Shooting Eastman (Double-X) 5222 in the Leica

Diafine @ISO800

Diafine @ISO800

I shot a couple rolls at ISO800 and souped in Diafine 3&3@21. My objective was to try and do some astro deep space objects but ended up with the moon as clouds rolled in. This was taken with my run down Nikon F2, 2500mm catadioptic lens @F20.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31378143@N02/4390986179/in/pool-656147@N20

I like this combo and will use it for the hunt for that famous fingernail moon. :D
I might try and slow it down to ISO400 and soup it in good ole D76, but I have to say Diafine worked well on a bright lit moon.

Gary
 
Gary, I really like that shot! The diafine seems to work fine here. You probably could get a bit more contrast with something like Rodinal and rating it @ 640-800. Probably something like 14 min and 1:50 dilution.
 
Thank you Tom! Thanks for the tip! I will try the Rodinal for my next couple of rolls. I'll see if I can catch the third-quarter moon for this, that is if the Seattle weather let's me.

Gary
 
Checking in for the first time in a few months. I got a can of 5222 from Tom a year and a half ago in Vancouver and I've been gradually shooting some of it and processing it. The negs have looked good.

Up until yesterday, though, I hadn't printed any. Yesterday I printed an 11x14 of a shot I took in Newfoundland last June, and it looks really nice. The grain is very acceptable and I really like the tonality. The film was processed in HC-110 B and the print was on Ilford Multigrade IV processed in Photographer's Formulary Liquidol (I'm also experimenting with that developer, and so far I like it).

I'm liking this film more and more. Thankfully I have a bunch of that 400' can left...

Jim
 
I processed four rolls of XX yesterday, in ADOX Borax I mixed over six months ago. I filtered the solution before using it, to remove the grey matter floating about. I increased development time to twelve minutes at 20C, as alot of it was shot in lower, and flatter (low contrast) light. I would equate that to a "plus+1" development time. Negs look great, the extra time did help. And ADOX Borax does keep well for long periods.
 
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I developed 3 rolls yesterday in XTOL 4.75 minutes @ 20 degrees on a rotary processor. The totality of the negatives is good, but for some reason I haven't determined yet the negatives have many fine scratches :( I suspect that perhaps the felt seals in my reloadable carts has grit or something.
 
Three of my four rolls are light-struck.
Don't over-use Kodak Snap Caps.
I just threw four of them away, from the last run.
 
Just did 5 rolls in D23 for 7 min. Looks good, but I would reduce the time to 6-6.5 minutes the next time. Agitation 3 turns every 60 sec. Might try a slightly less active agitation next batch. Negs look good, slightly "over" but should scan well, once I get around to it.
 
Just finished uploading 41 shots on our Flickr site - done with D23. I used the "standard" mix here. Metol 7.5 grams and 100 grams of Sodium Sulphite per 1000ml of water. I did mix up the replenisher too ( 20 ml/roll) and the next batch will be with that. Not XX though as I am shooting Neopan Presto and Tri X to check cameras for a trip to Japan next week. Can't travel with IXMOO cassettes!!!!!!
The D23 works well with XX - though contrast is a bit flatter than the Rodinal stand and Semi stand. Grain is softer - but you get great midtones and good shadow details.
This first batch was done @ 7 min (20 C+) - agitation three inversions/60 sec.
 
Just bulk-loaded another ten rolls of XX. First I spooled my XX shortend onto a 100' Kodak spool, then I loaded that into one of my Watson loaders. I then sat down, and in the light, loaded the ten Kodak and Fuji cartridges I picked up and had remaining, from the local one-hour.

It's time consuming, but not too bad at all. I'd encourage anyone hesitating out there, to give it a go. This method will work in a very small space, as long as it is dark and lighttight.

Ten XX rolls will not last long, especially as it is starting to warm up around here. But I have a 290' shortend and another fresh 400' for this year. And a partial can of +X 5231.
 
Ten XX rolls will not last long, especially as it is starting to warm up around here. But I have a 290' shortend and another fresh 400' for this year. And a partial can of +X 5231.[/QUOTE]

Now that should last until May?
 
Tom A said:
Ten XX rolls will not last long, especially as it is starting to warm up around here. But I have a 290' shortend and another fresh 400' for this year. And a partial can of +X 5231.
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Now that should last until May?[/quote]


Yes I'd say at least until May. Then I'll order more. I picked up about 100 spent 35mm cartridges at the local minilab (just now), so I'm loading more XX right now.

M2 and M4-2 get XX, M5 gets Presto 1600.
 
Hello all,

I was quite keen to get hold of some of this 5222, but being located here in NZ we don't see to have the big super stores that I see online in the States. I ended up being referred to a Kodak rep who quoted me the equivalent of near $US300 for a single 400ft roll. Obviously this is a little pricey; fair enough though from Kodak's point of view, he said it'd have to come from the States, low quantity etc. Always going to be expensive.

So, I ask you nice people; would you recommend buying film internationally? Are X-rays a worry? Any recommendations for stores that would ship to NZ, that have decent prices (gee, the $US140 figures I saw earlier in the thread would be nice!)? I'd be interested to hear about non-US stores as well, as shipping from the US tends to be astronomically priced for some peculiar reason compared to even Europe or Japan.
 
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I buy the film from Film Emporium in NY at 0.38 cents a foot. I have it shipped to the Philippines, no problems with X-Ray's. Still work's out pretty cheap, about the same price as Neopan 400 locally and that's half the price of Tri-X.

Kodak Philippines are not interested in shipping it in as there is really no market for the film. This will be the same in many country's. If you really want the film try getting in contact with expat Kiwi's to see if any are coming back home they might take a roll back for you.
 
mgd711 said:
I buy the film from Film Emporium in NY at 0.38 cents a foot. I have it shipped to the Philippines, no problems with X-Ray's. Still work's out pretty cheap, about the same price as Neopan 400 locally and that's half the price of Tri-X.

Kodak Philippines are not interested in shipping it in as there is really no market for the film. This will be the same in many country's. If you really want the film try getting in contact with expat Kiwi's to see if any are coming back home they might take a roll back for you.
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dfoo said:
Or alternatively get someone to buy 400 foot on your behalf and send it to you.
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Thanks for all the responses. That is a brilliant price from Film Emporium, I suspect the shipping would push the price up to somewhere near what I can buy rolls of Tri-X locally. I might contact them and ask for a shipping quote anyway.

I've never developed before, and I figured if I could get this film in large quantities and cheaply it might be a sensible place to start, so I could learn a particular film and developer inside out first before moving onto something else. Plus, I have to say, the images I've seen on this thread are really lovely. Even a blind beginner like me can see the difference between this and BW400CN :p
 
Diafine Crescent Moon

Diafine Crescent Moon

Last Friday evening I shot 4 rolls of a crescent moon in the western skies of the Seattle suburbs. I souped 2 rolls in Rodinal and 2 rolls in Diafine. Rodinal souped at 1:50 for 14 minutes, I did 10 second inversions per minute (3). Diafine souped 3&3, 5 second inversions per minute (2).

Diafine: http://www.flickr.com/photos/31378143@N02/4463978126/in/pool-656147@N20

Rodinal:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31378143@N02/4463233815/in/pool-656147@N20

I saw a little more contrast from the Rodianl negatives but more of an "un-sharp" look from the Diafine. The Rodinal negatives looked much darker hanging side by side on the line next to the Diafine negatives which looked somewhat cloudy in comparison. I do prefer the Diafine for this example. A full moon may yield a different outcome.

I'm going to print these at 8x10 and take another look.

Gary
 
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I've been using XTOL straight up for processing my XX. I just processed 3 rolls exposed at 250 for 5 minutes rotary processing. The negatives are way too thin; they contact print well at about half my regular time (4 seconds vs 8 seconds) meaning they are a stop under. The last few I developed were for 6 minutes rotary processing and they were bullet proof. I'll try 5.5 minutes next time! With hand processing I found 6.5 minutes gave me good results.

I need to retest my XOL stock which I use replenished... perhaps it has gotten weak.
 
I did my tests today. Sure enough the replenished XTOL develops about 1 stop less than fresh. Very annoying. Throwing out the stock, and I'll use XTOL one-shot (1+2 probably).
 
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