Exposing Eastman (Double-X) 5222 in the Leica

Timmyjoe said:
Yeah, Plus-X was great. My second favorite, to my favorite, APX-100 by Agfa. It's such a shame these old, slow, B&W emulsions are gone. They were really something.

Best,
-Tim
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You should get your hands on Lucky SHD 100. The Chinese firm Lucky used to make great emulsions, but their quality control was garbage. A few years ago, they rebooted the company and overhauled their manufacturing processes. SHD100 (and 400, which I have never tried) are the result.

I've only shot 1 roll of the SHD 100 in 120 size and it just blew me away. I was like being transported to the Plus-X of the 1960s or APX 100 in the 1990s. Superb tonal rendition, very sharp in Pyrocat-HDC at 1.5:1:200 for 30min semistand. Exposed at EI 80.

Since I have only processed a single roll, I cannot comment on their repeatability and quality control but if it's consistent, it will go into my rotation as a keeper. The only thing I would say is that the film is fairly curly when it's dried, which is strange since it isn't all that thick of a film.

YMMV
 
Sanug said:
Beware of Lucky SHD 400 135-36. My test roll was total garbage.
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Yeah, I only tried one roll of 100 in 120 rollfilm size. I have no idea if it is a reliable film. But the look I got off the roll was pretty great.

In any case, the only 400 speed film I ever use is Tri-X. I've never found anything else I liked anywhere near as much, though TMY occasionally sings its siren song.
 
0471775-R1-E021 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Leica M2 with Canon RF 85mm F1.5 Light Sucker. Eastman XX 5222 Movie Film. ADOX Borax MQ replenished hand mixed. Scanned on Epson 4990 scanner

0471775-R1-E005 by Nokton48, on Flickr

One of my first XX inages. Leica M2 with M2 Rapidwinder directly from TomA ADOX Borax D76 Dev and Replenisher, 85mm F1.5 Canon (wide-open at F1.5). Good for cloudy days. I rolled down my car window and did this shot. I bracketed in half stops up and down to give myself a choice
 
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I don't really know how the Plus-X should look like. I shot one roll of long-expired Plus-X in 120 format recently.
Not even sure if I exposed or developed it correctly, but I like the result.

54417162113_d2512eac35_h.jpg

Planar 80 Plux-X 2402 D-76 8m
 
yossi said:
I don't really know how the Plus-X should look like. I shot one roll of long-expired Plus-X in 120 format recently.
Not even sure if I exposed or developed it correctly, but I like the result.

54417162113_d2512eac35_h.jpg

Planar 80 Plux-X 2402 D-76 8m
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Nice. The 80 Planar does portraits well in the hands of a good photographer.🙂

I cannot recall ever using Plus-X film… no idea why other than I was happy with Tri-X for years.🤷‍♂️ So, I see different kinds of results on Flickr and I don’t know what it is supposed to look like either

If one is happy with the results of personal photography, then perhaps that is all that is important. Right?

I can however recall that after seeing the 44 movies to-date, that have been made with Eastman 5222 XX…

(Film Negative Stock Eastman Double-X 5222/7222 Neg. Film)

… I have a pretty good idea of what that should look like even with the Casino Royale video showing both beautiful tones in low light and then the raw, gritty over-exposed fight scene!

It has all I need including room for creativity!🙂

So, I am happy with XX in every way. Apparently Kodak/Eastman are proud of it too, and now they exclude you, me and everyone else who is not “approved” to use the film.

It would be nice, even classy, and in my opinion the best thing for a manufacturer to be open about its business and products with us, the passionate still photographers who have purchased their films over the years and put in countless hours of work and are now alienated, marginalized if you will, with a slap in the face.

Why is it so hard to be professional, or even just plain kind to long-time customers who have put Kodak in the position they hold after all these years? We, as customers, deserve better, I think.☹️

Hopefully they will do better…

In the meantime, I am going to search and buy as much XX film as I can possibly afford. And I still use TMax 100 as one of my favored films!

I hope to find enough XX film to keep me shooting for a very long time.🙂

IMG_9826.jpeg
 
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Well, now…🤗

I just found 1 roll of Kodak 125PX film in my drsk drawer (expired in 2013).

IMG_9834.jpeg

Also with it were:

IMG_9835.jpeg

I have never used either of these films. But it will certainly be interesting to shoot them while I await the Eastman 5222 XX film order (20 rolls, could not find the 400’ bulk roll anywhere) to arrive next week. 🙂
 
In Helsinki there is a place I can easily buy Kodak 5222, but the price went up so much lately, it cost 135€ per 30 meters (including VAT). I used to pay less than 100€, which was still reasonable to me. I have enough of stock, but when I finish I will probably switch to cheaper options.
 
Current Stash 5222 & 5231 Movie Film by Nokton48, on Flickr

I lost these in my deep freeze, finally they turned up. My current stash of 5222 XX and 5231 +X. Some of us here could see prices going up several times, before access was cut off. I loaded up the truck (LOL) before the first big price increase. 5231 is ASA 80 in daylight, and 64 in tungsten light, just like the original formulation of Plus-X. I am using mine carefully, mainly in the studio with big flashes. This was lit by Broncolor Hazylight over Architectural Vellum, which is beautiful light.
 
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I sold all my Leica stuff and went back to my first love, the SRT's. So now it's XX and +X in SRT's.

SRT Collection by Nokton48, on Flickr

Who else is shooting XX still out there? I think Replenished Legacy Mic-X is my favorite for expanding the middle range. Of course you lose film speed. My last gallon jug of Mic-X Legacy worked for three years straight without issues. It seasoned nicely, a classic deep tank developer. My development times went out to 28 minutes on a Unicolor Uniroller, eight rolls in a go.
 
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Sold your Leica stuff? 😬 Perhaps it is called a well-deserved break, we all need variety and life sure throws changes in our path, sometimes good. Sometimes traumatic. I hope your return to first loves is the former!👍

I see no reason to get rid of everything else when I just enjoy what I am able to do. Currently I’m working on a number of small projects with Leica and Nikon gear.

Strangely, I was given an orphan Canon AE-1 that appeared to be inoperable. After refurbishing it myself, it looks, feels and performs like a new camera. First Canon SLR I’ve ever held, let alone, used. 😊

It has become a fun camera the past few weeks and I am getting good results. It’s a surprisingly capable camera, although somewhat limited.😇

Eastman 5222 XX film/Ilford DD-X:
Love Locks On Bridge The Linc Trail 2025 6x9 FINAL.jpeg

Desktop Vettes 2025 6x9 FINAL.jpeg

Of course, my M2 delivers quite different results so it is loaded now with Eastman 5222 XX film.
 
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120 Cinestill Double XX 5222 Minolta Autocord 283 100J Mini Softbox by Nokton48, on Flickr

Minolta Autocord Vivitar 283 Inflatable Mini Softbox Auto Thyristor auto exposure. Yellow Filter. 120 Cinestill Eastman 5222 Double-X. Test shots around my studio and darkroom. Acculight Lightbox on Minota SRT Copy Stand, Sony Nex-7 with 30mm Nex Macro Lens. Everything looks printable to my eye. Processed in Replenished HC-110B Jobo Tank Uniroller. Flash didn't POP on four of them. Oh Well.
 
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Minolta SRT-101 #16 LS2000 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Minolta XK 85mm F1.7 MC Rokkor Eastman 5222 XX Microdol-X straight (replenished) Nikon LS2000

Minolta SR-M #11 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Interesting fire equipment, reminded me of Star Wars. Minolta motorized SR-M, 85mm F1.7 MC Rokkor, Yellow Minolta filter and 85mm Minolta Hood. Eastman XX movie film EI 250, processed in Legacy Mic-X straight and replenished. Shooting motorized bursts with the SRM is a treat.
 
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