About The Making of These Charts

Kodak D-76Kodak T-Max Developer
Edwal FG-7Kodak T-Max RS
Kodak HC-110Ilford Perceptol
Ilford ID-11 Plus

Ilford Ilfotec HC Kodak XTOL

Frequently Asked Questions about Films and Developers


Development Time Charts

(Updated 2/06)

The following charts are intended to give you starting points for determining your own standard development times. These times assume some knowledge of the Zone System and the principles of proper exposure.

The times listed are in minutes or fractions of minutes.

NN means "Not recommended"











Film and Developer: Questions and Answers

Students and friends inevitably ask a number of general questions regarding film and developer combinations. The following are my answers to these questions. Keep in mind that these are very subjective responses based upon years of testing and working with these products. Other photographers may have different preferences that are appropriate for their work.

Q: What film/developer combination gives the finest grain with good shadow detail and the best overall contrast?

A: Kodak T-Max 100 in HC-110 (B).

Q: What film/developer combination gives the fastest speed with the least grain?

A: Ilford Delta 400 in XTOL 

Q: Which developers give the finest grain with good shadow detail and the best overall contrast with the films you have tested?

A: See chart below.

 

FILM                             RECOMMENDED DEVELOPER

Kodak P3200                          Ilfotech 1:31 from concentrate @ 68 degrees

Delta 3200                              HC-110 (B)

Kodak 400TX                         Ilfotech 1:31 from concentrate @ 68 degrees                       

Kodak 400Tmax                      Edwal FG-7 with sodium sulfite

Ilford Delta 400                        XTol 1:1

Ilford HP-5 +                           Edwal FG-7 with sodium sulfite

Kodak 125PX                          XTol 1:1

Kodak T-Max 100                   HC-110 (B)

Ilford FP-4+                  Edwal FG-7 with sodium sulfite

Ilford Delta 100                        Edwal FG-7 with sodium sulfite

Ilford Pan-F +                           XTol 1:1

Q: Which film/developer combination gives the finest grain, the fastest film speed, and the best contrast when a very high-speed film is called for?

A:  Kodak Tmax P3200 in Ilfotech HC dilution 1:31.




About The Making of These Charts

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