Shot TriX at 1600, what developer?

K

Kyle

Guest
Well, I never push film. Tonight, however, I really wanted to do some available light shooting at a bar and the only way to get the shot was to push the TriX I had to 1600. Anyways, whats my best bet for developer? Currently I have DD-X and Diafine (never used it) and can get D76 from a shop only 10 minutes away. I'm also planning on ordering some Rodinal soon. Of these choices, which would be the best? Should I go with something else? Sorry for the dumb question, like I said, I never even push, so I don't know what developer will be best for this situation. Thanks! :eek:
 
Kyle: Not sure of the Rodinal time... Merciful would have that information as he's your local pusher around here. ;)

For DD-X, see this thread.

Earl
 
Rodinal 1:50 can't go wrong... you can push it 12580 if you want...
 
Diafine. 3mins in A, 3mins in B, temp is not important, rinse, wash and dry.
 
DDX or Diafine would be my first choices (don't know XTOL well enough yet) and it just so happens you have both, so I say pick one and try it.
 
Rodinal- I've actually experimented with this. For wet darkroom process I'd limit to ISO 1600. By 3200, it's so obvious you're "all toe" that there's no point. Digital manipulation may allow another stop or so, but my experiments are 100% useless past 3200.
Whatever you do, test first. You'll save yourself a lot of letdowns that way.
 
What you got will work fine. Diafine is dip and dunk, basically, and will get you a legit 1250 and a perfectly acceptable 1600, though I find it relatively low in contrast and kinda weird in midtones. But that is _me_. Lots of folks here use it religiously.

DDX - I don't have the time, but the MDC can't be far off at 1+4 for 14 minutes. Actually, since F76+ times are pretty close to DDX ones, that seems like a high concentration, but I cannot confirm.

Personally, my own tests give me great results with either Microphen stock, 16 minutes with 3 inversions every 3 minutes or Rodinal 1+50 for 22 minutes with the same agitation.

allan
 
Dave,
I presume you'd recommend stock if one used D76? I've heard that TXT plus stock D76 has been the standard for pushing for quite some time. Personally, I prefer to start with something that gives me more speed (Microphen), or sufficient compensating effect (Rodinal).

allan
 
kaiyen said:
Dave,
I presume you'd recommend stock if one used D76? I've heard that TXT plus stock D76 has been the standard for pushing for quite some time. Personally, I prefer to start with something that gives me more speed (Microphen), or sufficient compensating effect (Rodinal).

allan
Click to expand...


Hey Allan,

Ya.. stock.
I use the 1 L pouches, that way it doesn't "sit" for too long - I don't shoot a lot of Tri-X at 1600 but when I do, I don't want to have developer sitting unused for a month after mixing it.

I know Rodinal is popular but I'll use that for faster pushes - 6,400 and upwards - and even that is rare nowadays with the faster lenses I've become accustomed to (35mm and 40mm Noktons).

Dave
 
Diafine will work best
However DDX will also give you greta results

kyle said:
Well, I never push film. Tonight, however, I really wanted to do some available light shooting at a bar and the only way to get the shot was to push the TriX I had to 1600. Anyways, whats my best bet for developer? Currently I have DD-X and Diafine (never used it) and can get D76 from a shop only 10 minutes away. I'm also planning on ordering some Rodinal soon. Of these choices, which would be the best? Should I go with something else? Sorry for the dumb question, like I said, I never even push, so I don't know what developer will be best for this situation. Thanks! :eek:
Click to expand...
 
Diafine should work great under the conditions you describe, I believe. I would not use Diafine under overcast skies or a fairly flat lighting situation but I think you'll be fine.
 
Thanks for all the replies! Its certainly true, ask three people their opinion and you'll hear five! :D I really appreciate all the advice.

I think I'm going to go with DD-X based on the sample image in Mirror Face's thread.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom