Tri-X @ 800 in Diafine?

[sbug]

I’ll be shooting a lot of Tri-X and developing it in Diafine for the next few weeks/months. Everything I’ve read says Tri-X is best shot at 1250-1600 if it will be developed in Diafine. No problem there for the most part but if I want to use the Tri-X in my Olympus XA, I’m limited to shooting at 800 since it has no manual override. Has anyone shot Tri-X at 800 with Diafine? I’d think it should be ok since the difference is small (1/2 to 1 stop) but I wouldn’t mind some evidence. 😉

 

[markinlondon]

That amount of overexposure isn't going to kill Tri-x, you'll just get more shadow detail but may want to watch out for bright highlights. The XA meter is a bit limiting, isn't it?

 

[schmoozit]

Look Here!

Click the link above. You'll see that you have waaaay more latitude to play with. Shooting at 800 will be no problem at all in Diafine.

The hardest part about Diafine is correct agitation, which can vary from tank to tank.

Anyway, enjoy tri-x, Diafine, and your XA. You'll be fine.

 

[sbug]

Mark, 800 is a bit limitiing. I have the same issue with my Canonet if I want to use it in Shutter Priority. Ah well, at least I can go manual on that camera.

Brent, thanks for the link. I do rememebr seeing that thread a while back.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Hey Scott: you should be fine with Tri-X rated at 800 with Diafine. You'll just have "thicker" negatives (meaning the detail density, not literally). It's a compensating developer, so the chances of having blown highlights are low, but that doesn't mean that you won't have more highlights than if you were to shoot the film having rated it at 1000 (my preferred rating w/Diafine) or 1200, etc.

It is preferrable, though, if the scene you're shooting isn't that contrasty to begin with. Diafine can both disappoint and wow at the same time in the same roll.

And remember: agitate bewy bewy gently.

 

[sbug]

Thanks Gabriel. I checked into the Diafine group on flickr as well and it seems like 800 should be no problem under most lighting conditions. Yes, I agitate gently, usually by slowly rotating the spool in the tank. I haven't tried a slow inversion which I've heard can work well too.

 

[titrisol]

TXP as 800 in Diafine.... no problem
Just a little bit more contrast and better shadow detail

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Thanks Gabriel. I checked into the Diafine group on flickr as well and it seems like 800 should be no problem under most lighting conditions. Yes, I agitate gently, usually by slowly rotating the spool in the tank. I haven't tried a slow inversion which I've heard can work well too.

There's a Diafine group on Flickr? Cool! They have a group for everything!

And yes, slowly rotating...I don't think I quite got the handle of that yet, sometimes I get some streaks on a few frames.