Favorite developer for tmax 400

[peter k.]

Getting into Tmax 400.. and have tried D-76 and Hc-110 on some 120 roll film. But as were going to order some Tmax 4x5 sheet film, was thinking of trying another developer with the new learning experience.
Were located in the bright sunny southwest so highlights on some shots can sometimes be quite extreme.
Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[warden]

For controlling those hot spots I like Xtol 1+1 with TMax400 with reduced development. (I'm assuming 4x5 will be no different from 120 which is what I use)

 

[Jim Blomfield]

I continue to be very happy with either Ilfotec DDX or Kodak Tmax Developer with Tmax 400.

 

[MattKing]

Replenished X-Tol.
And a replenishment regime is perfect for sheet film!

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I have two. Pyrocat-HD, and Xtol 1+1.

 

[Alan9940]

Pyrocat-HD for me.

 

[peter k.]

XTOL looks interesting,,, but has a short shelf life. AKA http://www.covingtoninnovations.com/xtol/
Whats the advantages of XTOL over D-76?

 

[pentaxuser]

XTOL looks interesting,,, but has a short shelf life. AKA http://www.covingtoninnovations.com/xtol/
Whats the advantages of XTOL over D-76?

It depends on what your definition is of a short shelf life by which I think you mean life once made into stock. I keep my 5L in winebags and have gotten 18 months from it. The alternative is decanting it into 250ml/300ml depending on tank size and filling to the top then using each bottle once for a 35mm film at stock or twice at 1+1 in reasonably quick succession or once with 120 film at 1+1 or as Matt has indicated using it as a replenisher

What makes you think of it as short life stuff? Is this something you read or have been told about by people and if the latter were able to ask questions of their storage etc.. As I understand it there was problem with the 1L packets many years ago and the 1L packets were discontinued. However the short life reputation may stem from this old problem

pentaxuser

 

[peter k.]

What makes you think of it as short life stuff?

On the http://www.covingtoninnovations.com/xtol/ website it states "In a full, tightly capped brown glass bottle, Xtol stock solution will keep for more than 8 months (confirmed by my experience). To get Xtol or any other developer to last, you must protect it from air."
Makes sense, common practice. But your stating you have gotten 18 months life out of the developer relives me. As from other references and sources it states it has a short shelf life, found out with its sudden death in developing. But doesn't say how old the developer was. They also suggest, one should develop at test strip before using it, as it does not show discolor as it ages. Makes sense and have no problem with that.
Having used only D-76 and Hc-110 before the question remains, what advantage does XTOl developer have over D-76? Softer contrast, or ?

 

[Tom Kershaw]

XTOL is one developer I've not had any longevity problems with, used from replenished strength to 1+2. XTOL can be good at softening difficult highlight densities.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Getting into Tmax 400.. and have tried D-76 and Hc-110 on some 120 roll film. But as were going to order some Tmax 4x5 sheet film, was thinking of trying another developer with the new learning experience.
Were located in the bright sunny southwest so highlights on some shots can sometimes be quite extreme.
Thanks for any suggestions.

it works very well in D76 1+1, exposed and developed at N-1.

 

[GLS]

Pyrocat-HD

 

[Neal]

First, my Xtol comments. I have used it as my main developer since 2000 and occasionally before and it has never failed me. If you are keeping developer so long that it is failing you are not shooting enough!

Now to be the contrarian, consider T-Max developer. It is a great mix as you go product with nice shadow detail. It has the advantage of lots of data at 75°F which might make it easier to use in AZ.

 

[removed account4]

sumatranol130 with a splash of ansco130 ( or caffenol C whatever print developer you have handy )
water bath ( pre wet ) and then shuffle for 9 mins or so, if you have one of those
plastic FR tanks, you can rock it on a pencil for about 1 min then let it sit / stand for 1/2 hour
then rock it again for a minute and bob's your uncle. also .. dektol or ansco 130 pre wet then 6-7 mins dilute
1:6 ( dektol @ 68, a130 @ 72ish) ( i just use them at ambient room temp ).
good old sprint film developer used as the bottle directs works wonders too.
sorry i gave you more than 1.
i stay away from tmax developer ( after caused me headaches of dicrotic fog ) and xtol ( caused me pathetically thin negatives )

 

[warden]

XTOL looks interesting,,, but has a short shelf life. AKA http://www.covingtoninnovations.com/xtol/
Whats the advantages of XTOL over D-76?

That web page and the information on it are quite dated. If you're shooting much at all you'll have no problems with Xtol. As for the advantages, here's a comparison from Kodak. Depending on your goals there may or may not be an advantage over D-76.

 

[destroya]

Pyrocat-m for me

 

[MattKing]

Now to be the contrarian, consider T-Max developer. It is a great mix as you go product with nice shadow detail. It has the advantage of lots of data at 75°F which might make it easier to use in AZ.

As best as I can tell, T-Max RS has been discontinued.
T-Max RS is/was the version that was both suitable for replenishment and suitable for sheet film.
The other version - "plain" T-Max developer - is/was not recommended for sheet film due to problems with dichroic fog.
HOWEVER, lots of Kodak developers are going through changes, so this may need updating soon.

 

[peter k.]

Thanks all for the replies it really helped.. Going with XTOL and placing the order now..

 

[KenS]

Pyrocat-HD

I will agree (whole-heartedly) since it is now the ONLY B/W film developer 'allowed.. and used' in my darkroom... for 'any' and ALL LF (ie 4x5 and 8x10") negative development in my home darkroom.. where hangers in tank (as well as tray development) have been 'cast aside' in favour (Canuckian spelling) of 'rotary development' in BTZS tubes.

Ken