Using old TMAX developer
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randy stewart
Established
My (3rd) opinon on using okd developer
My (3rd) opinon on using okd developer
My opinion re using years old TMax develop stored in an open, half used bottle: Chris Crawford is correct in every respect; Majki is nuts. My experience in B&W developers: Started DTY B&W film development in 1958. I've used at some time almost every B&W developer ever sold. For the last 30 years, I've compounded by own, unique developers. I own and use the lab equipment required to parse this debate in scientific terms. This is chemistry folks. That's not an expression of opinion. Go ahead and develop your film in your old crap. Likely you will get nothing; less likely you will get weak (thin) negatives which are so low in quality that they are unprintable by any standard of quality. Good god, if you cannot afford fresh developer more often than once every 8 years (or even 8 months), then you need to move on to a hobby you can afford. And, why would you listen to the advice of someone with 6 months of "experience", and probably none concerning your inquiry, just because he repeats himself half a dozen times. One added advice: when you buy new developer, buy something other than TMax. In terms of the image quality produced, TMax has to be one of the poorest out there for general use, unless you like like large, mushy grain. Try Ilford Ilfosol 3. If you have long term storage problems, break the stock developer into 150cc plastic bottles and freeze them until needed.
My (3rd) opinon on using okd developer
My opinion re using years old TMax develop stored in an open, half used bottle: Chris Crawford is correct in every respect; Majki is nuts. My experience in B&W developers: Started DTY B&W film development in 1958. I've used at some time almost every B&W developer ever sold. For the last 30 years, I've compounded by own, unique developers. I own and use the lab equipment required to parse this debate in scientific terms. This is chemistry folks. That's not an expression of opinion. Go ahead and develop your film in your old crap. Likely you will get nothing; less likely you will get weak (thin) negatives which are so low in quality that they are unprintable by any standard of quality. Good god, if you cannot afford fresh developer more often than once every 8 years (or even 8 months), then you need to move on to a hobby you can afford. And, why would you listen to the advice of someone with 6 months of "experience", and probably none concerning your inquiry, just because he repeats himself half a dozen times. One added advice: when you buy new developer, buy something other than TMax. In terms of the image quality produced, TMax has to be one of the poorest out there for general use, unless you like like large, mushy grain. Try Ilford Ilfosol 3. If you have long term storage problems, break the stock developer into 150cc plastic bottles and freeze them until needed.
Gentlemen, please stick with the issues and facts and avoid personal criticisms.
lynnb
Veteran
I'd had this idea but was reluctant to try it in case chemicals came out of solution when frozen, creating problems when thawed for use. Can you clarify your experience with freezing - have you found it works for some developers only or for all solutions you've tried? Do you have any tips?
I've been caught out by XTOL going off after 6 months (stupidly I left a bottle of stock partly empty), and was wondering if this could be frozen. I also have an unopened bottle of TMAX that's 6 months old, stored in the dark, so I'm assuming it will be quite OK but once opened it would be convenient if it could be frozen in useful batch volumes - although excluding air from glass bottles is probably easier.
leicapixie
Well-known
I have a 50% solution to problem of old, 8 years opened, 1/2 full bottle.
Cut a piece of film off and develop as reqd.
If it's good (luck be a Lady) it's OK.
If NOT. Well only a few frames lost..
Personally have developer disposed safely..
Cut a piece of film off and develop as reqd.
If it's good (luck be a Lady) it's OK.
If NOT. Well only a few frames lost..
Personally have developer disposed safely..
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Majki
Well-known
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
Film isn't cheap these days. Does it really pay to sacrifice a roll of good film to see if outdated developer is any good? Or is it better to put the price of a test roll toward a fresh bottle of developer?
And if an old outdated roll is used for the test, and the negative comes out too thin, was it the developer or the film that was too old?
leicapixie
Well-known
My solution cheap!
I once found a Rodial developer (ORIGINAL) that did work perfectly.
It was years old! Basically flakes and some liquid, enough for a roll at !:100.
T-Max is not the same.
The cost of film, the time to expose and make exposures all hanging on developer..
Value your own time better.
I once found a Rodial developer (ORIGINAL) that did work perfectly.
It was years old! Basically flakes and some liquid, enough for a roll at !:100.
T-Max is not the same.
The cost of film, the time to expose and make exposures all hanging on developer..
Value your own time better.
Last edited:
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
It looks like here it is in the opposite.
Reading what others have posted with exactly the same experience as in OP is hard to accept for some here who are posting without same experience, but broad assumptions and sitting on the high horse. 😎
Karlovak
Established
Loud and rowdy, the stereotypes are asserting themselves.
Things are simple, until they aren't quite so anymore.
Things are simple, until they aren't quite so anymore.
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