tmax100 4X5 to 100Tmax 4X5

[photobackpacker]

I just developed my first 20 sheets of the new 100Tmax 4X5 after using up all of my "deep freeze" TMax 100. With all other factors held constant, TMaxRS @ 1:9, 75 degrees for 11 min in Jobo Expert drum - I find my Zone VII sneaking solidly into Z VIII. Shadow detail is strong. Are there any of you who have recently made the changeover? Did you find a speed increase or contrast shift as a result of the new emulsion?

 

[Konical]

Good Evening, Bruce,

I have found no perceptible difference between the old and new versions. I use the standard T-Max developer (the one Kodak suggests should NOT be used with sheet film) nine to ten minutes in a 1:7 dilution for "normal" negatives.

Konical

 

[photobackpacker]

Thanks, Konical. It seems a bit "hot" to me but I was shooting under light rain moving to clearing. (True soft-box lighting on a Godly scale.) The quality of light was breathtaking but variable by up to a stop or more as the sun shone through occasional thin spots in the overcast.

I just landed this contract and it is great. A 100 year-old farm is to be torn down to make way for a Upper-crust housing development. The family wants abstract pictures the show the beauty of the old buildings and farming operation. I have a facination with the beauty and nobility found in old abandoned farms and have a great start on a portfolio of old windows and doors found on farms throughout the Mid-West. The more time I spend in the buildings, the sadder is the prospect of this "progress". It is an interesting mental transition and is sharpening my instincts for what I think the family will relate to.

I hate to stop shooting to spend a day on film testing my my sense of it is that I'm running a bit hot with the new TMax and "Zone-creep" from VII to VIII makes for a lot of extra work.

Kodak specifies TmaxRS for use with sheet film and specifically cautions against using regular TMax developer. I have used RS for over 5 years now and have had no problems. Is that what you are referring to? Have you had problems with RS?

Bruce

 

[Konical]

Good Morning, Bruce,

I've had no problems at all with RS; I've never used it. Actually, I had processed 4 x 5 T-Max film in the regular T-Max developer for quite a while (years, I think) before I even noticed the "for roll films only" notation on the bottle! Apparently some users have experienced the formation of dichroic fog when using this developer with sheet film, but my negatives are absolutely free of any problems, so I continue to use it.

Konical

 

[erikg]

We made the switch a couple of years ago, and we found that there was a slight increase in contrast, so we pulled the development back by 15 percent and all was fine. Not a big change, but you don't want the highlights to get away from you. We process 100TMX in Rodinal 1:75, in a Jobo ATL. Shoot a few extra sheets on the job and run a quick test, I don't think it should take you too long to get where you want to be. Sounds like a great project. Best of luck.

 

[DKT]

at work we switched over to the new stuff last year. I just ran it at the same time as the previous version in our deeptank--my normal run was 7 min. at 75 deg F in TMAX RS replenished. It was ever so slightly hot, so we wound up backing off to 6 minutes as the normal. I found the roll film to be a little different though--it seems to prefer a 7 minute run, so go figure. It's real subtle though, you might not notice it at all.

 

[photobackpacker]

For what it is worth, I needed to reduce my development run by 23% to yield similar results:

TmaxRS diluted 1:9
75 degrees F +- .1
Old Tmax 100 4X5 "N" development 11 min
New 100 TMax 4X5 "N" development 8.5 min
Jobo Expert Drum at 3.5 rotation speed
Zone VIII B-F = 1.30
EI=64 with both emulsions

 

[PepMiro]

I haven't noticed any difference between tmax100 and 100tmax in tmax developer. Otherwise, few months ago, I switched to XTOL and I think there are more shadow detail and a little bit more acutance (it's only my impression, since I haven't done any scientifical test)

 

[photobackpacker]

I was really surprised myself. To confirm my results, I ran two normal development tests and then confirmed them with a field shot. The film fog factor came in around .06 and Zone VIII came in at 1.36. My Zone I was .15 (.10 (B-F).

I haven't tried Xtol yet but hope to do so soon. I assumed (never a safe practice) that the two emulsions would be similar and went out and shot 20 sheets. On those where I was placing the highlights high on Zone VII, when I developed them, the were well into Zone IX+. Pretty well fried.

You never know until you test. I have talked to enough people to know that my results will differ based on all of the variables involved. Someone else using my process will still need to adjust for their working methods, instruments and water supply.