Tom Gardner wrote:

I've been slow to start but now have accumulated 20 rolls of T-max 100 that
were shot as zone tests and well documented. I'm trying to decide which
developer to marry. My thought is to thoroughly explore one film/developer
combo at a time. I've found that while I'm in the darkroom, people leave me
alone, so...



If I could have only one developer, I'd have to pick HC-110. The
concentrate keeps well, it's versatile and produces good results over a
huge range of conditions and processes from stock solution (1:4 from USA
concentrate) that will develop film in a minute or two to Dilution G,
1:29 from stock, that is a mild acutance developer with strong
compensation that responds well to altered agitation, can be used for
document films like Tech Pan and Copex Rapid, and can also be used for
true stand development of conventional films. HC-110 also contains a
strong antifoggant that makes it a good choice for developing old
"found" film, and works well for pushing either by extended development
or by dilution. Some 30 years ago, I've developed with HC-110 at 95 F,
and it still works at 65 F.

Lately, I've been developing my T-Max 400 (TMY) in HC-110 Dilution G,
fifteen minutes at 70 F (which converted to 10 minutes at 77 F this
evening); the sharpness is excellent and the compensation of the highly
dilute developer helps tame the tendency of T-Max films for highlights
to run away.

--
I may be a scwewy wabbit, but I'm not going to Alcatwaz!
-- E. J. Fudd, 1954

Donald Qualls, aka The Silent Observer
Lathe Building Pages http://silent1.home.netcom.com/HomebuiltLathe.htm
Speedway 7x12 Lathe Pages http://silent1.home.netcom.com/my7x12.htm

Opinions expressed are my own -- take them for what they're worth
and don't expect them to be perfect.