Development time for TMAX3200 in Microdol X?

[Bryan Murray]

Anyone have a development time for Tmax3200 (shot at 1600) developed with Microdol-x? Can't seem to find one on the internet. I've got a few rolls of tmax from a while ago and I have microdol-x that i'm using for some other films so i figured i might give it a try.
Thanks!

 

[John Shriver]

There's no times published because it's a really "bad" match. Microdol-X is a highly solvent developer, intended to "mush" up the grain by nearly dissolving it. It has the nasty side effect of reducing the effective film speed by 2/3 stop. So T-MAX P3200, which is really an ISO 1000 film if developed to normal gamma, will probably fall to a speed of 600 or 500. The popcorn grain will be mushy.

If you really want to go there, the old film developing "computer" in the Kodak Darkroom Dataguide shows Microdol-X using the same times as D-76 1:1. Now there are no D-76 1:1 times for T-MAX P3200 in F-4016, but the computer implies it would be 18 minutes. But, either shoot at EI 2000, or increase the developing time to 20 minutes or more if you want to try and regain the film speed.

 

[Christiaan Phleger]

You could try MDX 1:3 and gain back some of the speed. I'd try 18 min/68.

 

[Christiaan Phleger]

Errr, 18 min/75.

 

[nickstreme]

Forever.

 

[df cardwell]

THIS IS NOT SPECULATION

Pardon me for shouting. Microdol-X in any form is a poor developer for TMZ;
especially poor when you dilute Microdol-X. You really won't get adequate density (or contrast)
for TMZ's native speed, 800. I tried it out when TMZ was in beta and there was no published data available.

There IS a reason Kodak does not list Microdol-X in the TMZ data !

XTOL is fantastic with TMZ. D-76, HC-110, T-Max Developer .... all the above.

 

[Bryan Murray]

thanks for the info everybody. i had no idea. i've basically been using the technique my teacher taught me - shooting HP5+ (at 200 iso)and developing in Micro X and that's mostly what i shoot. It works great for medium format but i need to figure out something different for 35mm because i like the grain. I'm trying just trix with d76.

Also does anyone have suggestions for exposing/developing Ilford Delta 3200? I'm just trying out highspeed film. Haven't used it much and when i have it's been unsatisfactory.

 

[clayne]

As DFC pointed out: Kodak XTOL. Just buy a bag and mix it up - you won't be disappointed. Don't try to square peg this.