Most of the junk in my Xtol stock is easily filtered out by putting a paper coffee filter semi-tight across my funnel(held by a rubber band) and then setting a plastic and gold coffee filter on that. Doesn't take long and I don't have to do that often anyway. JohnWSeriously, vacuum filtration through a thick fiberglass filter would take a couple of minutes. Nalgene makes a little water aspirator that pulls a pretty hard vacuum.
This video really isn't a fair comparison. Tmax 3200 will have large grain as it is a high speed film, and you are essentially pushing a 1250 speed film to get there. Rodinal is more suited to lower speed films and medium format where you would not notice significant grain at normal enlargement. I'd like to see him compare tonality of the two different developers with a lower speed film such tmax in 6x6.
You are lucky LOL. Mine didn't go bad, it just didn't do what I wanted. There was no vroom .. oh well
.. it was still fun to watch the orange go clear when mixed ! Its almost worth buying ( low contrast negatives and all ) just to mix Part A and Part B together
Hi AdrianI’ve never experienced flat negatives and I soup *alot* of film in xtol. That being said, some films most definitely are less responsive to xtol (delta 3200, JCH street pan) compaired to other films (fomapan 100, 200, 400), but given enough developing time and agitation, you’ll get the contrast. Kodak’s times in their xtol tech sheet are starting points and generally produce contrast in the mid 0.50s range. If that is too low for you, add time and agitation.
I’d also want to ask how you’re developing in terms of agitation and frequency of agitation. If your agitating enough, you can build pretty good contrast.
It’ll actually be even more dramatic of a difference. Tmax 100 in medium format and XTOL is shockingingly good. Pretty much the definition of grainless. The same goes for TMax 400, just incredible. Tmax films and xtol seem to be made for each other.
According to that linked chart, Microdol X suits my photography perfeclty! I've been using Xtol and maybe now is the time to mix a batch of Microdol X. What are the downsides of Microdol?Kodak has supplied this easy to understand graphic of the traits for their major developers. It should end most of the subjectivity here.
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AmOl9vH70YvYlZhXkgBK3js45GMNEg
I'm only an amateur photochemist for the last 35? years. I hate to admit how many hours I must have spent on this hobby. Some would say, wasted. Regardless, and regardless of the fact that I continually learn, here is my two cents:
The performance traits - including the history of sudden death - is all about the ascorbate. Just as the whole industry moved from glycin, amidol, and the pyro's as mainstains many years ago to metol/phenidone/hydroquinone developers, ascorbates are the new frontier. Not really so new, but The Next Big Thing.
Besides appearing to have the superadditivity of hydroquinone, it has the unique trait in that the developer byproducts inhibit further development. At the micro level, that means edge effects, sharpness.
I can't speak to any effects on grain.
I've made an ascorbate based divided developer that is stunning on TMY. I'm picking that line up again now and hope to have the same results with other films. And fine tune the chemistry.
There are smarter people than me out there, if any have other ideas, have at it.
Speed loss and reduction in accutance.What are the downsides of Microdol?
Results are smooooooth.
Tmax100 prints as digital as digital can be
Which is a look that I do not care for. I like traditional grain films in replenished XTOL.
I'm like you, I don't like the look tabular grain film. The grain has no character to me.Which is a look that I do not care for. I like traditional grain films in replenished XTOL.
According to that linked chart, Microdol X suits my photography perfeclty! I've been using Xtol and maybe now is the time to mix a batch of Microdol X. What are the downsides of Microdol?
TMY2 in replenished X-Tol:
View attachment 220215
Really nice, well defined, crisp but subtle grain.
Very different than the type of grain that I used to get from Microdol-X and Plus-X.
Very nice, my favorite film/developer. 6x6 120? So silky smooth.TMY2 in replenished X-Tol:
View attachment 220215
Really nice, well defined, crisp but subtle grain.
Very different than the type of grain that I used to get from Microdol-X and Plus-X.
Stunning. No other adequate description.TMY2 in replenished X-Tol:
View attachment 220215
Really nice, well defined, crisp but subtle grain.
Very different than the type of grain that I used to get from Microdol-X and Plus-X.
Actually, 6x4.5. My Mamiya 645 Pro and the rarely used (with this format, by me) waist level finder. The 55mm lens, if I recall correctly.6x6 120?
I still have my first, bought new, Bronica ETRSi, I bought it from B&H came with the bonus non metered prism. I took that camera everywhere. 645 with TMY and XTOLActually, 6x4.5. My Mamiya 645 Pro and the rarely used (with this format, by me) waist level finder. The 55mm lens, if I recall correctly.
It was at my community's annual collector car and quilt show. Being restricted mostly to landscape format isn't as much of a problem with car shows.
This is my impression as well - a remarkably good combo.
Some folks have found Xtol to deliver "flat" results, and I have to wonder if this is a matter of taste: some prefer hard, contrasty negs while others prefer softer, more restrained negatives. Xtol 0 in my experience - has the ability to produce a very "full" negative that preserves a very broad range of values, and part of that result is the fact that - again, in MY experience - Xtol restrains highlight information development, preventing hot highlight details from soaring off into excessive densities. The property that makes it a useful developer for some, is a negative trait for others, it would seem. Pick what works for you, of course.
Actually, 6x4.5. My Mamiya 645 Pro and the rarely used (with this format, by me) waist level finder. The 55mm lens, if I recall correctly.
It was at my community's annual collector car and quilt show. Being restricted mostly to landscape format isn't as much of a problem with car shows.
I truly wish i had that problem, Xtol is cheap and easy to use, and fun to mix.The more time in the tank means more density.
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?