T Max and D76

rover

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Well, my schedule has changed a bit and it isn't as easy for me to get over to have film processed any more. I have done some processing, and most of the film I currently have is Tri-x and HP5+, so I went and got some fresh D76.

My question is about the one roll of T Max that I already have exposed. What do you think, is it worth souping it up in D76 just to get it done? Should I make one more run to the processor I use? It is nothing super, I have just read all the stuff saying T Max is hard to develop, and my skills are very basic (hence my purchase of the idiot proof Tri-X and D76).

I also have some Acros and Neopan 1600, how will that behave in D76? I have used HC110 before and can stop quickly while I am out today to get some of that if it would be better.

I am planning on using the D76 mixed 1:1.

What do you think?
 
AS I don't like to have two bottles of developer sitting around, I only use D76.

I rarely use T-Max 400 as I see no advantage with it over Tri-X. However, when I do use it I develop in D76 1:1 for 12 1/2 minutes. Seems OK.

I don't know what Acros is; it's not listed in my D76 list of films. Actually, I never heard of it until I joined RFF.

I did develop a roll of Neopan once (D76, 9 1/2 minutes) and liked the results.

All of the above is at 68 degrees F.

If I were going to use a T-Max film, it would only be the ISO 100. It seems to do better outside than Plus X.

I don't see any advantage in the HC-110. Maybe someone else does?

Ted
 
Rover,

I have developed literally hundreds of rolls of T-Max in D76 1:1 at 68 degrees F. I see no reason to buy an additional developer for just one roll of film.

Wayne
 
Please go here: http://www.digitaltruth.com/, for the answer to all of the above questions. Use the link to the "Massive Dev Chart", enter your film, enter your developer, click go and viola'.

I use D:76 for Acros and Tri-X all the time, haven't used T-max but the info is there, good luck!

Todd
 
I developed a couple of Tmax 400 in D76 some years ago and they turned out fine. There was grain, but the result was OK. Definitely not as bad as what I have seen with Rodinal.

I would soup it in D76, it is not worth getting another developer for that single roll.

If you plan on using more Tmax or Delta film in the reasonable near future (to get ISO 100 for example), it might be worth considering another developer. But, if you just want to cut down and use a single developer, just use it and compare some suggested development times to settle on a time and do it.

I do not think any film I have tried is hard to develop, it is just a matter of finding a combination of film and developer that gives results I like and stick to it. Trying different films is not a bad thing, there might be something out there that suits you better.
 
hth said:
I do not think any film I have tried is hard to develop, it is just a matter of finding a combination of film and developer that gives results I like and stick to it. Trying different films is not a bad thing, there might be something out there that suits you better.

I agree.

D76/ID11 is as close as we'll get to a standard developer. It is the most popular (widely used) so I don't think a film manufacturer would dare to make a film that can't be souped in D76 (with satisfactory results). Having said that, I really like the results of Tmax 400/Tmax developer for low contrast situations. I think you get some real nice midtones, not a lot of "pop" though. It may not appeal to everyone, but that's what it's all about, finding what you like. :D
 
Perhaps an urban myth has been proved wrong. I just read so much stuff about processing T Max I got chicken.

I feel confident now so perhaps tomorrow night I will spend some time with the soup.

I have actually downloaded all the data sheets on the films and chemicals that I will be using. First batch will be the roll of T Max and 2 rolls of 120 HP5+. I found an inconsistency in the development times for the HP5+ between the data sheet and the Massive Dev Chart Todd speaks of above. It is a 2 minute difference in development time, 11 mins vs 13 mins, so I think I will go with the data sheet on that one. I have processed HP5+ before per the data sheet and had good results, so I will stick with that.

Thanks for your answers guys.
 
My data from the photography text I use in the class I teach recommends the same time (11 minutes @ 1.1) the Freestyle developing chart.
 
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