Is this normal for TMAX 400 or what might be wrong?

[newtorf]

Recently I bought a bulk film loader and it has some unused TMAX 400 films in it. I assume the film has expired. Today I developed one roll based on Kodak recommended development parameters. Scanned pics are very"noisy", especially in the shadow area. Since I have never had experience with TMAX, I am wondering if this is just what TMAX 400 look like, or it is probably due to some other issues. Thanks for help!

 

[Rob-F]

What speed did you expose it at, and what did you develop it in?

 

[jonmanjiro]

I am wondering if this is just what TMAX 400 look like, or it is probably due to some other issues. Thanks for help!

Nope, TMAX 400 doesn't normally look like this. In my experience, unexpired TMAX 400 exposed at ISO 400 and developed in the correct TMAX developer is a lot less grainy than regular B&W ISO 400 films such as TRI-X, Neopan 400 etc.

I'm also interested to know what ISO you exposed the film at and the developer you used. Also, how out of date could the TMAX 400 be?

 

[Ljós]

Recently I bought a bulk film loader and it has some unused TMAX 400 films in it. I assume the film has expired. [...]

What do the edge markings of the developed film say? Is it "old TMAX" or the recent version? The latter should read "Kodak 400-2TMY" on the edge markings.

Greetings, Ljós

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

That noise actually grain (film doesn't have noise, it has grain) is a symptom of underexposure. there's little detail in the dark tones, just grain. The cause may be that the film is long-expired, or you might have just messed up the exposure. I bet its just old film though.

 

[LeicaFoReVer]

and also posting whole photo might help people to see other details...

 

[Roger Hicks]

Early T-Max was VERY critical on exposure and development: overexposure, or the wrong developer, or overdevelopment, meant massive grain.

Cheers,

R.

 

[newtorf]

Thanks for all the replies.

I exposed the film at ISO 400 and developed it with HC-110 dilution H, 24 C degree, 9 minutes.

The edge markings of the developed film says "Kodak TMY 5053". I searched online and it appears to be TMAX 400.

I attach two of the whole images here.

 

[Tim Gray]

It's the old TMY. Old as in I think pre-2002. The TMY before TMY2, and before the revision that occurred in ~2002 when Kodak switched machines. So it's got that going against it. Old film gets base fog.

Second of all, it's going to get grainier in the shadows. It's hard to tell from the scans, but I'd wager a bet and say the shadow areas could benefit from setting the blackpoint higher. If that means you don't get enough shadow detail, then boost up your exposure in the following rolls. Try rating it at 200 next time.