Ilford Ilfotec DD-X Developer 1L

The shadow detail on my last roll of HP5 was honestly better than anything I’ve gotten from other developers, and it still pushed the highlights nicely without blocking up. Mixing the 1L bottle is straightforward, and one batch easily handled six rolls with no noticeable loss in strength.

I've been using this developer for a few months now, and the consistent fine grain results on my Tri-X are impressive. It keeps negatives crisp while delivering smooth midtones and shadows that print beautifully.

The shadow detail on my last roll of HP5 was noticeably deeper than with my old developer, and the negatives came out incredibly clean. It's pricey, but a liter goes a long way since it's a concentrate.