DD-X: intergalactical champion

NB23 · Apr 9, 2014

MartinP said:
I wonder if the improvements in results noted are due to people exposing their film at their usual EI then gaining half a stop, or more, of shadow detail through using DDX ? Might be worth trying more light and the previous developer too.

Yes, it was a question I had in mind.
Basically, on a 36 exposure roll and shooting a Leica, there will always be a variation up or down in regards to "perfect" exposure. Either because of the mechanical shutter and it not being 100% accurate from one shot to another and, more importantly, because of how I choose to expose the scene once I read the meter. Go for the shadows? highlights? Or prioritizing the moment and not care about the exposure for candid shots.
In the end, a 36 exposure roll will always yield an array of different exposures that are off the strict exposure that a light-meter proposes. And all the shots look better in DD-X versus any other developer. There is a brilliance, an added vibrancy.

I'm not a fanboy and I'd certainly gain from preferring much cheaper developers that the market offers. But over and over, DD-X has proven itself to me. And too many times in the past I was like "Geez this print is so complex to print, I wish my neg had more information buried in there". This really happened a lot with any 400 negative that I pushed to 1600 with Rodinal and especially with Fomapan 400 and the old Agfapan 400 developed in any developer and at any speed. That last film would have totally benefited from DD-X.

Gerald C Koch · Apr 9, 2014

I just had to say this, intergalactic champion? Why Ford Prefect of course.

Truzi · Apr 9, 2014

Gerald C Koch said:
I just had to say this, intergalactic champion? Why Ford Prefect of course.

Have to wonder, though, if our European friends first think of Douglas Adams, or of the car.

StoneNYC · Apr 10, 2014

Truzi said:
Have to wonder, though, if our European friends first think of Douglas Adams, or of the car.

There was actually a real car named that?

PS, I ALWAYS bring my towel...

Roger Cole · Apr 10, 2014

StoneNYC said:
There was actually a real car named that?

PS, I ALWAYS bring my towel...

Yes. He explained that in the introduction. The story says that Ford chose the name to blend in, because he made a mistake in judging what the dominant species actually was. Adams explained that he hadn't realized the "odd little car" hadn't been sold in North America thus his American readers really didn't get the joke.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Prefect_(car)

markbarendt · Apr 10, 2014

Roger Cole said:
Yes. He explained that in the introduction. The story says that Ford chose the name to blend in, because he made a mistake in judging what the dominant species actually was. Adams explained that he hadn't realized the "odd little car" hadn't been sold in North America thus his American readers really didn't get the joke.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Prefect_(car)

Little by little, day by day, we get closer to understanding how "42" was derived.

Truzi · Apr 10, 2014

I always have a towel nearby too. I tried flying a few times, but kept not-missing

StoneNYC · Apr 10, 2014

Roger Cole said:
Yes. He explained that in the introduction. The story says that Ford chose the name to blend in, because he made a mistake in judging what the dominant species actually was. Adams explained that he hadn't realized the "odd little car" hadn't been sold in North America thus his American readers really didn't get the joke.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Prefect_(car)

I remember that, but didn't realize it was a real car... Just thought it was part of the story.

American that I am, I didn't get the joke... If it was a pinto, I would have gotten it

StoneNYC · Apr 10, 2014

markbarendt said:
Little by little, day by day, we get closer to understanding how "42" was derived.

Wait... Does 42 have to do with the car?

Obviously I know it's "the answer" but was it derived from something else?

Truzi · Apr 10, 2014

Adams just chose 42 arbitrarily. Either that, or he multiplied 6 by 9.

Gerald C Koch · Apr 10, 2014

I once owned a Ford Prefect when I was a sophomore in college. My uncle said that the engine was a scaled down version of that used in the model T and that he could fix anything about it with his eyes closed.

About 42; the book described the Earth as being created as a super computer that would determine the meaning of everything. After laboring for billions of years the computer came up with the answer which was 42.

Roger Cole · Apr 10, 2014

Gerald C Koch said:
I once owned a Ford Prefect when I was a sophomore in college. My uncle said that the engine was a scaled down version of that used in the model T and that he could fix anything about it with his eyes closed.

About 42; the book described the Earth as being created as a super computer that would determine the meaning of everything. After laboring for billions of years the computer came up with the answer which was 42.

EDIT: SPOILER ALERT BELOW!

Well there's more to it than that. The question turned out to be "what do you get when you multiply six times nine?" The answer was wrong because the elaborate biological program was contaminated early on by the Golgafrinchams when their arc carrying the most useless elements of their society crash landed (intentionally so, by the smart people) on early earth.

I think Stone knew that though and was wondering how Adams got the number 42. AFAIK he just made that up with no particular reason.

Maybe we can ask him later. I've heard a rumor he's just spending a few years dead for tax purposes.

StoneNYC · Apr 10, 2014

SPOILER ALERT!!!!!

Gerald C Koch said:
I once owned a Ford Prefect when I was a sophomore in college. My uncle said that the engine was a scaled down version of that used in the model T and that he could fix anything about it with his eyes closed.

About 42; the book described the Earth as being created as a super computer that would determine the meaning of everything. After laboring for billions of years the computer came up with the answer which was 42.

Way to essentially ruin the book for anyone reading this....

StoneNYC · Apr 10, 2014

Roger Cole said:
Well there's more to it than that. The question turned out to be "what do you get when you multiply six times nine?" The answer was wrong because the elaborate biological program was contaminated early on by the Golgafrinchams when their arc carrying the most useless elements of their society crash landed (intentionally so, by the smart people) on early earth.

I think Stone knew that though and was wondering how Adams got the number 42. AFAIK he just made that up with no particular reason.

Maybe we can ask him later. I've heard a rumor he's just spending a few years dead for tax purposes.

Yes I was asking where Adams got the number.

The only book I haven't read is the one that his nephew finished, if it's even published I don't know it's name...

Roger Cole · Apr 10, 2014

StoneNYC said:
Way to essentially ruin the book for anyone reading this....

Well I can probably still edit it if you want to edit yours. But I figure by this point anyone who hasn't read the book isn't going to.

EDIT: Oh I see now you replied to someone else. Well, I won't edit my post then.

I may add "spoiler alert" though.

ambaker · Apr 10, 2014

Where 42 came from.... And no it is not meaningless.

SPOILER ALERT
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42 is the answer, what's the question?

If you count up all the dots on a standard pair of dice, none of that D&D mutant stuff...

The total is 42.
(1+2+3+4+5+6) x 2 = 42.

All of life is a crap shoot....

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

StoneNYC · Apr 10, 2014

ambaker said:
Where 42 came from.... And no it is not meaningless.

SPOILER ALERT
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42 is the answer, what's the question?

If you count up all the dots on a standard pair of dice, none of that D&D mutant stuff...

The total is 42.
(1+2+3+4+5+6) x 2 = 42.

All of life is a crap shoot....

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Wait... Was this actually in the book?

StoneNYC · Apr 10, 2014

Roger Cole said:
Well I can probably still edit it if you want to edit yours. But I figure by this point anyone who hasn't read the book isn't going to.

EDIT: Oh I see now you replied to someone else. Well, I won't edit my post then.

I may add "spoiler alert" though.

Edited mine too!

Roger Cole · Apr 10, 2014

StoneNYC said:
Wait... Was this actually in the book?

Not that I recall, and I've read them all and have a pretty good memory.

StoneNYC · Apr 10, 2014

Roger Cole said:
Not that I recall, and I've read them all and have a pretty good memory.

I didn't think so, something like that I feel what I stuck in my brain, however it's possible that he in fact did that he was pretty witty, can someone confirm this came from something?

Truzi · Apr 10, 2014

Gerald C Koch said:
About 42; the book described the Earth as being created as a super computer that would determine the meaning of everything. After laboring for billions of years the computer came up with the answer which was 42.

42 was the answer, the earth was created to calculate the question that would make the answer make sense.

StoneNYC said:
Way to essentially ruin the book for anyone reading this....

Not really - there is a lot of good stuff in the book, and remember, it's a 5 book trilogy with an added short story
I used to have a nice "bible" version. Padded leather cover, gold-edged pages.

StoneNYC · Apr 10, 2014

Truzi said:
42 was the answer, the earth was created to calculate the question that would make the answer make sense.

Not really - there is a lot of good stuff in the book, and remember, it's a 5 book trilogy with an added short story
I used to have a nice "bible" version. Padded leather cover, gold-edged pages.

I have that copy

Roger Cole · Apr 11, 2014

Truzi said:
42 was the answer, the earth was created to calculate the question that would make the answer make sense.

Not really - there is a lot of good stuff in the book, and remember, it's a 5 book trilogy with an added short story
I used to have a nice "bible" version. Padded leather cover, gold-edged pages.

I have that version - printed upside down! I saw it on the newstand, checked another which was right side up, then asked the lady if they had a special order of these and she said, "Oh no, that's a mistake, I'll send that back.." and I said, "Oh no you won't!" and bought it!

Truzi · Apr 11, 2014

Roger Cole said:
I have that version - printed upside down! I saw it on the newstand, checked another which was right side up, then asked the lady if they had a special order of these and she said, "Oh no, that's a mistake, I'll send that back.." and I said, "Oh no you won't!" and bought it!

That is too cool, and quite fitting.

I lent my nice padded leather version to someone and never got it back. I have another full-version, but it's not as nice. I also have hard covers, paper backs, and, of course, the Dirk Gently books.

Ever play the text-based computer adventure game based on the Hitchhiker's guide?

Roger Cole · Apr 11, 2014

Yeah, I remember that. My first exposure to HG was in college, 1981-82, when my room mate, or actually the friend of a room mate, had a copy of the radio show on vinyl LPs.

DD-X: intergalactical champion

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