TMAX 400 II - Erwin P. review

Harry Lime · Apr 30, 2008

This may be of interest to some here.

http://www.imx.nl/photo/film_2/new_kodak_t-max_400_april_8.html

john_s · Apr 30, 2008

His densities look a bit strange to me:

Zone III = 0.13
Zone II = 0.04
Zone I = 0.01

He then goes on to say:

"These values tell you that the film is a true ISO400, but for best shadow results a half stop over exposure would be helpful. Exposing the film as EI=250 will produce a tonal scale that is almost identical to the ideal values of the Ansel Adams Zone System. "

Am I misremembering, or did AA suggest something like 0.10 for Zone I?

Uhner · Apr 30, 2008

Yes, AA advocated 0.10 after subtracting the filmbase-plus-fog density value. The stated densities indicate that he should use an EI of 100.

bjorke · Apr 30, 2008

hard, poetic, honest and confronting

(any notion if it treats all developers equally?)

David A. Goldfarb · Apr 30, 2008

You've got to wonder, how many people are using Heiland AM50. Anyone know exactly what kind of developer it is?

Paul Verizzo · Apr 30, 2008

Interesting report....

...strange density sequence.

Regardless, I think he makes a good case for the new film being significantly improved.

john_s · May 1, 2008

David A. Goldfarb said:
You've got to wonder, how many people are using Heiland AM50. Anyone know exactly what kind of developer it is?

Maybe it's a state-of-the-art speed reducing formula?

To be fair, though, most developers knock a stop off a film's speed if 0.10 is the required Zone_I density.

Michael W · May 1, 2008

I've gotta say that Erwin Puts has about as much credibility with me as Ken Rockwell. Blathering online experts.

Christiaan Phleger · May 1, 2008

Ha! That's pretty funny, testing it in such an obscure developer. "In Comparison with Fujidol, the negs processed in Voightlander 222 seemed a bit soft...Harumph!".

As well, that shows how obscure it is when you stump the APUGers!

I actually have done a few rolls, thrown in with other TMY in Xtol. Have not had a chance to print it, but they look nice and sharp, same general tonality but a bit (tiny) denser, so I'll cut my time ~10%.

Mick Fagan · May 1, 2008

David, Heiland is a processor which takes many film tanks from various manufacturers, holds them with a type of universal clamp, works on mains as well as a 12V car battery.

AM50 is a developer which I believe is similar to Tetenal Blue.

Mick.

Christiaan Phleger · May 1, 2008

Oh yeah, Tetenal Blue, I'm sure Everybody knows how that works..(teeny sarcasm).

You'd think he'd try ID-11 or D-76 or even Rodinal. But hey, if he wants to use a variant of an uncommon developer to test his footnote, have fun. Its just not very useful review to most people.

(In all fairness, I still have some Tetenal Blue in vials, don't know if they are any good still, maybe I'll Test it with some Kodak Plus-X Aerocon...)

hka · May 1, 2008

David A. Goldfarb said:
You've got to wonder, how many people are using Heiland AM50. Anyone know exactly what kind of developer it is?

AM 50 is from Amaloco a Dutch company and is a well known developer in Europe.

fred · May 1, 2008

Harry Lime said:
This may be of interest to some here.

http://www.imx.nl/photo/film_2/new_kodak_t-max_400_april_8.html

Why not, in the first place, developping/testing this new emulsion with the T-max developper??

Fred

Mark Antony · May 1, 2008

Interesting report. I noticed the densities and thought its just a typo.
AM50 is Pyrocatechine/natrium hydroxide, Amaloco are a small Dutch company. Erwin is Dutch possibly he is a tester or promoter of their wares.
here is a PDF in Dutch:
http://www.amaloco.nl/pdf/am50_nl.pdf

fschifano · May 1, 2008

fred said:
Why not, in the first place, developping/testing this new emulsion with the T-max developper??

Fred

Never mind TMax developer, why not do the test in good old D-76? That's the standard by which all the others are measured, and the developer around which just about every common B&W film is designed.

FilmIs4Ever · May 1, 2008

RidingWaves said:
You'd think he'd try ID-11 or D-76 or even Rodinal. But hey, if he wants to use a variant of an uncommon developer to test his footnote, have fun. Its just not very useful review to most people.

And you think you'd know that ID-11 and D-76 are basically the same thing? Sorry couldn't resist. . .

David A. Goldfarb · May 1, 2008

Mark Antony said:
Interesting report. I noticed the densities and thought its just a typo.
AM50 is Pyrocatechine/natrium hydroxide, Amaloco are a small Dutch company. Erwin is Dutch possibly he is a tester or promoter of their wares.
here is a PDF in Dutch:
http://www.amaloco.nl/pdf/am50_nl.pdf

It looks like an interesting developer, but not too much like what most people would use for 35mm (it being a Leica-oriented site)--D76/ID11, Xtol, T-max, Microdol-X, Perceptol, Microphen, Rodinal, etc.

c6h6o3 · May 1, 2008

Paul Verizzo said:
...strange density sequence.

with a godawful lot of fog. especially for such light densities.

David A. Goldfarb · May 1, 2008

c6h6o3 said:
with a godawful lot of fog. especially for such light densities.

For users of the developer, does AM 50 produce a lot of background stain?

c6h6o3 · May 1, 2008

David A. Goldfarb said:
For users of the developer, does AM 50 produce a lot of background stain?

it must. Isn't Windisch catechol basically pyrocatechin and NaOH like AM50?

David A. Goldfarb · May 1, 2008

c6h6o3 said:
it must. Isn't Windisch catechol basically pyrocatechin and NaOH like AM50?

It is and just checking the formula in Adams' _The Negative_, it's recommended as a compensating developer to reduce the EI by 50% for good shadow detail while reducing highlight density, which would fit Puts' curve for TMY2 exposed at EI 400.

Good catch.

Christiaan Phleger · May 1, 2008

Yes, I know ID-11 and D-76 is the same, I figured since Erwin was WAY over there he'd have more easy access to ID-11 than the American Gold Bag of D-76.
I still think its an odd choice for a review of a new emulsion.

pentaxuser · May 1, 2008

Interesting article but as Erwin's last sentence says( reading between the lines): "Nice try Kodak but you've wasted your time. Oh and it's APUG R.I.P. or as good as. So it's the usual depressing stuff.

I'll just have to carry on regardless. The wagons are circled, the end is near and Big John or Ward is saying: " Each man, keep the last two bullets for your woman and then yourself "

Chivalry was the sworn enemy of women's lib and the cavalry's bugle it's ultimate saviour - discuss

pentaxuser

Kino · May 1, 2008

Another insecure, digital name dropper...

john_s · May 1, 2008

I found several sites that describe AM50 is being speed reducing, so Erwin's figures make sense. But since the resulting speed is not much better than a 125 speed film, it doesn't make sense to me to use AM50 with a 400 speed film for 35mm use.

FP4+ in Microphen would probably be faster.

AM50 is also described as non-staining, which is interesting for a catechol developer. It is supposed to be very sharp, though.

Is the B+F that Erwin measured (0.23) unusual? I thought that that was about normal for 35mm film.

TMAX 400 II - Erwin P. review

Harry Lime

john_s

Uhner

bjorke

David A. Goldfarb

Moderator

Paul Verizzo

john_s

Michael W

Christiaan Phleger

Mick Fagan

Christiaan Phleger

hka

fred

Mark Antony

fschifano

FilmIs4Ever

David A. Goldfarb

Moderator

c6h6o3

David A. Goldfarb

Moderator

c6h6o3

David A. Goldfarb

Moderator

Christiaan Phleger

pentaxuser

Kino

john_s

TMAX 400 II - Erwin P. review

Moderator

Moderator

Moderator

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency