In the Details | Ilford Microphen Review

[@grampylash]

Excellent presentation as always! I continue to learn much from you and your work.

[@AlexLuyckxPhoto]

@@grampylash Thank you so much for the kind words and for watching 🍻

[@ulrikchristiansen]

I really enjoy your videos Alex. Thanks for doing them :)

[@AlexLuyckxPhoto]

@@ulrikchristiansen ☺️🍻

[@jameshanes7574]

Good to know Microphen is like DK-50. A friend gave me a dozen yellow bags of DK-50, which I like, but no good thing lasts forever and I have one left. Will order some Microphen.

[@AlexLuyckxPhoto]

@@jameshanes7574 DK-50 is a great developer! I wish I could have explored it more but I haven’t found a modern clone of the original. Thanks for watching 🍻

[@SinaFarhat]

Nice! :) I will add it to my list of developers to try.

[@AlexLuyckxPhoto]

@@SinaFarhat most excellent 🍻

[@JenniferM13]

I used some Microphen back in 2014 and I did like the look of the resulting images. I switched for a long time to HC-110 because I liked the ease of using a one-off developer, especially considering how long HC-110 keeps as a syrup. I've used Rodinal too for the same reason although it's a little too grainy for my liking. Lately I've switched to Adox XT-3 as I think the quality is incredible and I don't mind mixing up a batch of stock solution anymore, but I do have a box of unopened Microphen left over from 2014 which should still be good. After watching this I think I'll mix it up and try it again when I have more rolls to develop and see. I'm much more experienced and confident with developing now than I was back in 2014, so I think I should be able to get more out of it than I did back then.

[@AlexLuyckxPhoto]

@@JenniferM13 HC-110, Rodinal and XT3 are superb developers! And yes mix up that Microphen! Thanks for watching 🍻

[@dmytroyehorov2905]

Please, could you make a list or provide link to video about your developing gear? Want to develop at home, but not sure what better to use😅

[@AlexLuyckxPhoto]

@@dmytroyehorov2905 You’re in luck! I did a video earlier this year about just that! kzbin.info/www/bejne/eX6yXpljlN-hkKMsi=iJlpvkQWUZBB02dY Thanks for watching 🍻

[@estwern]

I don't know about it's 'life' after mixing. I have one bottle prepared on 24.02.2024. Developed at least 10 roll with it. HP5+ at 1600 ISO. Still works. (hopefully also tomorrow night when I will develop again)

[@AlexLuyckxPhoto]

@@estwern I’m sure that it has a longer life than the datasheet says, they often are cautious in their estimates! My fingers are crossed hoping your mix still works! Thanks for watching 🍻

[@lensman5762]

The trick is to keep the air out of it. If you manage to starve the developer from Oxygen, it will last a long while.

[@estwern]

@@lensman5762 i keep it in a glass bottle of gin that my daughter painted black. but i raise the time on every 3 developments

[@mamiyapress]

Did you mention at what asa/iso you shot the Rollei Retro 80s ? I have 1 box of Microfen and about 15 boxes of Perceptol.

[@AlexLuyckxPhoto]

@@mamiyapress I shot the 80s at asa-80. Perceptol, nice! I have it down for a future video review. Thanks for watching 🍻

[@tedcrosby9361]

I’ve always used Ilfotec DDX for pushing HP5+, and T grain films with great results. I don’t know how DDX compares to Microphen ?

[@AlexLuyckxPhoto]

@@tedcrosby9361 I’ve never compared them head-to-head as DD-X is more the dedicated developer for Delta films and I was never too pleased with the results I got from it. Thanks for watching 🍻

[@aantonic]

i found Mincrophen to be not so fine grain for HP5 plus but the grain looks nice and is visible, I also found to be excellent developer for FP4 at 125. I agree about developing times, few 5 rolls or so dont need extra time or you will get abit contrasty negatives.

[@AlexLuyckxPhoto]

@@aantonic Makes sense, I over-exposed/pulled my HP5+ to drop the grain but HP5 has a delightful grain structure! Thanks for watching 🍻

[@chriscard6544]

I used Microphen once in the past, it was awesome for the grain. But I mainly use ID11 and HC-110

[@AlexLuyckxPhoto]

@@chriscard6544 ID11 and HC-110 are excellent developers! Thanks for watching 🍻

[@lensman5762]

Microphen is a very good developer, but it works out very expensive to use. Presently it retails for £8.50 for a 1 Liter pack plus postage and packing which normally adds another 55%~60% to the price here in its homeland of the UK. Depending on your film type, the tank type or the dilution (1+1) or stock, you can get between 5 ~8 rolls of film from a pack. This means that the cost of the developer alone ( I always use distilled water for the developer as I have found it to be produce very consistent results, the rest can be tap water ) is anywhere from £2.50 ~ £4.00, a bit cheaper if you buy two or three packs at a time. By the time you add the cost of the rest of the stuff, stop bath, fixer, hypo clearing agent and wetting agent, you are talking of nearly doubling the cost of a roll of Ilford film, forget Kodak and their silly pricing policies or the low quality Foma stuff. Great video nonetheless.

[@AlexLuyckxPhoto]

@@lensman5762 The simple math is that photography is expensive it always has been, thankfully I’m privileged to be able to not worry too much about the cost. But I also make a point to keep things in a budget. Thanks for the breakdown and for watching 🍻