T-Max 400 in Xtol (stock) my pics. attached

sperera · Jun 4, 2010

Hi there. Used T-Max 400 for the first time recently combined with Xtol and wanted to get feedback on these images.

So, do these shots show the characteristics of the film; of the developer; of the metering etc. etc. This is important to me as I'm going to embark on a long-term project to photograph these creatures. perhaps even suggestion on changing developer or what have you, dunno.

Shots metered at 400asa as am purposely choosing flat lighting for a common 'visual' theme. Shot with Hasselblad 2000 FC/M handheld with 150mm and 250mm C lenses and metered with Gossen Mastersix.

Just paid up APUG membership by the way so I'm allowed to post images right?

ic-racer · Jun 4, 2010

They look fantastic. The toe of a T-max HD curve is higher than most competitors (more so with T-max developer) This translates into better grays (in my personal opinion). I see a fantastic tonal range in your posted pictures. I'd not change things.

df cardwell · Jun 4, 2010

Echoing ic-racer.

XTOL and TMY2 are a superb combination, and the more you shoot (with a little judicious experimentation,
using the Kodak XTOL data as a guide) you can get great negs in any condition.

Just keep us posted on your progress !

sperera · Jun 4, 2010

Thank you very much this is exactly the kind of informed comments I'm after since I'm new to T-Max 400.
To me this film is grainy, but very fine grained....kind of like describing a person with very fine hair but a lot of it if you know what I mean.
The way I'm shooting for this 'visual theme' I'm after really tests the film and developer combination doesn't it as I need outstanding tonal range....if not the image dies....I'm shooting directly against the sun a lot of the time to make matters worse for myself.....

ic-racer said:
They look fantastic. The toe of a T-max HD curve is higher than most competitors (more so with T-max developer) This translates into better grays (in my personal opinion). I see a fantastic tonal range in your posted pictures. I'd not change things.

sperera · Jun 4, 2010

Thank you very much....yes, there's something special about T-Max 400 and now Im beginning to see what all the fuss is about when people so love it and are so ready to express their love for it....for me, in these early days it has a je ne sais quoi about it....and dare I say it (hussed tones) it sc*ns really well to.

df cardwell said:
Echoing ic-racer.

XTOL and TMY2 are a superb combination, and the more you shoot (with a little judicious experimentation,
using the Kodak XTOL data as a guide) you can get great negs in any condition.

Just keep us posted on your progress !

sperera · Jun 4, 2010

Some more:

sperera · Jun 4, 2010

OK posted some more and edited the first batch, scroll back please as the first post now has different images.....thanks guys

sperera · Jun 4, 2010

thanks again

Michael R 1974 said:
I agree with the other responses. TMAX 400 has a steeper toe than some other films, which helps maintain good contrast and "life" in the darker tonalities. And that property is evident in the posted examples. They look good to me. Don't change anything. Just keep working with this combination and get to know it well.

Michael

Jeff Kubach · Jun 4, 2010

Looks great to me!

Jeff

Pasto · Jun 4, 2010

The pictures are great, I really like them. TMY-2 with xtol undiluted is the only combination I've used for 120 film in the last 2 years. I shoot it at 320 and process for 6:15, almost exactly what Kodak publishes for rotary tube processing. If you use the Kodak specs, you'll be pretty close (they did their homework well). Keep doing what you're doing

phaedrus · Jun 4, 2010

Hey, great photos. In subject and pose you seem to be channeling Walton Ford. I mean that in the best way, a real dialogue going on here.
Ditto the other's comments about the tonality achievable with TMY-2 in Xtol. I use it 1+1 with 35 mm film. Exposed at box speed as well, but don't underexpose. When TMY-2 came out, I compared it's grain to Acros' and couldn't find much difference. Amazing, two stops won and a tonality more to my liking.

sperera · Jun 5, 2010

Thanks for your comments and help everyone so far.....I was wondering whether I was missing anything with this film.....I'm going to look up Walton Ford now....heh heh....but my inspiration to embark on this is Nick Brandt's fantastic work in Africa....we all need someone to inspire us

phaedrus said:
Hey, great photos. In subject and pose you seem to be channeling Walton Ford. I mean that in the best way, a real dialogue going on here.
Ditto the other's comments about the tonality achievable with TMY-2 in Xtol. I use it 1+1 with 35 mm film. Exposed at box speed as well, but don't underexpose. When TMY-2 came out, I compared it's grain to Acros' and couldn't find much difference. Amazing, two stops won and a tonality more to my liking.

Kosta · Mar 7, 2012

I know this is an old thread but the links to the images have died... any chance you have them online anywhere, I would love to see them.
thanks!

jallee55 · Sep 17, 2013

I know that this thread is old and probable not viewed. After some long experimentation (aka-following the Kodak data sheet) I am very very happy with the results I am getting with the Tmax and Xtol. I am now going to try and shoot it at 320 vs box. Tmax and Xtol is a great combination. I heard that Trix likes Xtol as well

Thomas Bertilsson · Sep 17, 2013

jallee55 said:
I know that this thread is old and probable not viewed. After some long experimentation (aka-following the Kodak data sheet) I am very very happy with the results I am getting with the Tmax and Xtol. I am now going to try and shoot it at 320 vs box. Tmax and Xtol is a great combination. I heard that Trix likes Xtol as well

I have used the TMax 400 with Xtol for many years now, and the combination makes for some very nice prints.

While I don't know what your output is, instead of asking whether a certain film likes a developer or not, ask whether your final output likes it or not. Changing film developers can change your negatives' properties quite a lot, and your target is always your photo paper or what the scanner can accomplish.

Prints from Tri-X / Xtol look especially great if you photograph subjects that are directly struck by your light source. In diffuse light I often find that the Xtol mutes the tonality in the highlights a little too much, unless I'm making portraits, and you need to develop the film a little bit longer.

pentaxuser · Sep 17, 2013

Kosta said:
I know this is an old thread but the links to the images have died... any chance you have them online anywhere, I would love to see them.
thanks!

Are dead links to images posted in a thread 3 years ago automatically "killed" and if so, after what period? Seems a pity given that the images really are the raison d'etre for the thread.

pentaxuser

T-Max 400 in Xtol (stock) my pics. attached

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