Weird FX-39 or is it just me

[AndreasT]

Hello all,
I have recently tried some Paterson FX-39 developer. Testing it with Tmax 400 film using a step wedge to determine film speed and graduation and all that.
What bothers me is that my effective normal speed is iso-200 although it seems everybody states you get full speed. Or is only with a contrast of 1:32. Which isn`t practical in my opinion.
Another thing is when I extend the development times I only get a very slight speed increase. Which actually decreases again at a +3 development because the film fogged a lot.
Has anyone got any experience with this developer. Can my findings be confirmed?
Thanks,
Andreas

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

I use it a lot, and have always found Paterson's listed dev times for different films to be spot-on, but I've never actually used it with a step wedge to determine true speed.

 

[AndreasT]

I just find that it fogs a lot when the development times are increased.

 

[Keith Tapscott.]

T-Max developer and Tetenal Ultrafin Plus are said to exploit film speed well. Whether they are significantly different from FX-39 for film speed, I don`t know.