DF96 development notes
02/28/2024
Bellevue, WA
A quick reference note on development times and methodology for Cinestill's DF96 black and white film monobath. But mostly because I'm tired of looking all this information up every time it's been a month since I last developed some B&W film and need to look up all the temperatures and timings.
3 development agitation options
| Temperature | Type of agitation | Base time |
|---|---|---|
| 80°F (27°C) | Constant agitation while developing | ≥ 3 min |
| 75°F (24°C) | Intermittent agitation while developing | ≥ 4 min |
| 70°F (21°C) | Minimal agitation while developing | ≥ 6 min |
Note on agitation
The supposed effects of constant agitation on development results. There isn't any offical consensus on this opinion.
1) Sharpness Continuous agitation suppresses the creation of sharpness-enhancing edge effects.
2) Film speed Continous agitation minimizes development time because the highlights developer quicker than they would
otherwise. However, this decrease in development time can also result in diminished shadow detail because the shadows
continue to develop (albeit to a steadily decreasing extend) with longer development times.
Development time adjustments for multiple use of DF96
An 1000ml (Quart) size container of DF96 can develop up to 16 rolls of film.
A 500ml (18oz) size container can only develop up to 8 rolls
The general rule is to add +15 seconds of development time per number of rolls already developed.
| # of rolls developed | 80°F (27°C) time | 75°F (24°C) time | 70°F (21°C) time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 3:00 mins | 4:00 mins | 6:00 mins |
| 1 | 3:15 mins | 4:15 mins | 6:15 mins |
| 2 | 3:30 mins | 4:30 mins | 6:30 mins |
| 3 | 3:45 mins | 4:45 mins | 6:45 mins |
| 4 | 4:00 mins | 5:00 mins | 7:00 mins |
| 5 | 4:15 mins | 5:15 mins | 7:15 mins |
| 6 | 4:30 mins | 5:30 mins | 7:30 mins |
| 7 | 4:45 mins | 5:45 mins | 7:45 mins |
| 8 | 5:00 mins | 6:00 mins | 8:00 mins |
| 9 | 5:15 mins | 6:15 mins | 8:15 mins |
| 10 | 5:30 mins | 6:30 mins | 8:30 mins |
| 11 | 5:45 mins | 6:45 mins | 8:45 mins |
| 12 | 6:00 mins | 7:00 mins | 9:00 mins |
| 13 | 6:15 mins | 7:15 mins | 9:15 mins |
| 14 | 6:30 mins | 7:30 mins | 9:30 mins |
| 15 | 6:45 mins | 7:45 mins | 9:45 mins |
| 16 | 7:00 mins | 8:00 mins | 10:00 mins |
Note on pushing and pulling film
To push or pull film using DF96, adjust the tempurature up or down 5°F (3°C) for every half stop.
| Temperature | Constant agitation | Intermittant agitation | Minimal agitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 65°F (18°C) | - | Pull -1 exposure | Pull -1/2 exposure |
| 70°F (21°C) | Pull -1 exposure | Pull -1/2 exposure | Normal |
| 75°F (24°C) | Pull -1/2 exposure | Normal | Push +1/2 exposure |
| 80°F (27°C) | Normal | Push +1/2 exposure | Push +1 exposure |
| 85°F (27°C) | Push +1/2 exposure | Push +1 exposure | Use for 3200 film |
| 90°F (32°C) | Push +1 exposure | Use for 3200 film | Push +2 exposure |
| 95°F (35°C) | Use for 3200 film | Push +2 exposure | - |
Additional notes
- When it turns from yellowish to dark amber, the developer is close to exhaustion.
- Before using used developer, do a snip test. The results on a daylit piece of film should be opaque.
- The shelf life of DF96 is 1 year.
- The opened shelf life of DF96 is 2 months.
- Used Df96 Monobath contains dissolved silver that is harmful to the environment if improperly disposed of. After your chemistry has been exhausted, you should contact your local waste management department.
Opinions on DF96
If I were you I'd throw it away, and buy some separate developer, stop and fixer. Speed/complexity gains from monobaths are minimal, compared to consistency risks. XTOL, D76, DDX are excellent general purpose developers. Any stop and fixer will do.
― Reddit user Tach, 2020
A gentleman on RFF tipped me to filter the DF96 before I try to use it again, and then check with a test piece of film to see if it is still ok. Using a paper coffee filter, it removed sludge from the solution! Guess that was the emulsion stripped off the Silberra film, The dev was now clear again..
― Phototrio user Huss, Apr 2020
I developed my first two rolls (Tri-X and HP5) in Cinestill D96 and a Lab-Box just this past week. 3 minutes at 80F, then rinse for about sixty seconds in fresh water. I got great negatives, and they were more consistent than using D76 or any other multi-step process. I'll definitely keep using the method. I took the closed bottle, put it in the sink, covered it with hot water, and when it was 80F, poured it into the Lab-Box. Easy Peasy.
― RFF user David_Manning, Apr 2020
Resources
DF96 datasheet most of the charts and data came from this page.
DF96 product page on the Cinestill website.