T-Max 3200 Question

[cliffpov]

I tried to find a thread on this, as it has no doubt been asked and answered before here on RFF. Forgive me for asking again as I don't want to spend hours trying to dig it up again. But here is my question.

How does one shoot T-Max 3200 in a film camera (M-3 or Oly OM-1) when the camera ISO setting only goes to 1600. Thanks much for any advice.

 

[tlitody]

Set ISO to 1600 and then if in AE or auto mode and camera has an exposure compensation dial, then set it to -1 stop. If it does not have expsoure compensation dial then you have to use manual mode and close down 1 stop from metered value.
This assumes you are using EI 3200. But if you have done some film testing and determined that your EI for the film is 1600, then just set ISO to 1600 and continue as normal.

 

[bwcolor]

Perhaps you should ask what EI to use for TMax 3200. I suspect that most folks shoot at EI 1200-1600. If you really want to shoot at 3200 and you have a meter that maxes out at 1600, then you just meter at 1600 and then double shutter speed.. ie meter reads 1/125, then shoot at 1/250, or you close down the aperture one stop... ie: meter reads f/4.0...you use f/5.6..... I don't use TMax 3200, but I usually shoot Delta 3200 at EI 1200, unless I want very contrasty negatives with little shadow detail. I develop accordingly.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

JUst shoot it at 1600 and follow Kodak's developing times for an EI of 1600. It gives nicer tonality at 1600 than 3200 anyway. I always use it at 1600

 

[cliffpov]

Thank you Tlitody, bwcolor, and Chris. Much appreciated advice.

 

[Tim Gray]

Yeah I normally shoot it at 1600 unless I really need the extra stop. It looks better there.

 

[cliffpov]

Apparently this film is a 800 - 1600 asa film in reality rather than a 3200 asa film as indicated. I will use it as a 1600 asa film.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

All at 1600 on Tmax 3200. Developed in Tmax Developer

 

[-doomed-]

Agreed,
I love Tmax 3200 @ 1600 in Tmax dev.
Granted, I used some old expired 3200 and my fixer was shot.

 

[Tim Gray]

Apparently this film is a 800 - 1600 asa film in reality rather than a 3200 asa film as indicated. I will use it as a 1600 asa film.

It's not much of a secret. Kodak says as much in the spec sheet, just like Ilford does for Delta 3200.

 

[tlitody]

Apparently this film is a 800 - 1600 asa film in reality rather than a 3200 asa film as indicated. I will use it as a 1600 asa film.

As Tim Gray says its a 1000 speed film as stated by Kodak in spec sheet. Kodak use D76 to determine their ISO speeds. D76 won't give you best speed with this film. You should use T-Max developer for max speed and shadow separation, or Xtol for finer grain but slightly less speed and shadow separation.
Check the Kodak data sheet at following for times with each developer.

http://www.kodak.com/global/en/professional/support/techPubs/f4016/f4016.pdf

 

[cliffpov]

Thanks much. I haven't gotten the film yet and never used it before so I have never seen the spec sheet on it but I appreciate the insight and advice.

Nice photo's by the way Chris and doomed. Thanks again.

 

[Tim Gray]

Yeah, not trying to be a smart ass, but I'd definitely read through f-4016 before using this film. It gives the real ISO rating as well as lots of dev times for different exposure ratings in different developers.

Personally, I'd recommend doing the same for any film - there's a lot of good info to be had in those spec sheets and you can avoid some of the hearsay that sometimes gets thrown around in photo forums.

Oh yeah, and if you are wet printing this, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. I think it looks a lot better printed in the darkroom than it does scanned.