Still playing with TMY2 to get it right... all the other images were terribly under exposed, I think I had just changed lenses and accidentally hadn't adjusted the aperture yet. I'm kind of getting sick of trying to make Tmax400 work, I've never had such a hard time with any film ever, it's so unpredictable and seems to never come out the same, even if the neg looks good the scan (yes I scan) comes out all wrong. I have two more rolls of it, we'll see...
Tmax requires more consistency in processing than other films. Same times, same temperature, same inversion timing/technique. I've found it to be very predictable in d76, xtol, and pyrocat-hd. never tried it in rodinal.
It ain't Tri-X and as jp mentioned, you really need to get the process down and consistent to make it perform at will. Like any film, it can be molded to suit your vision. If the negs look good and the scans are wrong (whatever that means), well, then you need look there. As a general rule, for scanning, you want to under-develop a bit.
Thanks guys, everyone is talking consistency, but I don't think I could be any more consistent than I already am, the only thing I've been changing is the dev time and exposire index. I've settled on EI 320 because any slower an what's the point I might as well just use Acros100 at EI200. I want to try PMK/PyroHD but I don't want to buy any NEW dev's I have too many as it is. Haha but I found it terrible in HC-110, and OK in Rodinal pushed, so I've been playing with that. I think I'll just use up my PanF+ and Acros100 on what I like and save the TMY2 for the pyro when I get some. I like the price of TMY2 but I'm going to try out some Delta400 ilfords never disappointed so I'm hopeful.
Yes, the temperature in my house is a constant 70 degrees (plus or minus 2 as any central air system would be, but it's new and efficient. I always measure the temp of the dev water to keep it at 70 before I begin. I use the massive dev chart app on my phone which means my timing for agitation is precise to the second. I'm fairly anal natured in general but ultra careful with TMY2. My water is filtered, and supposedly the best water on the country anyway (though best is relative for film processing but there aren't tons of deposits in the water even before it is filtered). So I can't figure out what else to consider. I HAVE changed my agitation technique to a much gentler rotation with fewer rotations per cycle which did help. I just think I DON'T like such a "straight curve" I think it's called, as a film, I don't want the image to be so even, I want contrast, I want to blow out the highlights sometimes purposefully when I choose to and not when I choose as well. And I want white skinned people to look white not black haha, that's the main issue, I'm always having to adjust the pre-scan because everyone is so dark, even if the scene is not underexposed.
Yes, the temperature in my house is a constant 70 degrees (plus or minus 2 as any central air system would be, but it's new and efficient. I always measure the temp of the dev water to keep it at 70 before I begin. I use the massive dev chart app on my phone which means my timing for agitation is precise to the second. I'm fairly anal natured in general but ultra careful with TMY2. My water is filtered, and supposedly the best water on the country anyway (though best is relative for film processing but there aren't tons of deposits in the water even before it is filtered). So I can't figure out what else to consider. I HAVE changed my agitation technique to a much gentler rotation with fewer rotations per cycle which did help. I just think I DON'T like such a "straight curve" I think it's called, as a film, I don't want the image to be so even, I want contrast, I want to blow out the highlights sometimes purposefully when I choose to and not when I choose as well. And I want white skinned people to look white not black haha, that's the main issue, I'm always having to adjust the pre-scan because everyone is so dark, even if the scene is not underexposed.
Make it easy on yourself then and just shoot Tri-X @ 200, and develop in HC 110 1:50 for six minutes. 5 quick inversions, then 2-3 every 30 sec. Look at Sanders McNew's portfolio.
No, I shoot Traditional B&W so I can save $, that would kind of defeat the purpose haha, thanks though, I hate C-41 and wish it would die, E-6 all the way baby!
Hey now...XP2 is pretty nice. : ) Hopefully not a stupid question as you seem to be careful with everything photographic but, just in case, is your TMY2 fresh and stored in a cool, dry place? T-Max seems more sensitive to aging than other films (to me).
Just re-trying TMax 400, but your result here looks really good to me, nice highlights, plenty of shadow detail etc. Can't see any problem with a scanned neg.
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