My first roll of TMax in 25 years, and...

Autonerd · Jan 28, 2020

Bought some T-Max (400 and 100) to try out before I commit to my next 100' roll (probably FP4).

I finished the 400-speed roll first and processed it. As expected, the textures are really nice, lots of grays (I'd take more contrast), And the grain seems tiny. In fact... too tiny. I scanned on my V550 at 6400 dpi, zoomed in, and thought... Digital. It looks like a digital pic. But not as contrasty.

I dunno, am I being too much of a purist?

Cholentpot · Jan 28, 2020

If you don't want it, I'll take it. Tmax is my favorite b&w film. It doesn't look digital to me, digital b&w in general looks wrong somehow. Tmax is juuuust right.

Sirius Glass · Jan 28, 2020

Tmax has a nice long straight curve, good reciprocity and very fine tabular grain, but I still prefer traditional grain films.

RedSun · Jan 28, 2020

Autonerd said:
Bought some T-Max (400 and 100) to try out before I commit to my next 100' roll (probably FP4).

I finished the 400-speed roll first and processed it. As expected, the textures are really nice, lots of grays (I'd take more contrast), And the grain seems tiny. In fact... too tiny. I scanned on my V550 at 6400 dpi, zoomed in, and thought... Digital. It looks like a digital pic. But not as contrasty.

I dunno, am I being too much of a purist?

Is this 35mm film?

Normally for SF 35mm, you want less grainy. Scan from negative would show the grains. You get a lot choices with MF and LF films.

You can change developer time, and use stock solution for more grainy negatives.

Autonerd · Jan 28, 2020

@RedSun, yes, 35mm.

mshchem · Jan 28, 2020

TMY and XTOL.

MattKing · Jan 28, 2020

Autonerd said:
I scanned on my V550 at 6400 dpi, zoomed in, and thought... Digital. It looks like a digital pic. But not as contrasty.

Only because you scanned it - and at 3-4 times the optical resolution of your scanner - and let the software make the choices that software makes.
I can assure you that if you were to print it using an enlarger, it wouldn't look "digital". It would look really fine grain, and like T-Max.

removed account4 · Jan 28, 2020

yeah tmax films are like that
kind of lots of mid tones until you
process it in something a little stronger
to give it a contrast boost. there isn't much grain
cause its not a grainy film it is what it is. ilfor DELTA films
are sorta kinda like tmax films, the hp5+ is a traditional film like tri x ..
you will notice a big difference between the tmax and hp5 , like night and day

have fun !
john
ps, it looked "digital" cause you ... digitized the negative ! all film looks digital at that point..

markbau · Jan 28, 2020

I know exactly what you mean. I haven’t used it in years. It old prints made from TMax in the late 80’s have a look that I don’t care for and yes, they look digital yo my eyes, still, some people think TMax is the bees knees!

RalphLambrecht · Jan 29, 2020

Tmax IS a fabulous film!

Prest_400 · Jan 29, 2020

I've left 3 rolls of TMX at my parent's home for when I visit. Actually the first roll of TMX I ever used was from an abandoned bulk loader in our camera club, exp 1996, and although a bit fogged its results were fantastic!
Bear in mind the v550 doesn't have that much of real optical resolution and may smear the grain a bit. Another part of the "digital look" is the sprectral sensitization adjusted blue sensitivity, a normal daylight scene will show as if a light yellow filter were applied. That I like as there is no loss of speed from filtering compared to other films.

I do want to try TMY in 120 although I've standardised on HP5, and the price difference in EU doesn't foster doing so much trying when "if it ain't broke" working with Ilford.

Samuel Dilworth · Jan 29, 2020

The Kodak price hikes have put most of their films out of my reach, there being alternatives, but TMY is the one that really pains me. That is a technically brilliant and beautiful film.

Andrew O'Neill · Jan 29, 2020

TMY-2 is a superb film. Can no longer afford it in large format, though...

Tom Kershaw · Jan 29, 2020

Andrew O'Neill said:
TMY-2 is a superb film. Can no longer afford it in large format, though...

I wonder if ILFORD will release Delta 400 in large format, at least 5x4? For medium format work there is enough of an improvement in TMY-2 over HP5 Plus that the premium is something I can accept.

Andrew O'Neill · Jan 29, 2020

Tom Kershaw said:
I wonder if ILFORD will release Delta 400 in large format, at least 5x4? For medium format work there is enough of an improvement in TMY-2 over HP5 Plus that the premium is something I can accept.

I would love to see Delta 400 in large format again. I used to use it back in the 90's. I still shoot it in 120. Great film. Great look. But, HP5 is my favourite.

Tom Kershaw · Jan 29, 2020

HP5 works well in 10"x8" - I need to get my camera out again...

Andrew O'Neill · Jan 29, 2020

Tom Kershaw said:
HP5 works well in 10"x8" - I need to get my camera out again...

A lot of my best work was shot with that film in that format.

GarageBoy · Feb 2, 2020

Because the only difference between digital and film is grain...

Sirius Glass · Feb 3, 2020

GarageBoy said:
Because the only difference between digital and film is grain...

... resolution, color response, shadow details, ... and many more.

darkosaric · Feb 3, 2020

Develop it in Rodinal 1+25, with strong agitation...print it on FB with filter 3 or higher ... grain and more contrast will be there:

Ko.Fe. · Feb 3, 2020

I was like OP in 2012. But by 2020 I have learned about iso pushing

My first roll of TMax in 25 years, and...

Autonerd

Cholentpot

Sirius Glass

RedSun

Autonerd

mshchem

MattKing

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markbau

RalphLambrecht

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Samuel Dilworth

Andrew O'Neill

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Tom Kershaw

Andrew O'Neill

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Andrew O'Neill

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My first roll of TMax in 25 years, and...

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