david b said:
Reticulation from water at 60 degrees?
It is usually recommended that all stages of B&W processing should be within 2° C (3°F). The differance between working at 20°C (68°F) and 60°F is too large.
While conventional reticulation won't occur easily with most modern films a more subtle clumping of the silver grains takes place if the surface of the emulsion layer contracts or expands rapidly with a sudden temperature change. This is often the extra apparent grain.
I remember testing Tmax 400 in an old Pentax just after it was released and being amazed at the quality. Tend to use it ocassionally in my 645, and it's a superb film.
But I have seen the grain you describe - was from my film batch, my usual developer (I replenish on a strict basis), only differance was the photographer (he processed the films as well). As he used my dev time, I'd done the light meter readings & told him what exposure, all that differed was the temperature of the processing solutions which he controlled. His 6x7 negs were perfectly exposed and correct density but extremely grainy. (I should add I was the subject - and was being photographed making LF images in the landscape, hence the accurate exposures).
So it does happen. It's easy to assume it's the film developer combination but it seems to be worse with higher speed films