My Favorite Developers

I have used three different Kodak film developers - Kodak XTOL, Kodak HC-110, and Kodak D-76

Each has it's strengths and weaknesses.

XTOL
Kodak XTOL developer has a distinct disadvantage of coming in a packet to make 5 liters of solution (and a liter is essentially a quart), so the contents of a packet won't fit into a common 1-gallon jug. However I I bought 5 one-liter brown bottles in which to store it and that does provide some additional advantage over the common gallon-jug for occasional use. Because the bottles remain full until use, there is little air to oxidize the contents. To mix the contents of a package, I use a large bucket and then divide the solution to fill the 5 one-liter bottles.

I use XTOL mixed 1:1 with water at 68 degrees F for 7 minutes on 35mm Tri-X exposed at EI 200. I agitate once per minute.

This developer brings out shadow information without causing an increase in film grain, and that's why I currently use it with small 35mm negatives. It has a fairly long life if kept in the smaller bottles away from oxidizing air. I've used 6 month-old developer from a sealed full bottle and it worked fine.

HC-110
This classic developer is loved by large format photographers (and even users of smaller negatives) because it is cheap and goes a long way. It also lasts forever without going bad. It is an amber syrupy liquid concentrate that mixes to make 1/2 gallon of stock solution in the USA. (Note: The packaging for other countries may be different, so if you're traveling, check the instructions printed on the label.)

For 35mm Tri-X film exposed at EI 200, I use it further diluted from the stock solution (not the concentrate) 1:7 with water at 68 degrees F for 4-1/2 minutes. I agitate once per minute. Lately though, I've been using XTOL for small negatives and reserve HC-110 for the big negatives that demand a lot of developer.

For sheet film Tri-X, I exposed at EI 125 and develop in HC-110 mixed 1:15 with water (a great, inexpensive dilution) for 9 minutes. I develop on hangars ( 6 hangars in a 1/2 gallon developing tank) and I agitate once per minute.

Ansel Adams was a big user of HC-110, and a legion of today's large format photographers still use it. It has high accutance. Here's a link to a serious user of HC-110 and his knowledge of it.

D-76
This is a classic old-time developer that was much loved for producing wonderful grayscale tones combined with good sharpness. It has a short life however. A gallon jug lasts about 1-month before turning brownish and it must be discarded. I've tried to develop film with old D-76, but the pictures came out excessively contrasty and grainy. Old D-76 makes UGLY negatives!

Fresh D-76 works wonders though. However, I prefer the longer lasting alternatives listed above for my occasional use.