Just got some D-76 developer - any tips you can share?

[Pirate]

I have two rolls of Tri-X 400 to develop and my Rollei devs are used up. One roll I really want developed right. The other can be a test bed, it's just from a car show.

So any tips you can share for using D-76 with Tri-X 400?

 

[Colin Corneau]

The Massive Development Chart, found online, seems to be the starting reference point. I can vouch for its accuracy...although some tweaking may be needed depending on personal preference, technique, etc.

All things being equal - standard temperatures, normal agitation, etc. - it's reliable information. I like it so much I got the app for my iPhone.

 

[Tom A]

It does depend on what iso you used - or if you "guesstimated" exposures. My standard for D76 is 1:1 for 10 min - normal agitation (40-60sec initial and then 3 "flips"/60 sec). If you "secure" in the exposures - that should do it - if the light was flat - you can safely add another minute to the time. Both D76 and TriX has substantial 'slop" factors built in to them.
I am at the moment doing only D76/TriX as an experiment (been ongoing for 40+ years!). Check our Flickr and click on the set "Back to Basics" and there is a couple of 100 shots, some old, some new - all done with D76 1:1/10 min.

 

[Pirate]

Thanks!

The roll I really want to come out only has two shots on it. 120 roll with the first shot bracketed in 3 parts. The second shot bracketed in 5 parts. Something should come out useable no matter what, but I always want to ask here first.

And I have the dev chart on my iPhone too ;-)

 

[Phil_F_NM]

I like it diluted 1:2 with just under double development time. This works fantastically when souping Plus-X.

For larger grained films like Tri-X, the developer doesn't "melt" the grain as much so 1:1 is a good standard.

Phil Forrest

 

[dmc]

I use it 1:1 myself with great results. Follow Tom's advice, you will not go wrong. Cheers. 😀

 

[Pirate]

I keep forgetting to put the pertinent info. I took those two shots with Flash in my basement studio. They should be pretty clean, I hope.
I'll mix up the D-76 tomorrow and try it out, then let you guys know.

 

[Pirate]

And how many rolls do you get to a bag (3.8) of D76?

 

[tj01]

I get 16-17 rolls of 120, or 30-34 rolls of 135. ( based on 1:1 ). I use stainless steel tanks with either 2 reels per 120, or 4 reels per 135.
They are mixed in an old 5 litre Ilford container where I drew a line to denote 1 gallon.
Hope this helps.

 

[Pirate]

That does help, thanks.

 

[Ducky]

I am very sloppy with my processing. 1:1 at room temp usually, 30-40 second initial agitation, whenever I remember after that. 10 minutes on the button, wash and fix with the same sloppy method as with the D-76. Rinse thoroughly with a drop of dishwashing liquid in the final wash, no rinse at all, just snap dry or squeegy with my fingers.
I use this method on everything including cheap C-41 which, of course, comes out bw.

 

[Chris101]

And how many rolls do you get to a bag (3.8) of D76?

If you dilute it 1:1, just use it once. So assuming a roll of 120 per 500 mL, then 7600 mL of 1:1 (3.8L x 2 for dilution) should soup 15 or so rolls.

 

[Pirate]

Thanks again, I'm looking forward to getting this roll done.

Tom A - Your Flickr set is great. How do you shoot your Tri-X? Box speed? +1 overexposed? ... ?

 

[Tom A]

Thanks again, I'm looking forward to getting this roll done.

Tom A - Your Flickr set is great. How do you shoot your Tri-X? Box speed? +1 overexposed? ... ?

Most of the time it is shot at around 320 - with M's and Nikon Rf's it is very much "Sunny F16" - guessing exposures and compensating for things like bright walls or dark doorways subconsciously. Wit metered cameras I usually argue with the meter and try to compensate with a +1/2 or 2/3 exposure - or I just ignore it and figure that TriX/D76 is pretty forgiving for foul-ups.

 

[Pirate]

Thanks! Most of my Tri-X will be with my M3 but I have some for the Hasselblad too, and this one roll I want to develop was form the Hassy shot at box speed with one strobe in the studio. Luckily I had my digital so I snapped with that at the same settings to make sure everything would come out right - isn't that like using a polaroid from before the digital day? I should be souping that roll later today.