with >> wanted me to. I have >> processed well over 25,000 rolls of film in XTOL and to this day still >> process 1000 rolls a >> year since I cut processing down to one day a week. >> >> I have been buying the 5 liter mixes since the old packaging style and >> I wouldn't know >> how to even guess how many packages I have bought. NEVER a failure. >> I did try to switch >> back to D76 a year an a half ago because I was trying to use Plus X. >> I got half way through >> a batch with replenisher and dumped it as it was way out of control. >> >> What XTOL does is give beautifully glowing tones especially on the >> modern films. It is >> beautiful with ACROS, TMAX 100 and TMAX 400 and Delta 100. It is very >> sharp and fine >> grain and consistent over a long period of time. I use the extended >> time system for a tank >> of developer that I run to 150 rolls. That is about 3 liters of >> developer stock. I keep the >> developer in the processing tank with a floating lid and don't even >> worry about the length >> of time between mixes. Even after a 3 week vacation I take it for >> granted it is still good. >> >> The sudden death syndrome I think was related to a few instances with >> the old packaging >> and I wonder how long it has been since anyone had that problem. >> >> Anyway I am not a KODAK rep and I don't care what developer you like >> but I am very happy >> with XTOL as is the main pro lab here in town. >> >> Dennis >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >