Does anyone know the difference one should expect from T-MAX films developed in T-MAX or X-TOL? Shadow detail, grain, sharpness, speed? Is there a significant difference with D-76?

-- Martín Crovetto (mcrove@yahoo.com.ar), February 11, 2002

Answers

From what I've read, and my own experience, I'd rate Xtol first, D76 second and T-max third in order of overall negative quality with T- max films. But even though I don't consider T-max as sharp or fine grained as the others, I do like its look for some subjects.

-- Jon Porter (kodiakalaska@hotmail.com), February 11, 2002.

What Jon said. I don't see where T-Max developer does anything better than D-76. I prefer XTOL to both of them.

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), February 11, 2002.

Does any of these developers give more shadow detail or film speed?

-- Martín Crovetto (mcrove@yahoo.com.ar), February 11, 2002.

I don't know about Xtol but D76 1:1 has a very smooth gradation considering exposing for the shadows and developing for the highlights and all the usual.

-- Scott Walton (scotlynn@shore.net), February 12, 2002.

I agree with Jon's comments. Xtol is the better of the 3 and it does provide somewhat better speed.

-- Bill Lester (wlester@lesterconstruction.com), February 12, 2002.