Can you re-use T-max dev?

[marke]

I'm starting to use T-max developer for T-max P3200. Can you reuse the working solution (@1+4) once it's been used?

 

[maddoc]

You can re-use it but have to add some dev-time (see technical data from Kodak). Since the developer is slightly exhausted when re-using, you get even better balanced tones (from my experience)

 

[marke]

You can re-use it but have to add some dev-time (see technical data from Kodak). Since the developer is slightly exhausted when re-using, you get even better balanced tones (from my experience)

Really?! Well, I think I'll try it.

Thanks, maddoc.

 

[David William White]

Have to disagree. Working solution is one-shot, as per instructions.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Have to disagree. Working solution is one-shot, as per instructions.

Agreed. I've never heard anyone before say that used developer gave better results. It gives lower film speed in most cases due to build up of bromides in the solution. Not worth the bother to me.

 

[maddoc]

From the instructions: (PDF file from Kodak)

Time Compensation
To process the maximum number of rolls of film per gallon
of T-MAX Developer, use time compensation according to
the table below. Discard the developer after you process
48 rolls of film.
If you use this developer for push processing, discard it
after processing one batch of film. The capacity of the
solution will be lower, and it should not be reused.


Time Compensation
KODAK PROFESSIONAL T-MAX Developer
Film Size Number of Rolls
(per Gallon)
Development-
Time Increase*
* At the primary recommended time and temperature.
136-36
or
120
1 to 16 Use normal
development time
17 to 32 Normal development
time + 1 minute
33 to 48 Normal development
time + 2 minute

I have tried this myself (re-using) and it worked very well. The positive effect of slightly exhausted Tmax developer came from a studio photographer here in Japan shooting mainly 120 film with a Hasselblad.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

The OP is asking about using it for processing Tmax p3200, a film that is nearly always push processed.

 

[Freakscene]

T-Max developer was formulated to be re-used as per Kodak's instructions. I agree that tonality gets better with re-use, although apparent sharpness and real toe speed does decrease slightly but noticeably.

I can add that if you continue to re-use and continue to extend development time, at about rolls 55-59 you will get incredible, grainless negatives, but unfortunately the next roll/rolls will be blank. Those last few rolls just before exhaustion are (to me) really rather incredible - I would love to be able to use the technique for some specific applications, but when I tried replenishment of almost exhausted developer using small amounts of the appropriate replenisher and/or developer it was too hard to control for me to continue.

I no longer have enough time on my hands , nor do I develop enough film to justify re-useing developer so I use Xtol 1+3.

Marty

 

[David William White]

Hmm, I guess it can!

 

[maddoc]

Pushing Tmax P3200 means exposure according to 6400, 12500, and 25.000 ISO (possible using Tmax developer). Not sure if this was the OP's intention of pushing this film that much.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Pushing Tmax P3200 means exposure according to 6400, 12500, and 25.000 ISO (possible using Tmax developer). Not sure if this was the OP's intention of pushing this film that much.

Tmax 3200's real speed is 1000, so shooting at 1600 or 3200 is pushing. You're pushing your luck reusing a developer for a film like Tmax 3200 that is processed to a push to attain its normal box speed. The instructions you quoted say don't reuse it to push. If you guys want to reuse developer to save money then you should try Tmax RS, which was designed for replenished reuse.

 

[nbphoto]

I reuse it once only and it seems to work fine. If you have 2 loads with differing dev times, then dev the longest in the first usage, then the shorter time in the reused solution.

 

[marke]

Thanks all!

Thanks all!

I guess I wasn't clear in my OP what EI I was shooting at. Sorry for any confusion I might have caused. I've been shooting this film at EI 1600, and I've really liked the results. I'll post a few more shortly, of a gig I did in a beautiful cathedral. I was amazed at how little grain the negs show. I'm going to experiment with everything from EI 1000, all the way to EI 6400 or higher. I really want to see how I can use this film in different ways.

Maddoc, I had previously seen this pdf. But when I first saw it, I didn't realize that I was actually pushing the film at EI 1600.

 

[marke]

And the results!

And the results!

I shot this film at EI 1000, and reused some Tmax developer I had used for two other films that were also shot at EI 1000. These were the results.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

The dark areas in the bottom one look underexposed. Might be a consequence of exhausted developer. Tmax 3200 is a rather expensive film, about $8 a roll where I live. Developer is cheap, even Tmax Developer (which is more expensive than most, so it isn't worth economizing in my opinion.

 

[WoolenMammoth]

the bottom scan looks like what I expect out of TMZ, a stock I used exclusively for a few years of busy work. It doesnt look underexposed, the scan looks like it hasnt been fussed with. Once you set the black for your monitor that'll look just fine. I wouldnt want to see those highlights any hotter. The gamma just needs to be tweaked on the scan, like on most scans you see online.

 

[Goldorak]

Tmax 3200's real speed is 1000, so shooting at 1600 or 3200 is pushing. You're pushing your luck reusing a developer for a film like Tmax 3200 that is processed to a push to attain its normal box speed. The instructions you quoted say don't reuse it to push. If you guys want to reuse developer to save money then you should try Tmax RS, which was designed for replenished reuse.

Wait a minut there.

Per Kodak's litterature, TMAX3200 is native at 3200, therefore TMAX developer's Spec sheet is valid, allowing developer reuse with TMAX3200. It is not considered pushed.

I know Kodak is the most inconsistent company when it comes to spec sheets and developing times but still, the masses don't have access spectrometers to measure true film speeds so Kodak is right on this one, as a starting guideline.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Wait a minut there.

Per Kodak's litterature, TMAX3200 is native at 3200, therefore TMAX developer's Spec sheet is valid, allowing developer reuse with TMAX3200. It is not considered pushed.

I know Kodak is the most inconsistent company when it comes to spec sheets and developing times but still, the masses don't have access spectrometers to measure true film speeds so Kodak is right on this one, as a starting guideline.

From Kodak Publication F-4016 (Kodak T-Max Professional Films):

"EXPOSURE

KODAK PROFESSIONAL T-MAX P3200 Film is specially
designed to be used as a multi-speed film. The speed you use
depends on your application; make tests to determine the
appropriate speed.
The nominal speed is EI 1000 when the film is processed
in KODAK PROFESSIONAL T-MAX Developer or
KODAK PROFESSIONAL T-MAX RS Developer and
Replenisher, or EI 800 when it is processed in other Kodak
black-and-white developers. It was determined in a manner
published in ISO standards. For ease in calculating exposure
and for consistency with the commonly used scale of
film-speed numbers, the nominal speed has been rounded to
EI 800.
Because of its great latitude, you can expose this film at
EI 1600 and yield negatives of high quality. There will be no
change in the grain of the final print, but there may be a slight
loss of shadow detail. When you need a higher speed, you
can expose this film at EI 3200 or 6400. At these speeds,
there will be a slight increase in contrast and graininess with
additional loss of shadow detail. (See the processing tables
for adjusted development times.)"

Sure looks like Kodak is saying in plain, unambiguous English, that T-Max 3200 is a 1000 ISO film in Tmax Developer. What Kodak literature were you looking at?

 

[marke]

10 roll update

10 roll update

Today I ran my 12th roll of Tmax P3200 @ EI 800 through the same batch of Tmax dev. Temp was 75 degrees F for 7 minutes. I don't believe I've noticed any change from the first roll, good or bad. What do you guys think?

MP & 50/1.4 lux pre-asph

 

[marke]

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