FX-37 film developer; speed increasing?

[Tom Kershaw]

I've just been printing some Delta 100 (35mm) / FX-37 1+3 negatives. Development time 7 minutes 30 seconds @ 21ºC approximating the recommendation in the APUG article section for 8 minutes 15 seconds @ 20ºC using an E.I. of 160. These negatives are rather higher in contrast than one might have expected from the lighting conditions. However, this isn't a problem in and of itself, but may suggest the claims for FX-37 as speed enhancing are somewhat less than certain, and that I was actually "pushing" the film.

(there was a url link here which no longer exists) - In the linked post, Evan Clarke suggests FX-37 at a dilution of 1+5 (given as speed increasing) for Kodak T-Max 100 exposed at E.I. 100.

My intention is to expose the next roll of Delta 100 to be tested @ 100 E.I., possibly increasing dilution, and checking development time; and in the process possibly reduce apparent grain.

Any other experiences with FX-37?

Tom

 

[Alan Johnson]

Tom I think you are right,I have copied some data that appears to come from Geoffrey Crawley for development times giving box speed to the articles section.

 

[Tom Kershaw]

Tom I think you are right,I have copied some data that appears to come from Geoffrey Crawley for development times giving box speed to the articles section.

Alan,

Thank you for posting those revised times, which would seem to fit in with my own practical experience of using the developer for the first time today. Interesting to note also that Crawley recommends only 4 inversions per minute, whereas I used my standard for Paterson Super System 4 development of 30 seconds initial agitation followed by 10 seconds of agitation per minute.

On a tangent; perhaps the limited suggested agitation schedule suggests FX-37 isn't particularly suited to rotary processing.

Tom

 

[Mike Wilde]

I usually expose at an EI of half of vendors rating with most developers for good shadow detail, but not with this developer at 1:3 for tabular films
It gives good shadow detail for me using delta/tmax/acros at rated box speed. I usually don't use it for other than tabular films, but it is reputed to do well for traditional films as well.

 

[nworth]

I usually have used the rated film speed with FX-37. I like the developer, but I don't use it often. The formula is quite similar to D-76, which is definitely a speed increasing developer. (D-76 is such a standard that other developers are often though to be speed decreasing.) With less sulfite and increased restrainers, I would expect FX-37 to have less speed increasing properties than D-76.

 

[JLP]

FX-37 gives me one stop more than what i get using Pyrocat MC. TMY exposed as 500 with FX-37 1:5 I don't have any experience with D-76 in the last 15 years so i can't compare the two.
As nworth i don't use it often but it's nice if i need that extra stop.