Xtol seems to be gone

<p>It does seem that Xtol will become unavailable.<br>

Would anyone care to share their opinions on a replacement ?<br>

Microphen from Ilford perhaps ?</p>

<p>Charles where are you looking? I order it from Freestyle but I don't know the country you are in. Also the same stuff is sold under the Legacy pro/Eco pro name.<br>

http://www.freestylephoto.biz/747716-LegacyPro-EcoPro-Ascorbic-Acid-Powder-BandW-Film-Developer-to-make-5?cat_id=301</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Here: <br>

http://www.apug.org/forums/forum37/110059-xtol-discontinued.html</p>

<p>It seems that Freestyle is out of stock but expecting a delivery in the next couple of days.<br>

After this the future seems uncertain and opinionated.<br>

B and H no longer shows the product on their website.</p>

<p>Seeing it is my main developer that could be bad news but I have used the ECO Pro for the last 2 years. Foma also make an equivalent developer.<br>

http://www.freestylephoto.biz/70022-Foma-Fomadon-Excel-W27-Powder-Ascorbic-Acid-Film-Developer-to-make-1?cat_id=301</p>

<p>My biggest issue with having to change developers is film speed. Xtol always gives me box speed. I am going to hate it if I have to redo film speed tests.</p>

<p>XTOL and Eco Pro are identical formulations. They're even made by the same company.</p>

<p>BTW ECO Pro is sold by more than just Freestyle.<br>

http://www.digitaltruth.com/store/cart/ECO-PRO-B-and-W-Film-Developer-5-Liters.html</p>

<p>Most convenient substitute for XTOL is Ilford Ilfotec DD-X. Liquid concentrate, mix what you need, open bottle has shelf life of up to a year. My only complaint is the price, but if you don't use a lot, it's cost effective over throwing out oxidized XTOL stock solution.</p>

<p>I seem to recall reading that ECO PRO is made by Eastman Chemicals, just like all the other "Kodak" branded chemicals in the past 20 or so years. Eastman Chemical was sold off by the pinheads running Kodak. That turned out to be a good thing because they are independent of them and profitable. So if it's called XTOL or ECO PRO it's the same good stuff. We can only hope the film business at Kodak could thrive as well when cut from the Zombie Board running that company.</p>

<p>http://money.cnn.com/2012/01/27/markets/thebuzz/index.htm</p>

 

<p>Foma Fomadon Excel (W27) Powder (Ascorbic Acid) Film Developer is the same formula as Xtol. I like it. </p>

And Fomadon Excel is available in 1L packages, instead of the large 5L packages of XTOL, also a plus in my book.

<p>In 35mm indeed an advantage. In LF not. It's just depending on what volume you need. The differences between Fomadon Excel W27 and Xtol are really very small. It's good stuff.</p>

<p>XTOL is not gone, it is now being produced by Tetenal in Germany and is available in the same packaging from several UK retailers. Some Ilford developers (Perceptol & Bromophen at least) are also being made in Germany according to the small print on the packaging.</p>

<p>In the US it's <a href="http://www.adorama.com/KKX5L.html?gclid=CM-M1r6z6LMCFYN_QgodpCwAhQ">available from Adorama</a>. I bought 2 packets a couple of weeks ago. </p>