Tri-X and Prescysol EF: What's Your Routine?

[wgerrard]

Just took delivery of some Prescysol EF. Tomorrow, I'll shoot a couple of rolls of Tri-X. I'm curious about the EI others use to shoot this combination, and your development routine. I.e., what EI do you use? If you shoot below box speed, do you reduce the time? If so, how much?

Specifically, if I shoot at, say, 250 instead of 400, do I need to reduce the recommended 10.5 minutes in the developer?

What about agitation?

What other films have folks had good success with using this developer?

 

[Mablo]

Don't know about Prescysol but in general if you lower your ISO you should reduce the development time. For example my ISO 400 time for Tri-X is 10min (D-76, 1+1) but I usually shoot it at EI 200 and use 8:30min instead. Agitation stays the same. My own rule of thumb is 15% shorter time for one stop.

 

[mfogiel]

I have used this combination for some time. Generally, you should follow the recommended time. This is already a semi-stand extended and very compensating type of development, so minor time variation will not do much. I have found, that EI 250 is the sweet spot - you will get an incredible sharpness and tonal gradation. I have stopped using this combo mainly because I have found that it is not well suited for landscape photos, as the compensating effect does not allow for sky darkening even with a red filter. It is excellent for everything else, although you should expect to see some grain, which might not be ideal for portraiture.
Here are a few of examples with Tri X:, first two with DR Summicron, the last with C Sonnar

 

[wgerrard]

Thanks, Marek. I suspected there is no need to vary from the recommended time, and it's good to have you confirm that.

 

[marduk]

That's right, I once asked Peter Hogan if I should decrease the development time when shooting in highly contrasty light and he said I should follow the recommended time.. I shot a roll of Tri-X in Prescysol EF and it looked fabulous. I guess Tri-X will be my main film on the upcoming vacation this autumn. Well, besides Rollei Retro 100 🙂