expired tmax 400 expired developer

[ibcrewin]

I am bulkloading a free roll of exp tmax400 in expired hc110 (6min dilution B). EI 400. Scanning it at 16bit, on a canoscan 880F. I'm noticing a lot of grain in the first two rolls I developed. Here are two samples.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ibcrewin/2297002623/in/photostream/

and

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3242/2297797084_827eedc18d_b.jpg

I was looking at some other hc110/tmax 400 combos on flickr and they seem to have far less pronounced grain. Is this a function of how I am scanning/developing/or rating my film? I am going to soup another two rolls tonight, trying to see where to refine the process, and tame the grain a touch.



Thanks,
Ivan

 

[Anupam]

How old are the film and developer? How were they stored? More information would be good.

But I'd avoid expired developer more then expired film, unless the film was really badly stored.

 

[ibcrewin]

How old are the film and developer? How were they stored? More information would be good.

But I'd avoid expired developer more then expired film, unless the film was really badly stored.

Well the film was stored in the fridge.. Only reason I know is that's where the guy who gave it to me grabbed it from. The HC110 was previously opened. According to the covington site it's probably from 1998. There was about 125ml used (I decanted the 500ml bottle to smaller bottles) but it was tightly sealed.

If the developer is old, can I compensate with longer dev times?

Ivan

 

[Anupam]

I would not use developer that old - the film should be fine.

-A

 

[ibcrewin]

I see.. So if the developer is old, can I compensate by using dilution A for a slightly longer time?

 

[Anupam]

I don't know the chemistry sufficiently well and haven't tried it. But someone on the forum might know.