TRI-X (135) at EI 800

[Andrew Horodysky]

Hello All,

I recently shot some rolls of 35mm Tri-X, rated at EI800. May I get some of your recommendations for a developer that would work well at that speed, or what your preferred developer might be, for that matter?

 

[Anscojohn]

When we had to do that (decades ago) we would soup the Tri-X in Acufine or UFG.

 

[BetterSense]

I shoot trix at 800-1600 and use diafine. It works fine. I just shot two rolls of our church's play at 1600 and the negs came out pretty good.

 

[Pinholemaster]

There are many. D-76 can push to that speed, HC-110 can do it too, and Acufine has been a long standing developer to push process. There are more.

Best to test many to learn which work with your tastes.

 

[Andrew Horodysky]

Thanks, all.

Regarding D-76, have any of you ever used it diluted more than 1:1 (eg. 1:2, 1:3). I've read that there's an apparent "gain" in sharpness. Is this the case, or is diluted D-76 just diluted D-76? There's nothing listed beyond 1:1 on the Massive Development Chart.

 

[ntenny]

800 isn't really much of a push for Tri-X, and I think lots of options would work well. Some people rate Tri-X at 800 in Diafine, though I think most would put it slightly higher than that. I've had good luck with modest pushes of Tri-X in PC-TEA, using the times given for Xtol 1+2 in the MDC and Anchell & Troop, and gotten negatives that don't have a dramatic "This Film Was Pushed!" look; I assume Xtol itself would give similar results, but can't speak to it from experience...

-NT

 

[Andrew Horodysky]

Thanks, Nathan.

 

[2F/2F]

Any of the standard b/w developers should do it just fine. How far you need to push it will depend on the contrast you want. I am fond of this film with D-76 or HC-110. I would just use D-76 1:1 in this case; especially if you already have it on hand.

 

[nyoung]

D-76, 1:1, 15% additional developing time to start.

 

[m_liddell]

Diafine hands down - grain is pretty much the same as shot at box speed. Pushing in D76 and xtol has always rendered very high contrast and grainy results.

 

[fschifano]

Diafine is ok if you have it. But like 2F/2F wrote, D-76 will do ok too if you can stand a little more contrast. XTOL is a little better, and you might even like it as your standard go-to developer. Tri-X is good like that. It can take a little abuse and still deliver.

 

[pentaxuser]

Ilford/ Harman lists times for Tri-X at 800 with DDX. It's a good dev for pushing and less grainy than ID11 IMO so I'd assume less grainy than D76 which to all intents and purposes is the same dev.

pentaxuser

 

[Andrew Horodysky]

Thanks, again, everyone. Very helpful.

 

[C A Sugg]

I loved the negatives I got at ASA 800 with Edwal Super-20. Is there anything like that now?