Assuming my spot meter is 100% true, what has been the experince of the group EI with Tmax400? Actually, my meter is 1/2 stop off so...I set iso to 320 to get to normal. My question is from normal.

Joe

-- Joseph Lacy (jmlacy@flash.net), May 07, 2000

Answers

I always rate the 400 at 200, which is probably as slow as it needs. My spot meter needs a little adjustment in speed, too.

-- E.L. (elperdido65@hotmail.com), May 07, 2000.

If you do your own processing and printing, I think that the easiest way to put your mind at ease is to run a couple of tests. Try here:

http://www.wenet.net/~halfhill/speed1.html

-- Paul Harris (pharris@neosoft.com), May 07, 2000.

With my particular camera,meter,enlarger,Tmax 400,developed in Tmax developer (with a 20% pull,for lower contrast,I'm using a condenser enlarger). I have found that an EI of 320 gives me the negative density and contrast that works well for my system.Full frame 35mm enlargements print with a 10 to 15 second enlarger exposure and a 2 or 2 1/2 filter. (on Polymax RC, longer exposures with Fine Art paper). You need to find the procedure that works for you. Each film is different, for example Tmax 100 needs an EI of 50 (again with low contrast development).

-- Robert Orofino (rorofino@iopener.net), May 07, 2000.

I have done many film speed tests for myself and customers over the years. Generally speaking most films test to within a stop of their claimed rating. TMY however is a different kettle of fish. I have never been able to get a zone 1 density anywhere near 400, the best was 125. Either this film has a really weird toe or I don't know what. OTOH, I have seen supurb work done with this film but even then it has what I call the "dreaded TMax look"

Personally I love TX and VP but I think TMX and TMY are the pits. your mileage will vary.

Mark

-- Mark Bau (markbau@altavista.com), May 08, 2000.

TMY in PMK pyro works best for me at 200ISO; it develops a luminous quality which it doesn't seem to have at anything faster, and of course the shadow areas are best there--for me.

-- shawn gibson (shawngibson_prophoto@yahoo.com), May 08, 2000.

ISO 400 with XTOL 1:1 at the Kodak-recommended time seems to work well for me. Most negatives print on grade 3 using a diffusion enlarger, which is exactly what should happen.

-- Jim MacKenzie (photojim@yahoo.com), May 08, 2000.

I use TMX at 100 and TMY at 400 with Xtol 1:2 about 10% longer development than Kodak recommends printing with a diffuse enlarger. I also use TMY at 640 developed in Microphen.

-- Tim Brown (brownt@ase.com), May 08, 2000.

Using a calibrated Zone VI digital spot meter and a calibrated color transmission densitometer, I have recently measured TMY at 320 when developed in PMK, my developer of choice.

-- Michael D Fraser (mdfraser@earthlink.net), June 01, 2000.