MMfoto said:
... edit...
Anyways, can't wait to hear the next instalment in DF's test of 777!
Well, we're back. First, the spoiler. It's good. I like it.
Today, I worked out a replenishment scheme,
estimated a film curve, and can suggest a way to get started with Panthermic 777.
Harvey compounded a replenisher for 777, but it hasnt been made for a while. Im curious how the replenishment scheme bears out. BPI suggests 45ml of fresh developer for a 36exp roll of 35mm film. It seems to work well, but I havent done enough film to tell for sure. Time will tell.
With an EI of 400; 20 minutes development @ 68 degrees; and agitation every 5th minute; TMY and 777 produce a classic S curve.
Here are the midtone densities: Zone IV, .52; Zone V, .75; Zone VI, 1.02
( I dont want to publish a full range of densities. I think it will be more interesting to see what other folks come up with on their own. The Dmax will be higher than 1.85 )
There is rich shadow detail, but the shadows are gently compressed like TXP in D76. It makes a very handsome negative, with a highlight density that gently rolls off without flattening out. Just what youd expect from TMY. You can capture a LOT of useable information with this stuff, but it clearly like to focus attention on the midtones and highlights.
The grain is smooth, fine, and regular, the classic model of very fine grain. There is an attractive balance of acutance and fine grain. The grain is slightly more apparent than XTOL. It is much sharper. It is finer grain than Aculux 2. There are not the high acutance characteristics of Pyrocat or FX-2, but it is VERY clear and defined. I think 777 will be equally good for portraiture and landscape, but not for hyper-reality.
With its S-curve, I think accurate exposure will be important with 777. Not as forgiving as a purely long scale developer like XTOL.
A good 35mm shooter could make 16x20s all day long with TMY and 777.
A quick way to get started with 777 would be to draw off a liter from the gallon of stock. Divide the liter into 500ml bottles. Label one work and the other, replenisher. Assume this to be for a steel tank, and steel reels. For plastic tanks with larger capacity, just use your common sense.
In a 2 roll tank, soak 2 rolls of 35mm film for 30 minutes in 500 ml of solution. When the soak is completed, drain the reels into the developer.
Meanwhile, pour 3 oz / 90 ml of replenisher into a graduate.
Next, add the 'ripened' developer to the 'replenisher' in the graduate:
- Pour the used developer up to the 500ml mark of the graduate, minding the meniscus. Developer remaining in the tank is poured into a fourth bottle. You want to accumulate the used developer.
This is the replenishment scheme youll follow with 777.
When you accumulate 200 ml of used developer, add it to 800ml of replenisher, and youve made 1 liter of ripened developer. This is the process Im following, testing the developer out with 35mm film, and when Ive got a couple liters of ripened developer, Ill start playing with some sheet film.
Of course, you can scale this process up in order to ripen a larger quantity.
I dont mean this to be the final word on the subject. This is just my experience.
We dont learn everything about a film and developer combination with a step wedge and densitometer; I like to learn what the combination WANTS to do, and see how I can learn to work with it. It will be interesting to see what others come up with, or if my short experience is similar to yours.
There is a lot to learn about 777.
I hope this encourages some investigation. Good luck !
df
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