Kodak DK-50 Film Developer
Medium grain developer with a tendency to produce an upswept density curve.
Recipe
Mix chemicals in the listed order. Make sure each chemical is completely dissolved before mixing the next one. Mix a pinch of the sodium sulfite before mixing the metol. Use distilled or deionized water for improved keeping properties. The stock solution may be diluted with tap water at the time of development.
Developer
| Chemical | Amount |
|---|---|
| Water (50 °C) | 500 ml |
| Metol | 2.5 g |
| Sodium sulfite (anhydrous) | 30 g |
| Hydroquinone | 2.5 g |
| Sodium metaborate (Kodalk) | 10 g |
| Potassium bromide | 0.5 g |
| Water to make | 1000 ml |
Replenisher DK-50R
| Chemical | Amount |
|---|---|
| Water (50 °C) | 750 ml |
| Metol | 5 g |
| Sodium sulfite (anhydrous) | 30 g |
| Hydroquinone | 10 g |
| Sodium metaborate (Kodalk) | 40 g |
| Water to make | 1000 ml |
Usage
Use undiluted or diluted 1+1. For use with DK-50 diluted 1+1, also use replenisher diluted 1+1. Replenish 30 ml per roll or more if negative density is not maintained.
Starting development time is 5 to 6 minutes diluted 1+1 at 20°C.
Comments
The following is entirely anecdotal.
DK-50 tends to produce high contrast negatives, especially when used undiluted. The developer mellows after replenishment. Grain is not the finest and use with 35 mm negatives may best be avoided (but so is Rodinal). The density curve is upswept (similar to HC-110). Back in the day it was commonly used as a portrait developer with controlled lighting.