b&w 35mm similar to TMax100

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Here in fly-over country TMax processing entails sending away, waiting, etc. I am practising focus/sharpness with Leica lenses and want faster feedback.

-- clarence traum (ctraum@ziggynet.com), March 27, 2002

Answers

2 options: 1)buy a developing tank and soup your own T-Max. 2)Use Portra B&W and have it processed at any C-41 minilab. I've been doing the latter (previously XP-2 Super and T400CN)for a few years now. Before that I had stopped shooting B&W because of the hassle with commercial processing, and I despise doing it myself.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), March 27, 2002.

Clarence:

Jay makes two excellent points. The convenience of C-41 is great, but I relish the darkroom time and experimenting with different development chemistry. You can easily soup your own negs in a light-tight closet or bathroom, or use a changing bag to reel-up. This gives you the control to adjust for pushing, pulling, zone system, etc.

Ben

-- Ben Hughes (ben@hughesbros.com), March 27, 2002.


DIY. Kodak T-Max 100, Kodak XTOL developer @ 1:1, TF-4 fixer from Photographer's Formulary. Enjoy.

-- Mark Sampson (MSampson45@aol.com), March 27, 2002.

Hi Clarence,

Do it yourself. You will learn to get the results you want. T-Max in Xtol is wonderful.

Regards Steve

-- Steve Belden (otterpond@adelphia.net), March 27, 2002.


Why are people using T-Max ,or Portra, rather than Tri-X or other b & w films, such as Ilford? Is it for ease of scanning, or other reasons. Thanks.

-- Christopher Goodwin (christopher.goodwin@gte.net), March 27, 2002.


I can't speak for anybody else but IMO Tri-X was a great film in its day but the sharpness and grain of T-Max seems far and away improved. The tonal range of Portra B&W (again IMO) is better out-of- the-box than I could ever get with T-Max without going to major contortions in development and printing (but you T-Max lovers take that with a grain of salt because as I've said many times, I *hate* darkroom work).

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), March 27, 2002.

Clarence, if you decide to do it yourself, also try Ilford Delta Pro 100. It has excellent sharpness, but with more snap, crackle and pop than TMX, IMO.

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), March 27, 2002.

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