[LargeFormat] Big Old Cave

[Richard Knoppow]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Michael Bischof" <mjb85029 at worldnet.att.net>
To: "f32 Large Format Photography Mail List" 
<largeformat at f32.net>
Sent: Sunday, June 05, 2005 5:10 PM
Subject: Re: [LargeFormat] Big Old Cave


> Kodak TMAX is a great B&W film for most applications. And 
> the (matching) TMAX developer/replenisher makes life so 
> easy...
> Mike
>
   I also like T-Max but it can be developed in other 
developers than T-Max. It works quite well with D-76 and 
Xtol but can be used with most standard developers.
   The trick with T-Max is to be careful of developing time 
and temperature. The film grains contrast faster than 
conventional film so control is more necessary. The common 
complaint about excessively dense highlights is, I am 
conviced, due to overdevelopment. A +/- 20% change in 
development time with T-Max will cause as as large a change 
in contrast as a +/- 30% change with other films. With a 
little care it makes beautiful negatives. I mostly use D-76 
diluted 1:1 as a one shot for most films.
   Despite the name T-Max developer was not intended 
especially for T-Max films. As always Kodak has trade names 
it likes and sometimes applies to several products. T-Max RS 
is suitable for both sheet and roll films. It will give 
slightly more speed and slightly more grain than D-76. The 
normal T-Max RS working solution which is made from the 
concentrate by diluting it 1:4 with water can be further 
diluted 1:1 to give longer development times. Longer time is 
mainly why I dilute D-76. The longer time allows easier 
contol of development.
  If you are where Kodak products are hard to find Ilford 
FP-4 and HP-5 are excellent films of the conventional type 
and Ilford makes several good developers. ID-11 is similar 
to D-76 (but the packaged versions are not identical). 
Microphen is a phenidone version of D-76 yielding somewhat 
higher speed and larger grain. Ilford DDX is a liquid 
concentrate similar (but not identical) to Microphen and 
probably similar in performance to T-Max RS. Ilford Delta 
films are tabular grain films similar to Kodak T-Max. I've 
not used them so can't comment on quality. Fuji's sheet 
films are also reputedly excellent, but again, I can't 
personally vouch for them.
   Kodak Tri-X sheet film has a peculiar rising 
characteristic curve which is intended to exagerate 
highlights. Its good for some subjects but you have to try 
it to see if the tone rendition is satisfactory. All these 
films develop in the same developers.

---
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles, CA, USA
dickburk at ix.netcom.com