My first try to develop film on my own was a disaster

[Unlucky Monkey]

According to the box the Kodak T-Max developer is supposed to be developed in 20 degrees for 7 minutes.

I bought a new pack of T-Max 400 today and the package says "new developing times" so I checked online and found this PDF sheet from Kodak that says that the T-Max 400 is suposed to be developed in the Kodak T-Max Developer in 24 degrees for 5 1/2 minutes.

Is there a differens in results when developing in 20 degrees for 7 minutes than developing in 24 degrees for 5 1/2 minutes?

Check the PDF here:

http://www.kodak.com/global/plugins/acrobat/en/professional/products/films/bw/processChartLo.pdf

 

[blue4130]

Many people recommend a longer development time for a more complete and uniform development. I'd agree. With only 5 1/2 minutes, you may get uneven results. Of course, you may also be pleased with the results. For all the science behind developing, it can still be a bit of a magical art.

 

[Ronald_H]

Well, I get pretty consistent results with water at room temperature. I guess my negs are a little denser in the dead heat of Summer, but nothing that has bothered me at all. Hence, "forgiving"

Likewise. I am by no means an expert, but keeping an eye on what the room temperature is and correcting a little bit with the usual manufacturer's graphs I'm fine.

 

[steveohan]

Don't let this keep you from trying again!

Next time just pay extra attention to the steps as you go along, and before you know it, it'll just come naturally.

soooo true. the first film i developed was horrid. loaded the reel all wrong, messed up the fixer, etc...
but i kept at 'er and love it now!

 

[Unlucky Monkey]

This time I think I made the whole process right. I added some more chemicals in the tank (4,5dl) :-D

www.flickr.com/photos/anrakkimonki/3255515133/in/photostr...

www.flickr.com/photos/anrakkimonki/3255515139/in/photostr...

Thanks for all the advices!

 

[Chris101]

Looks good Anrakkî! Your perseverance has paid off.

 

[Harry Lime]

Ok, they look about as bad as my first few rolls.

Try this and I'm going to state the obvious.

1) Place tank, rolls, scissors and what ever tool you have to fish the film out of the can in to the changing bag and zip it shut.

2) spool film on to reels.

3) close tank, remove from bag.

4) Mix developer: 1 part developer - 4 parts water
Example: 200ml developer - 800ml water
Use room temperature water (circa 20 C)

5) Pour the developer in to the closed tank. DEVELOPMENT TIME is 6:30 - 7:00 min at 21 C for Tmax-400. If you are using Tmax 400-2 check the web for new times.

6) Agitate continuously for the first 30 seconds. It's not a Martini, but rotate the tank 180 degrees to make sure the developer moves across the film.

Agitate for 5 sec every 30 sec.

Always give the tank a good tap against the table to dislodge air bubbles.

7) Pour out the developer quickly. Do not open the tank!

8) Rinse film with clean water a few times to get rid of the developer. Do not open the tank!

9) Pour in fresh fixer. Do not open the tank!

10) Agitate fixer similar to the developer. Try 5 - 8 minutes. That should get rid of the magenta.

11) Pour out fixer. (reuse)

12) Open tank, wash film for 10 minutes at 20 -25 C. Make sure you pour the water out a few times. Chemicals are heavier than water and settle at the bottom of the tank.

13) Add a few drops of wetting agent (Photoflow) to the water and let it coat the film.

14) Take the film off the spools and hang them from a line in a room with little dust. The bathroom is your best bet. Let the shower run with hot water for a minute to suppress dust in the air.

 

[Unlucky Monkey]

The problem is solved!

What I did wrong (atleast one things I did wrong) was that I didn´t use enough fix.

The first try:
www.flickr.com/photos/anrakkimonki/3242557118

And after some more fix:
www.flickr.com/photos/anrakkimonki/3260657664/in/photostr...

And a second photo...

Check first try:
www.flickr.com/photos/anrakkimonki/3242557288/in/photostr...

And then after some more fix:
www.flickr.com/photos/anrakkimonki/3260657818/