One of the people I share my darkroom with mistakenly developed a roll of the new XP2 Super in XTOL 1:2 for 7.75 minutes at 78 degrees. The XP2 was shot outside at EI 250 on a moderately bright but overcast day. So here is the kicker...although my friend had to leave before we could make a print, the negs looked printable, as a matter of fact they look very printable! The processing included stopping the negs for 30 seconds in Kodak Indicator Stop Bath. Then fixing in Kodak Hardening Fixer mixed for film (I will get the ratio for anyone who wants it) for 10 minutes. We then washed the negs for 10 minutes. It was at this point that we opened the Patterson jug and found the XP2 Super mixed in with 3 rolls of TriX. We washed for 20 minutes then hung the film to dry but noticed chemical stain forming on the XP2. We restopped the negs for 2 minutes and refixed for 15 more minutes, then Hypo Clear for 5 minutes (all at constant agitation). Then a 30 minute wash. The chemical stains seemed to have disappeared after the reprocessing. Has anyone ever tried developing XP2 or Super XP2 in conventional B+W chemistry? Is anyone interested in hearing how the prints turn out? I shoot about 250 rolls of XP2 a year. I've just started to use the Super. Does anyone want to comment on the new XP 2 Super. This is my first time in a "User Group" so please overlook any Faux Pax on my part. Jim

-- Jim Vanson (primary_colors@hotmail.com), August 08, 1998

Answers

XP2 Super v. non-Super

I'm interested in how the Super compares to 'old' XP2. I used to use XP2, but became more interested in conventional films. What is your first impression of Super?

Dana

-- Dana H. Myers K6JQ (Dana@Source.Net), August 09, 1998.

About 12 years ago, because I didn't know any better, I regularly processed XP-1 in D-76. I still have some of the negatives, and have a print in my living room from one. It is beautiful. Don't know why it works, and I have no idea about archival properties developing film this way, but I have some very nice negatives.

-- Darron Spohn (sspohn@concentric.net), August 12, 1998.