A Classic

FOTOIMPEX 110 Developer

It's the same developer as Kodak HC-110, only under the European brand Fotoimpex—the dilutions and processing times are the same.

About the Developer

FOTOIMPEX 110 Professional is a highly concentrated liquid developer that the manufacturer explicitly describes as a complete equivalent to Kodak HC-110: the same dilutions, the same development times, and the same replenishment ratios and rates. Essentially, it is the same syrup-like concentrate under a European brand—a practical substitute when the original HC-110 is unavailable.

Character

Fotoimpex Universal Liquid Concentrate for standard black-and-white processing. According to the manufacturer, the dilutions, processing times, and development ratios are identical to those of Kodak HC-110—in fact, it’s the same developer under a different label, a convenient option when HC-110 is not available.

Best films

Ilford FP4+/HP5+, Kentmere 100/400, Fomapan 100/200/400, ADOX CHS 100 II, Rollei RPX 100/400, standard fresh black-and-white film.

How to Prepare and Use

  1. 1Pour the concentrate slowly to prevent air bubbles from forming; let the syrup run down the sides of the measuring cylinder.
  2. 2For precise dosing, you can first dilute the concentrate with an intermediate solution of 1 part concentrate to 3 parts water, just as with HC-110.
  3. 3Dilute the stock solution or concentrate to the desired working dilution (using the same letter designations and ratios as for HC-110) according to the table for your tank.
  4. 4Develop at 20°C. Agitation in a small tank: 5–7 turns during the first 5 seconds, then 5–10 seconds every 30 seconds.
  5. 5Drain the developer, process the film in the stop bath, fix it, and rinse it thoroughly.

Development times for different films

FilmBreedingTime @ 20°C
Kodak Tri-X 400B3 min 45 sec
Kodak T-Max 400B5 min 30 sec

Fotoimpex states that the dilutions, processing times, and development factors are identical to those of Kodak HC-110 — the official Kodak data for dilution B at 20°C is provided here as a reference for this developer; Fotoimpex does not publish a separate, independent technical data sheet with processing times.

Pros

  • According to the manufacturer, it is a complete equivalent of the HC-110 in terms of formula and performance
  • More readily available in Europe if the HC-110 is temporarily out of stock
  • Cost-effective due to its high concentration and wide range of dilutions

Cons

  • Like the HC-110, this viscous concentrate is difficult to dispense accurately without an intermediate drain
  • Less well-known than the original—fewer independent tests have been conducted specifically under this brand
  • The manufacturer does not publish a separate official technical specification with film exposure times—we have to rely on the HC-110 data