LegacyPro L110 (HC-110 Equivalent)

[Photo Engineer]

In my experience shipping chemicals I find that the rules vary with the 3 shippers I can use. I can use UPS, USPS and FedX. USPS has a list on the desk at the local office, and no exceptions. FedX requires that I take the chemical to their local head distribution center and let them pack it and the USPS refuses to ship outright.

This applies to a developer because it contains an alkali.

PE

 

[DREW WILEY]

B&H has been inconvenient for chemistry in general for quite awhile. There might be some extra layer of restrictions there due to city ordinances or whatever, so I'm not going to play the blame game. But I can buy regular Kodak branded HC-110 straight down the street. I've never had any problem getting it. But it is a difficult product to replicate. I know someone who has successfully done it; but he has access to a full research chem lab, and only resorted to the complicated and hazardous task because he lives in a country where importing chemicals is extremely expensive and paperwork-intensive, and he has not found an acceptable substitute for HC-110 in his highly calibrated use for it. There are certain special things HC-110 does uniquely well, even though there are plenty of options for general-purpose developers.

 

[cmacd123]

B&H told me that they couldn't ship it because send more than 1/2 liter of chemicals was not allowed on aircraft since the ValuJet debacle. .

I wonder why then, that when I panicked when I heard that the 16oz version was being discontinued (and had not yet heard about the 1 Ltr version) I ordered several bottles (3 or 4 I forget) from B&H and they were shipped ALL IN THE SAME BOX.

Also Canadian Orders come via Purolator who picks them up by truck in NYC, and takes then BY TRUCK to Toronto. (a journey of about a day by the tracking results)

 

[Roger Cole]

I'd believe some things cannot be shipped by air - that's consistent with other sellers though I don't think it's as simple as liquids versus powders. But why can I buy a small bottle of Rodinal other places but not from them? Maybe something NYC specific, dunno, but it sure isn't because of national restrictions after the Valuejet crash.

 

[kintatsu]

I'd believe some things cannot be shipped by air - that's consistent with other sellers though I don't think it's as simple as liquids versus powders. But why can I buy a small bottle of Rodinal other places but not from them? Maybe something NYC specific, dunno, but it sure isn't because of national restrictions after the Valuejet crash.

I doubt it's even local, as Adorama will ship 1 liter bottles of developer via USPS air, and even B&H used to ship the 1 pint bottles of HC-110 by air.

 

[Lamar]

So what are these "unique" qualities of HC-110 that several mention but never relate to any specific image property? Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[MattKing]

So what are these "unique" qualities of HC-110 that several mention but never relate to any specific image property? Inquiring minds want to know.

Extremely consistent across a wide variety of dilutions. For that reason, excellent as a compensating developer when used with high dilutions.

In concentrate form, extremely long lived.

Great for developing your skills with arithmetic and pipettes.

 

[Photo Engineer]

So what are these "unique" qualities of HC-110 that several mention but never relate to any specific image property? Inquiring minds want to know.

In the triangle of speed, grain and sharpness, this developer is near the peak of what can be obtained. This triad is explained on the EK web site and refers to many developers and their properties.

PE

 

[Marvin]

Where

In the triangle of speed, grain and sharpness, this developer is near the peak of what can be obtained. This triad is explained on the EK web site and refers to many developers and their properties.

PE

Where is this info on the EK web site. I found the PDF on HC-110, but not the explanation of the triangle.
Marvin

 

[Photo Engineer]

Marvin, I had the file on disk and the URL bookmarked but I can't find it either. After my crash this last spring, even with backup a lot of things are GWTW. I know it was there. Perhaps another APUG user might help us out.

Sorry.

PE

 

[DREW WILEY]

It's the consistency of HC-110 at high dilution that is most important to me. I have developed a special tweak of it that gives me a very low
contrast straight line on films like TMX and FP4 for unsharp masking purposes, much better than could ever be obtained with traditional Pan
Masking film. Usually when you develop films like these for very low contrast, you just aggravate the bow to the toe part of the curve.

 

[Photo Engineer]

Thanks Michael. Shadow detail is not speed but it does represent the latitude obtained which is in a sense a measure of speed.

PE

 

[Photo Engineer]

It may prove a point about Xtol though!

 

[Marvin]

Thanks for the info looks like XTOL has the best all around performance. I have just always used the old standard D76, venturing off occasionally to try something else.

 

[Roger Cole]

Xtol is good but has its own problems. For one thing, it's only available in an inconvenient 5L size. And when it goes bad - yes I know they fixed the premature death in the small packs but this still holds - it shows absolutely no visual indication of having done so. Looks fine, suddenly works not at all. Yes you can dump it after a given interval and it's cheap enough to do that. HC-110, OTOH, seems to keep practically forever and even D76 I've had no problems keeping for a year or more in spite of Kodak's more conservative estimates.

 

[DREW WILEY]

... then there are all kinds of pyro formulas; but I guess it's kinda unfair dropping a nuclear bomb on Kodak!

 

[heespharm]

Xtol is good but has its own problems. For one thing, it's only available in an inconvenient 5L size. And when it goes bad - yes I know they fixed the premature death in the small packs but this still holds - it shows absolutely no visual indication of having done so. Looks fine, suddenly works not at all. Yes you can dump it after a given interval and it's cheap enough to do that. HC-110, OTOH, seems to keep practically forever and even D76 I've had no problems keeping for a year or more in spite of Kodak's more conservative estimates.

That's why I have a lifetime supply of hc110 and rodinal... And mix mytol/xtol as needed... The raw chemicals are stable forever it seems


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[Roger Cole]

I doubt it does anything particularly BAD either. This is why D76 has stood the test of time. It isn't the fastest nor the slowest, the sharpest nor the least sharp, the grainiest nor the least grainy. But it's a fine over all compromise and has no bad habits.

 

[NedL]

I've only used HC-110 since starting again with film a few years ago. Occasionally diafine because it is fun and that thing it does with Tri-X has a sort of 1950's look that is pretty cool and changes things up. When I read posts like these it helps me not worry about "the grass might be greener" and just keep working to make better photos and better prints. The banter that happens here at APUG is good that way.

 

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

Ned , I agree with you about Diafine , when I saw many scans at internet, my jaw dropped , but postage was extremelly expensive , one good fellow sent it to me with cheaper postage. Its still in the canisters and package. But dollar gained % 70 in few years and I dont think I will invest in film anymore unless someone sends with cheaper postage and old stuff. Diafine , HC110 ,Pyro and D23 are the best things in bw.

 

[Roger Cole]

Diafine is expensive even here but it has such great capacity the cost per film is cheap.

 

[Lamar]

I've scanned in the first few frames of Tri-X 400 developed in LegacyPro L-110. I like what I see so far. A little more grain than the XTOL but it's not obtrusive, it has a nice character to it. This was direct from concentrate diluted 1:31. 4.5 minutes at 65.1F. Small single reel 300ml tank; About 20 seconds of inversions to start then 4 inversions every 30 seconds.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/lamarlamb/sets/72157650527788326/

 

[Richard S. (rich815)]

Lamar, I think those results are terrific.

 

[heespharm]

+1 I also love that it's from a Nikon f2.... I own one just like it


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[MartinP]

Coincidentally, I recently found a full bottle of HC-110 which I had 'lost' 26 or 27 years ago. Now I'm curious to see if it still works and will try to decipher the dilution information on the side. Sorry that this has nothing to do with the OP's post!