Printing Kodak-XX 5222

Valentin Trandafir · Jul 28, 2021

Hello everyone !
I bought a few rolls of Kodak double X 5222 that I'll expose soon.
Anyway, I'm a little bit concerned because I have read other people encounter dificulties in printing this film.
I intend to develop in D96 (most of my film) and HC-110 (push to 400 ISO ) and Diafine (at 640 ISO).
No further push.
I use RC paper and I make enlargements 30/40 cm (maybe 40/50 cm, if possible) on Ilford WT fiber base paper.
I see myself like an average printer : not very good but not too bad ......

Please , help me with your experience and your opinion about printing from this film.

Thank you,
Valentin

Lachlan Young · Jul 28, 2021

From what I've used of it, it's no more or less difficult to print than any other BW neg film. I used ID-11/ D-76 without issue - all it comes down to is enacting basic process controls and not grasshoppering around different developers without first eliminating bad exposure or process technique. Whatever developer you normally use for other films will be fine, though I would avoid 2-bath developers as they generally won't produce as good a neg as a properly process controlled (really not difficult) neg in a single bath developer - if you want a meaningful shadow speed boost, Ilford Microphen, or Kodak Xtol or Adox XT-3 would be better starting points.

Paul Howell · Jul 28, 2021

I agree with Lachlan, although I've only developed 4 or 5 rolls of double X, D76 stock seemed to work as with any other film, contrast seems a little different from say Foma 200, printing was not unlike any other film, has it's own look.

Patrick Robert James · Jul 28, 2021

I've shot a few thousand feet of 5222. It is a pretty forgiving film as long as you don't grossly underexpose it or grossly underdevelop it. It is rather difficult to develop it too much. My developing times are usually more than "recommended" times, but then again, who does the recommending? Whatever developer you use just make sure you get enough exposure and get the developing time how you want it for how you want it to print. 5222 negs are pretty easy to print regardless of the developer you use.

howardpan · Jul 29, 2021

I have shot 100+ feet of Double-X. I actually found it very easy to print. I exposed it at an EI of 250 and used a N+1 development for more contrast. I used D76 for development. I printed on Ilford paper using Ilford Multigrade developer. By easy, I mean I have shadow details without blown out highlights and I don't have to go through very complicated dodging and burning routines fit the negative to the paper. I wonder what sort of difficulties the OP read other people faced in their printing experience.

Valentin Trandafir · Jul 29, 2021

Thank you guys for your posts !

The person who said he had difficulties with printing was a kind of more technical photographer.
He said he has seen some kind of "curves" that showed the film is dificult if not impossible to print.
He complained about everything : contrast, grain, aspect but above all - those "curves" .
I could see myself about grain ,contrast and look on the pictures scanned and posted by other photographers and it looked ok for me.
But I don't scan, I always print . And that was my problem : he scared me with his "curves" on the print.
Anyway, now I'm assured there us nothing wrong with the film if I want to print.

One more time : thank you !

Valentin Trandafir · Jul 29, 2021

Lachlan Young said:
From what I've used of it, it's no more or less difficult to print than any other BW neg film. I used ID-11/ D-76 without issue - all it comes down to is enacting basic process controls and not grasshoppering around different developers without first eliminating bad exposure or process technique. Whatever developer you normally use for other films will be fine, though I would avoid 2-bath developers as they generally won't produce as good a neg as a properly process controlled (really not difficult) neg in a single bath developer - if you want a meaningful shadow speed boost, Ilford Microphen, or Kodak Xtol or Adox XT-3 would be better starting points.

Hi, Laclan !
Thank you for you post !
What are your developing times for Microphen and XTol for 200-250 ISO ?
Thx !

Printing Kodak-XX 5222

Valentin Trandafir

Lachlan Young

Paul Howell

Patrick Robert James

howardpan

Valentin Trandafir

Valentin Trandafir

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