Tri-x 400

[Roger Hicks]

I was recently given a Pentax Spotmatic, hot stuff circa 1965, in fully functional condition, so I immediately went out and bought a short roll of Tri-X; it just seemed like the right thing to do.
This will be the first roll of TX I have processed since the intro of TMY (when was that? 85?) Anyway, this should be a hoot!

Check the shutter speeds. A Spotmatic is essentially a metered, and not-as-well-made, SV. If the speeds above 1/30 are twice marked, that's normal.

 

[Richard Jepsen]

You can't go wrong developing Tri-X in general developers like D-76 1:1 or XTOL 1:1. I get much better results rating Tri-X at 200/250 depending on the film developer. I normally avoid adjusting the developing time from the standard ISO 400 recommendations during spring/summer/fall in Oklahoma. If required, I can fine tune contrast using a different enlarging light source and filters. From experience, FG-7 1:15 will sag the midtones but is sharper than D-76. You must de-rate Tri-X to NLT 200 if you use Rodinal as Rodinal has less speed than D-76 1:1.

Compared to 40 years ago, the new Tri-X is better controlling hallation and has finer grain. Film is one of those products which became better over the years.

 

[Chazzy]

Someone posted something a few weeks ago about Kodak making a special run of Tri-X 400 in 220 (not the 320 speed Tri-X Professional stuff). Has anyone heard any more about it?

 

[tac]

To Roger Hicks
I intend to do so-
I've got a good shutter tester around here somewhere, digital, with its own light source. I calibrated it once upon a time with the results of professional CLA's in Manhattan- I just haven't run across it lately.
Anyway, I'm just playing with the TX and Pentax for nostalgia's sake: It's been about twenty years since I used TX, and 35 since I used a Spotmatic. Not really expecting much.
Thanks

 

[gainer]

We used to be able to test a shutter by photographing a phonograph turntable with a flashlight taped to it. You could measure the arc with a protractor and calculate the shutter speed from the arc and the RPM of the turntable. I don't even know if my turntable still works.

 

[tac]

We used to be able to test a shutter by photographing a phonograph turntable with a flashlight taped to it. You could measure the arc with a protractor and calculate the shutter speed from the arc and the RPM of the turntable. I don't even know if my turntable still works.

I once saw a stack of prints in Phil Leonian's old studio of an electric circular saw with white dots painted on the blade- various arcs. I assumed he was testing an alternative to the digital tester he had- probably to settle yet another dispute with Bob Schwalburg.