I decided to leave behind the Cinestill Monobath D96 after developing seven rolls.
The reason is simple: it doesn’t work too well with Fomapan family, specially at 400 speed. Furthermore, it feels like it loses strength too quickly.
After following the instructions to the letter with my seventh roll, I ended up with an underexposed and frustrating result. I barely managed to “rescue” (whatever that means) a few photos in post-production.
Its shelf life is only a few weeks once opened (2 months for the 500ml bottle), so that’s another downside. The instructions on this version claimed that it can last eight rolls.
I’ll always be grateful for helping me overcome my fear of developing on my own. It was easy, quick, and almost magical. I strongly believe it is great for beginners using noble films like Kodak Tri-X 400 which is almost bullet proof.
Other than that, it’s time release the Kraken and switch to Ilfosol 3.
Ilfosol 3: The New Kid on the Block
— “Say hello to my little friend”
There are dozens of developers for black and white photography. However, they’re not always within reach. In this case, luck smiled on me and introduced me to an Ilford kit that includes the following:
- Ilford Ilfosol 3 (developer)
- Ilford Ilfostop
- Ilford Rapid Fixer
At this point in my journey, I also grabbed the famous Kodak Photo Flo to give my negatives that final touch, ensuring they come out beautifully without scratches or water spots.
Getting to Work
Switching from Cinestill Monobath D96 to developing “the right way” increased the number of steps, measuring tools, tanks, bottles, and a whole array of stuff in my bathroom.
However, despite the added steps, it was just a matter of prepping everything, asking Siri to start a timer, and gradually following the timings and agitation. Watching YouTube videos was a huge help in familiarizing myself with the process.
Finally, a last bath in Photo Flo and drying for at least three or four hours.
The Result
While my images aren’t going to win any awards or recognition, I’m proud of how this first roll turned out. It was amazing not having to do any major retouching. Judge the cleanliness of the scans for yourself.
Technical Specs
These images were produced with the following equipment:
- Camera: Leica IIIF
- Lens: Canon 50mm ƒ/1.8 LTM
- Film: Kodak Tri-X 400 35mm
- Scanner: Plustek OpticFilm 8100
- Light Metering: Sunny 16
Final Thoughts
I know people will tell me there are better options than Ilfosol, both in cost and quality, and I won’t argue their point. However, these are my first adventures developing on my own. I’m learning and enjoying it. In the future, I might switch to a Kodak D-76 developer or perhaps to Rodinal, which is highly praised online. For now, though, I’m happy with Ilford’s solution and can’t wait to keep shooting and developing with it.
Thank you, Monobath, for helping me take that small step in overcoming my fear, but Ilfosol 3 is superior in every aspect.
More Pics
Your Thoughts
- What’s your favorite B&W developer?
- Do you think I can do something else to keep improving developing and scanning?
Thank you for reading!
— Your Mexican friend, Rick.