Just to be clear. Would using a 2 roll tank filled with 2 rolls and enough 1:1 d76 for 2 rolls be the same as a 5 roll tank filled for 5 rolls? Or is the suggested method putting one roll in a 2 roll tank and filling it up as if I had two rolls in it? If it's the latter, wouldn't I be wasting more developer than necessary? Thanks.
Anitasanger, I assume that you are using a Paterson type tank.
First off, Paterson tanks consume more solution than a Nikor type metal tank.
A Paterson tank uses about 700-750ml for two 35mm reels. Nikor/metal types about 480-500.
The 2X solution for 1/2 the capacity routine is there to assure that there is enough developing reagents in the solution to work through 2 rolls of film. The concern largely applies for single reel solution capacities only- the stock solution used to make the total working volume is
assumed to contain less than what
may be needed to the job fully. In many cases though, as some here have attested, that is not really so.
In a single reel Nikor tank, 35mm needs about 250 ml. So the stock D76 amount needed is 125ml. Some feel that this amount may be too little to do the job fully, so they suggest using twice the amount, using 250mls instead, and making a 500ml working solution. The loaded reel is then put in a double tank with a spare reel. The spare reel is supposed to keep the loaded reel from moving too much (and thereby increasing developing rate)
during agitation.
Paterson tanks on the other hand, would need about 350 mls of stock D76 to make a 1+1 750mls diluted solution. Those 350 mls of stock D76 could be assumed to contain all that's needed to do 2 rolls of 35mm film, since 350 mls is already more than the "undercapacitated" 125mls used for the single metal tanks.
However, when you are using a double tank, there is already enough developer reagent in the working solution, so there is really no need to double the amount even more- like using a 5 reeler to do two reels.
In the same vein, 5 reels in a 5 reel tank should be able to develop properly, without the need to use a 10 reel tank with double the amount of solution.
As I see from the posts here, the double tank-double solution-half load capacity thing is an interpretation of Kodak's suggested starting points. Kodak do not really say to double the volume of whatever's needed to develop a load of films at 1+1 dilution. They are just suggesting that some more developer must be used for really low processing solution volumes like 250mls or less.
Kodak also suggest the same thing Microdol-X, when diluted at 1+3.
Also, I'd like to ask you again if the TX you developed at 1+1 is your first.
I have heard people react in the same way when they see their 1+1 or 1+3 negatives for the first time. The initial reaction is that their negatives are low contrast or under developed. They always base their observations on the "harder" or snappier negatives that they were so used to.
Negatives developed in straight or stronger solutions will always look denser (or with greater contrast) than negatives developed in diluted or less vigourous developers. There is no way that a negative developed in 1+1 D76 can be like a negative, in terms of density or contrast, developed in straight D76. Those developed in weaker developers will have less contrast. If the negatives all looked the same regardless of developing conditions, the need for dilution would be moot.
One old rule of thumb given in the old publications, on how to assess a good negative: a good negative placed on a typewritten page should allow you to read through it.
