Best developer for Kodak TMY2

RichardJack · Feb 8, 2017

I've read that Kodak states the resolution of TMY2 is 200 l/mm.
So far I have only processed it in TMAX developer 1:4. (shooting 120)
I recently did a lens test of 7 of my Bronica normal lenses (75-80mm) and noticed while many of my lenses could resolve 80 l/mm (which was the upper limits of my NBS targets) there is no way I could resolve 100 l/mm or more because of the grain. This is still great film IMO for a ISO400 film and will keep using it. I'm wondering how Kodak got that number? I've always read that TMAX developer was formulated for the TMAX films and was the best choice. Has anyone that has use TMAX developer gotten better results with something else? I'd prefer keeping the ISO at it's standard rating of 400.
thanks in advance,
Rick

removed account4 · Feb 8, 2017

used ansco130 72ºF 1:6 @ 8 1/2 mins for 15 years, works great with tmy, and tmy2,
used caffenol c ( free pour or teaspoonmeasure ) with a shake of ansco 130 in it 8 mins for about 10 years worked great
used dektol in the same configuration worked fantastic
also split process 1/2 the time in dektol ( or ansco 130 ) normal agitation for 4 mins, then constant agitation with the caffenol mix for 4 mins, cant' complain.

good luck finding a developer that works the way you want !

john

Anon Ymous · Feb 8, 2017

AFAIK, Kodak and any other manufacturer for that matter doesn't get these figures from tests with cameras and optics in general. I think that you could probably perform a more meaningful test if you contact printed a resolution test target onto the film under test. Keep also in mind that your test doesn't reveal the resolution of the film itself, but the film + camera lens + ... system. In such a case, the resolution of the system can't be better than the resolution of the worst component of it. In other words, if the lowest resolution of a system component, be it lens, film, ... is is X l/mm, then the system's resolution will be at best X l/mm (this only happens when all components have the same resolution). Then, there's also another detail that you didn't take into account: Target Object Contrast. The 200l/mm figure is for a 1000:1 TOC and there's another one (50l/mm) for 6:1. Finally, the datasheet explicitly states that...

"The data in this section are based on development in KODAK Developer D-76, at 68°F (20°C)"

Hope it helps.

Ian Grant · Feb 8, 2017

As per the chart Michael's posted above, Xtol full strength and replenished, it's by far the best Kodak developer to use with Tmax films. Finest grain, best sharpness, and excellent shadow detail, freom experience I agree with Kodak.

Ian

John Wiegerink · Feb 8, 2017

Xtol might not be the best for TMY2, but it's what I would use that's for sure. I use Xtol replenished, but it is about the same as Xtol 1+1 one shot. When it comes to photography the word "best" is very, very subjective. Still, Xtol would be an excellent choice to try first and I agree about very good speed and shadow detail too.

Thomas Bertilsson · Feb 8, 2017

TMax 400 is best in almost any developer I've tried it with.
- Dark and somewhat moody tones in Pyrocat-HD and Pyrocat-MC where the mid-tones go towards the shadows a little bit.
- Beautiful grain and sharpness with FX-39 and FX-37 developers.
- Super fine grain and sharpness with replenished Xtol, great in lighting situations where light hits the subject directly. Smooth and creamy tones.
- Remarkably similar tonality wise to Tri-X 320 when shot at EI 1000-1600 and push processed +20% in Xtol 1+1. Much finer grain and resolution, though.
- Fine grain and glorious intense highlights using Edwal-12, where the 14 stop brightness range of TMY-2 really comes in handy.
- Nice tonality and texture using Rodinal 1+25 for portraits, especially in 135 format.
- Crazy sharp and wonderful sharp grain with PMK Pyro. Awesome with 120 format for portraits.

takilmaboxer · Feb 8, 2017

I once did an experiment with an old Zeiss folder with a 105 triplet. I used an eyepiece (I'm also an astronomy buff) to make the camera into a telescope with the 105 as the objective. I examined a target 50 feet away (a dictionary page) and then took a photo of the same target at f/8. The resolution using the eyepiece greatly exceeded what the negative revealed. Conclusion, the actual resolution we see is the product of lens + focus accuracy + camera+ developer+ film, all together. Want more resolution, use a bigger negative

Peter Schrager · Feb 8, 2017

I do 1+2 with xtol. .then semi stand...always excellent results. ..one shot...
I wouldn't think of using any other developers
AND you get full speed

Andrew O'Neill · Feb 8, 2017

I'm with Peter. Xtol is wonderful with TMY-2. I've used it at 1+1, especially. But I don't get full speed. EI 250. My most favourite is Pyrocat-HD.

Sirius Glass · Feb 8, 2017

michael_r said:
I'm not much interested in resolution figures, but here is how Kodak generally sees things:

View attachment 172615

John Wiegerink said:
Xtol might not be the best for TMY2, but it's what I would use that's for sure. I use Xtol replenished, but it is about the same as Xtol 1+1 one shot. When it comes to photography the word "best" is very, very subjective. Still, Xtol would be an excellent choice to try first and I agree about very good speed and shadow detail too.

Replenished XTOL. Great results with a very forgiving developer.

Harry Lime · Feb 8, 2017

Barry Thornton's 2-Bath
DD76

I find that the 2 bath approach improves tonality. I find the contrast to be too high in a straight developer.
Exposure range with the 2 bath is enormous. TMY-2 400 is a killer film

John Wiegerink · Feb 8, 2017

Harry Lime said:
Barry Thornton's 2-Bath
DD76

I find that the 2 bath approach improves tonality. I find the contrast to be too high in a straight developer.
Exposure range with the 2 bath is enormous. TMY-2 400 is a killer film

Harry,
I've used Barry's 2-bath also and it's darn good, but I find that Xtol-R does just as good for me. It digs into the shadows real well and if the scene is a higher contrast one I just cut back on my development from the norm. I agree that it is a fool-proof easy way to get darn good results, but I'm pretty sure those results aren't any better than I can get from Xtol-R as long as I watch my P's and Q's as they say.

Keith Tapscott. · Feb 9, 2017

I don't know about an absolute best developer, but I like TMY2 in either D-76 or ID-11 diluted 1+1.

jim appleyard · Feb 9, 2017

I've never been a fan of t-grain films, but Rodinal worked the best for me.

Harry Stevens · Feb 9, 2017

So the answer is any bleeding developer you have to hand.

I used modern Promicrol with my last roll of TMY2 400 120 and I got excellent results, I just think it's simply a great film that works well with most if not all developers.

removed account4 · Feb 9, 2017

Harry Stevens said:
So the answer is any bleeding developer you have to hand.

I used modern Promicrol with my last roll of TMY2 400 120 and I got excellent results, I just think it's simply a great film that works well with most if not all developers.

yep

John Wiegerink · Feb 9, 2017

Harry Stevens said:
So the answer is any bleeding developer you have to hand.

I used modern Promicrol with my last roll of TMY2 400 120 and I got excellent results, I just think it's simply a great film that works well with most if not all developers.

+1 or +2 or +3 even!

Harry Lime · Feb 11, 2017

John Wiegerink said:
Harry,
I've used Barry's 2-bath also and it's darn good, but I find that Xtol-R does just as good for me. It digs into the shadows real well and if the scene is a higher contrast one I just cut back on my development from the norm. I agree that it is a fool-proof easy way to get darn good results, but I'm pretty sure those results aren't any better than I can get from Xtol-R as long as I watch my P's and Q's as they say.

I gave up on XTOL a few years ago. Too many unexplained failures despite taking all precautions. Yes, I know that supposedly this was cured when Kodak discontinued the 1 liter packs, but it still has happen to me with the full size units.

The other nice thing about Thornton's 2-bath is that I can mix up 1 liter batches that develop about 15 rolls. That way I always have fresh developer on hand and don't have to worry about it going south.

charlemagne · Feb 12, 2017

For me tmax developer always gave the best results with tmax 135 and 120 films.
For tmax sheet film i've always used d-76, since tmax dev could cause dichroic fog according to the technical publication.
I experimented with other dilutions like 1+7 which gave softer negatives, but a bit more grainy.
I also got great results with emofin two-bath developer for night photography.

RichardJack · Feb 13, 2017

Hi,
Thanks for all your replies. XTOL certainty is worth giving a try.
I never liked TMAX films when they came out but Kodak has improved them, definitely TMY2. I have not tried TMX again yet but I think that may be the original emulsion...opinions?
Until recently I liked Delta 100 & 400 (developed in DDX) better than TMAX, but after trying TMY2 my opinion has changed.
I don't want to go any slower than ISO100.
regards,
Rick

Gerald C Koch · Feb 13, 2017

I have a note in my darkroom notebook that T-grain and Delta film do not respond well to developers with a high amount of sulfite. Therefore if you wish to use something like D-76 or ID-11 it should be diluted 1+3. There are also specific developers made for these films such as the Kodak T-max developer. If you are capable of mixing your own there is the Geoffrey Crawley FX-37 formula designed specifically for tabular grain films. Not hard to mix and contains no unusual ingredients.

But as has been pointed out previously several times, you can use just about any developer and still get fine results. Any advantage in using a special developer is slight and probably would not be visible to the casual viewer..

Ian Grant · Feb 13, 2017

Gerald C Koch said:
I have a note in my darkroom notebook that T-grain and Delta film do not respond well to developers with a high amount of sulfite. Therefore if you wish to use something like D-76 or ID-11 it should be diluted 1+3. There are also specific developers made for these films such as the Kodak T-max developer. If you are capable of mixing your own there is the Geoffrey Crawley FX-37 formula designed specifically for tabular grain films. Not hard to mix and contains no unusual ingredients.

Xtol is the exception, Tmax and Delta films are superb in it Replenished (I don't use these developers any other way)

Tmax films are also incredibly fine grained in Rodinal and even better in Pyrocat HD.

Ian

Gerald C Koch · Feb 13, 2017

Ian Grant said:
Xtol is the exception, Tmax and Delta films are superb in it Replenished (I don't use these developers any other way)

Tmax films are also incredibly fine grained in Rodinal and even better in Pyrocat HD.

Ian

Agreed. At 70 g/l I don't know if Xtol would qualify as a high sulfite developer. I think the author of the note was thinking more along the line of D-76 and Perceptol.

RattyMouse · Feb 13, 2017

I guess I was the only one who processed TMAX in DD-X. A superb combination and one that I will miss dearly after my next trip to Japan. To me, Japan has always been a time to stock up with plenty of TMAX400 and DD-X.

John Wiegerink · Feb 13, 2017

RattyMouse said:
I guess I was the only one who processed TMAX in DD-X. A superb combination and one that I will miss dearly after my next trip to Japan. To me, Japan has always been a time to stock up with plenty of TMAX400 and DD-X.

RattyMouse,
I see you are holding out just like me. I refuse to risk even one negative, good or bad, on a film like TMY2, no matter how good it "CAN" be. This dilemma should have played out months ago.

Best developer for Kodak TMY2

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