Acufine Diafine Developer A (Makes 1 Quart)

Comments about Acufine Diafine Developer A (Makes 1 Quart):

Use to use pan X pushed to 400 and have grainless 11x16 prints that still look perfect, I wish that it was still available

Comments about Acufine Diafine Developer A (Makes 1 Quart):

I use this to develop Tri-X exposed at 1600. If you follow the instructions it gives excellent negatives. A note about mixing the chemicals: Make sure you are within the prescribed temperature range, otherwise it will take a long long time for the powders to get completely dissolved.

Comments about Acufine Diafine Developer A (Makes 1 Quart):

Diafine is my favorite film developer. Why? It's simple, really: you don't need to worry your little heart about development time, or even for that matter about temperature! For almost any film you're processing, you soup it for three minutes in bath A, then three minutes in bath B. You can even throw different kinds of film in the same batch; with the exception of a couple of esoteric ones, all films get the same 3+3 treatment. As long as you're get yourself somewhere between 70º and 85º, temperature has no effect. Great if you're trying to put together a DIY darkroom in your apartment; no need for tempered water.

Another upside: all your films get an ISO push in Diafine. You rate Tri-X at ISO 1600, for example, when processing in Diafine. Ilford Pan-F gets a bump from ISO 50 to 80.

The only downside is that, since there's only one developing time and temperature has no effect, you can't push or pull process; you're stuck with the contrast and EI you've got. This is less of a problem if you're scanning your negatives, though; Photoshop is going to give you a far greater degree of contrast control anyway.

Comments about Acufine Diafine Developer A (Makes 1 Quart):

You can’t process B&W film any easier with this two-step process. Virtually impossible to mess up. For most films, its 3 min A and 3 min B, although there is extensive information on the Internet per the exact type of film you are using...whether that be from Kodak, Fuji, Foma, etc. Diafine also allows you to easily “push” film.

Unless you are doing a ton of processing, I would go with the quart size, as the stock solution can be used over-and-over again. Some have said it has lasted them one year or more under moderate use.

I called the factory and talked with one of their technical people and he suggested that I store the solutions in glass instead of plastic. So, I bought some Ball quart canning jars to hold the two different parts and keep them in total darkness when not in use.