Shooting Eastman (Double-X) 5222 in the Leica

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Another one with the Micrdol X (1:1) and HC 110 (1:100). 17 minutes, normal agitation
Double X, M2 and Nokton 40mm f1.4 MC
 
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Another experiment with XX. This time PCK developer and Rodinal 1:100 for 7.5 min. Very distinct grain! Film was also quite fogged, some kind of reaction between the Rodinal and the Phenodine in the PCK. Tonal values are OK, but that grain hurts - even if it is tack sharp.
M2, Zeiss C Biogon 35mm f2.8. XX rated at 400 iso.
 
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Tried out XX @ 320 with the old POTA formula (Phenodin/Sodium Sulphite). It does give a slightly extended range to the mid-tones - though the penalty is distinctive grain. The POTA was originally designed to give full range images with slow films like Technical Pan and APX 25. It does work with XX too.
Leica m2, VC 35f2.5 POTA developer 15 min.
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This is probably the best developer for the XX. It is the Anchell/Troop's Td 201 (The Film Developing Cookbook). It is a two bath developer, 3 minutes in A and then 3 minutes in B and continious agitation. Very smooth tonality and as it is a two bath soup - little chance of over developing and frying highlights. The Pyrocat HD is also good, but tend to push up the contrast a bit. The Td 201 gives me iso 320-400 without any problem.
M2, Nokton 35mm f1.4 SC .
 
Anyone fancy Tri-X at 51200 asa + prominent grain?

Before Christmas I was trying to locate Diafine - it is getting harder over here in the UK - and had an interesting conversation with Matt at Ag Photographic. He told me about a new developer he will be stocking made by Spürsinn in Germany. I emailed Spürsinn to try and get some more info and the instructions in English

I had a replyl from Michael Weyl at Spürsinn with the instructions in English. Also some advice for me as I use an ATL-1500 autoprocessor but guess it will also apply to all rotary style development:

"It's possible to use HCD in rotary developing process – but only the part with HCD-2. Please don't use HCD-S (start process) in rotation. You can start with HCD-S by hand and use in second process HCD-2 by rotation. Even the ultra-short-time-development (extreme pull development – example Ilford HP5 + @ ISO 25) can not developed with rotation.

By rotation you need 10% up to 15% less development time, as specified in data sheet. Please test it, because rotations speed is crucial. Orient them on the highlights."

The instructions are comprehensive and cover most films. The developer can be used as a two bath or you can just use the second part. I have put the PDF on my server for those that might be interested.

Spürsinn HCD-S & HCD-2 Developer - English Instructions


Need to test it with 5222 but where to start!
 
Tom A said:
Tried out XX @ 320 with the old POTA formula (Phenodin/Sodium Sulphite). It does give a slightly extended range to the mid-tones - though the penalty is distinctive grain. The POTA was originally designed to give full range images with slow films like Technical Pan and APX 25. It does work with XX too.
Leica m2, VC 35f2.5 POTA developer 15 min.
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LOVE this.
 
Tom A said:
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This looks very promising to me. ^^^

After months of off-and-on 35mm shooting, I finally have accumulated enough film rolls to make a film run, using my eight-reel metal Honeywell Nikor tank. I have mixed up a gallon of the Freestyle Photo Legacypro MIC-X Film Developer to use as a general purpose developer, I have fond memories of Kodak Microdol-X from the '70's, and I remember how long it could last when seasoned with Microdol-X Replenisher (easily years!).
A second pack of Legacypro has been mixed into Microdol-X Repelenisher, according to the Kodak data, still available on the internet.


I'm hoping that this will work well with Eastman XX 5222, as well as Fuji Presto 1600 (I have about eight hundred feet of that in my deep freeze). Microdol-X is a recommended developer for Fuji 1600, by Fuji, when rated about Ei 640.
 

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Spooling XX into 100' Lengths.

Spooling XX into 100' Lengths.

Here, I am preparing to roll another 100' of Eastman XX, to go into one of my Watson Film Loaders. This is pretty easy to do, but you need Film Inner Spools, from used-up 100' rolls of bulk film. I have these older Kodak 100' Spools, I think this is called a "daylight load" since the spool provides some lighproofong. The smaller black inner film cores are from 100' rolls of Fuji Bulk Film.

Just roll it in the darkroom. Takes awhile, but not too bad. Then put it in the lightproof bag, and recan the film, or put it directly into the bulk loader.

Plan to do this batch this weekend. Then I will bulk-load some 36 exp rolls of XX, using disgarded C41 film cartridges from the local one-hour lab.
 

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hello all! Long no time here in RFF.

what developers do you suggest if I want to push up to ISO 1600-6400? Atm Im reading that LONG thread back here :D
 
tomasis said:
what developers do you suggest if I want to push up to ISO 1600-6400? Atm Im reading that LONG thread back here :D
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Good Info on Pushing XX Here:

http://www.digitaltruth.com/devchart.php?Film=Eastman&Developer=&mdc=Search

Ilford DDX, Microphen, Rodinal, and D96 all give real high speed with XX.
Eight hours in 1-300 Rodinal will give you EI 6400, according to the chart.

Experimentation is of course, required. Post results here, if you would be so kind. And Good Luck with it! :D
 
I'm just hanging eight freshly developed rolls, five are XX, one is TX, and two are some outdated Agfa APX400. Development was in straight Freestyle Legacy Microdol-X, at 15C (darkroom 15C ambient!), for twenty-three minutes. Agitation was ten seconds per minute, twenty seconds initial, in a Honeywell Nikor eight-reel tank.

The full sun and backlit XX negs look just great (initial eyeballing while hanging), Microdol-X is going to work extremely well for me! :) Good emulsion speed, softer lower-contrast development, they look really, really good in terms of tonality, as I was hoping they would. A few of the lower light shots are a bit thin, I don't think that is going to be the right combo in those cases.

Very promising. Need to replenish the Microdol-X, 30ml per roll of the Microdol-X Replenisher is what is called for, according to the Kodak info I have.
 
Microdol-X / Perceptol is great stuff indeed. Was my main developer (1:1) with Plus-X for a long time. I'd expect XX would be prety darn fine in that. I've left all the powder developers behind lately, but still have a pack of Perceptol in the darkroom...
 
I just developed yesterday four rolls of XX shot at ISO 400 in Rodinal 1+50 (20C) for 13 min agitating once every 3 minutes, like Tom A suggested somewhere in this thread and the negs look absolutely great! If I ever get the chance to scan the negs I'll post some samples.

Thanks Tom for sharing your knowledge!
 
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Mixed up some of Crawley's FX 37. It gives a slight speed increase over Td 201/D76. I would rate XX at 400 + iso with it. M2 and Zeiss ZM C Sonnar 50mm f1.5.
Fords attempt to hypnotize visitors to the Vancouver Auto Show - consider that this and the perfectly restored 1952 VW split rear screen VW were the highlights! Modern car design is getting truly boring - gasping goldfish looking front grilles and dough looking bodies.
 
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