Osiris F1 Film Developer May 2026

Osiris F1 won't make you a better photographer. But it will stop you from blaming your chemistry for flat negatives. Give it a try—your scanner or enlarger will thank you. Has anyone else tried Osiris F1? What’s your dilution for pushing Delta 3200? Drop your times below.

In the Darkroom with Osiris F1: The Alchemist’s Alternative to D-76 osiris f1 film developer

Also, shelf life. Because it’s ascorbic acid based, once you open the bottle, you have about 6 months. It oxidizes faster than phenidone-based developers. If you shoot one roll a month, stick to Rodinal. If you’re a heavy shooter, F1 is fine. Osiris F1 won't make you a better photographer

If you’ve been shooting film for more than a few months, you’ve almost certainly used or at least heard of the golden trinity of developers: Kodak D-76, Ilford ID-11, and HC-110. They are reliable, predictable, and frankly, a little boring. Has anyone else tried Osiris F1

Osiris F1 produces what I call "structured grain." It’s not the invisible, plastic-y grain of XTOL or DD-X. It’s also not the volcanic, artistic grain of Rodinal. It sits in the middle. Under a loupe, the grain looks tight and sharp, like fine sandpaper rather than jagged rocks. Scans come out looking detailed without requiring heavy sharpening in post.