Grainy Tmax 400!

[John Kasaian]

Hello!

I took my Olymus Stylus to a wedding to get some candid shots. My normal film is 100 Tmax and has always works well for me. I loaded up with 400 Tmax because the wedding was indoors at night and that on-board flash is on the enemic side. The local lab souped the film in Tmax developer and I was surprised how grainy they look---almost like the Tri-X circa 1970's "gritty" journalism genre, only worse. Since I use Tmax in 8x10 and I'm quite happy with it in situations that call for great reciprocity characteristics, I really have't played with it much in 35mm. What I'd like to know is...well...like is it suppossed to be so grainy? Or do I need to find another lab to develop my B&W 35mms?
TIA

 

[fhovie]

I have never been happy with "lab" development of B&W film - it is too easy and too cheap to do your own - no darkroom needed - just a closet and a few chemicals and a tank - try some split d-23 - it is really hard to screw that up. You can always get a "lab" to do your prints later.

 

[djklmnop]

Probably because you're shooting Tmax at ISO 400. When I use my Stylus Epic II, I usually modify the DX markings to reflect ISO 250 and get great results.

 

[removed account4]

john

i would find a different lab

i've not used tmax developer in ages ( since 1991<?>) but all the rolls i have shot with tmax 400 and run through tmax-rs - none ever came out grainy ....

good luck !

john

 

[bmac]

My guess would be underexposed negs, poorly developed by the lab.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

TMY just has lumpy looking grain in small format, in my opinion. People who really like TMY often seem to be shooting it in large format.

 

[Helen B]

Well, I think that TMY has the lowest graininess and highest true speed of all the 400 speed films, including Delta 400, but that's just my opinion based on the techniques I use - clearly it isn't everyone's experience with TMY. Like Brian says: maybe the lab messed it up / is there any possibility that it was overexposed?

Why not consider using a C-41 B&W film if you are going to get it lab processed. Maybe Ilford XP-2 if it's going to be printed as if it is silver-image B&W film, Kodak BW400CN if it is going to printed on RA-4 paper, colour or B&W. Of course, if you are going to use a lab that has RA-4 B&W paper, Portra 800 pushed two and rated at 2000 would be a good choice and you might be able to forget the flash. Try some. Low graininess and lots of latitude.

Best,
Helen

 

[Konical]

Good Morning, John,

I agree with those who suggest a processing problem. I've done 35mm T-Max 400 in both HC-110B and T-Max developers and found no graininess problem in moderately- sized (up to 8 x 10) prints. Obviously, the 35mm T-400 can't match the same stuff in larger sizes, but results should be far superior to those with Tri-X.

Konical

 

[JD Morgan]

I bulk load the stuff in 35mm, shoot it at 1600 and drown it in Xtol.

 

[John Kasaian]

Ahhh, my lowly snaps look nothing---absolutely nothing like the thumbnails but more like something from 1937 L.A.Times. It must be the lab. Thyanks!

 

[kjsphoto]

JD just excellent! What was the development time in XTOL?

I need to try that out!

 

[JD Morgan]

JD just excellent! What was the development time in XTOL?

I need to try that out!

1600 ISO - 68 deg. 9 minutes 5 rapid inverts every 30 seconds

 

[JD Morgan]

At 1600 ISO, TMY grain is somewhat controllable via exposure. Properly exposed it is very fine grained processed in Xtol. If you WANT some grain for artsy purposes just under-expose that shot.

The two examples below are frames #23 & #24 from the same roll of bulk load TMY @ 1600 processed in Xtol as described in my previous post. #23 is under by a couple of stops. It is not manipulated post-process except crop, levels & USM (no burn/dodge or vignetting).