XTOL with TriX and Agfa APX

Nicole · Apr 5, 2005

Through all my dear colleageus at APUG I have been given so much advice and assistance in regards to film and developers and must say that the results I'm getting with Xtol with TriX400 and Agfa APX400 are impressive! Thank you very much. I most probably would never have tried it otherwise.

I'll try to post a frame or two that I shot earlier this morning.

1st Image: This couple are very dear friends of mine who are travelling in their caravan around Australia. This image was shot inside their little caravan with the door behind me closed to reduce the reflection on the spectacles. 10a.m., handheld, 1/30 sec, f/2.8, 35mm TriX-400 in Xtol (full strength, 7 minutes dev time).

2nd Image: Not my normal style of photography but nevertheless, handheld, 1/125 sec, f/4, 35mm, Agfa APX-400 in Xtol (full strength, 8 minutes dev time).

3rd Image: This was shot in a children's boutique in the evening with only very soft lighting at the counter and these shoes were on the opposite wall about 3 meters away and with indirect lighting. Shot at 800 ISO on the same roll and then shot the other frames at 400 ISO and thought I'd just sacrifice this shot when developing for 400 ISO. But this image worked out just as I had planned and I have all images at correct exposure. I'm happily very suprised with the result! Details: Agfa APX-400, handheld, 800 ISO, f/1.8, 1/15 sec, 35mm, dev in Xtol (full strength, 8 minutes dev time).

Claire Senft · Apr 5, 2005

Xtoling Nicole

You never fail to delight.

SuzanneR · Apr 5, 2005

Great image, Nicole! What did you rate the Tri-x at? I'm planning to try this combination myself soon.

Nicole · Apr 5, 2005

Thanks Claire and Suzanne. Image 1 & 2 at box speed 400 and image 3 at 800 ISO. Developed exactly as per packet instructions.

Flotsam · Apr 5, 2005

Can you remark on how it compares to your previous process? Grain, speed, tone?

Nicole · Apr 5, 2005

Comparing XTOL with Rodinal: XTOL gives me a better tonal range and finer grain without sacrificing sharpness and shorter processing times.

I've heard about the 'sudden death syndrome' apparently accompanying Xtol's reputation, but since I use a lot of it (5 litres in 2-3 weeks) I am not worried about it expiring on me. I'm extremely pedantic when mixing the powders (mix full sachets A & B) and store my complete 5 litres in 5x1 ltr constatiner plastic bottles.

Flotsam · Apr 5, 2005

From general reading, it seems that "sudden death" syndrome is a relic of the early 1 liter days. It's a scary thought but I haven't seen anyone currently using it who has mentioned the problem. I'm definitely going to try it out.

Nicole · Apr 5, 2005

Neal, I know Lee won't touch the stuff after some unfortunate experiences. For me it's early days but I'm feeling quietly confident.

jim appleyard · Apr 5, 2005

For those wishing to avoid the "Sudden Death Syndrome" of X-tol, there are the two formulas in "The Darkroom Cookbook" using Vitamin C (or close cousins); E-76 and Mytol. I've had good luck with E-76, but not with Mytol, although I only used Mytol once. I'm sure if I played around with times, temps and agitation more, it would perform well.

hortense · Apr 5, 2005

Nicole Boenig-McGrade said:
1st Image: This couple are very dear friends of mine who are travelling in their caravan around Australia. This image was shot inside their little caravan with the door behind me closed to reduce the reflection on the spectacles.

Nicole, this image is well captured; it is GREAT.
While I'm a large format photographer, I do believe I'll try Extol soon. I've been a LONG time user of HC110 and 320TXP and it's earlier version.

highpeak · Apr 5, 2005

Nicole, have you tried Xtol 1:1 with those films? Curious about the difference between the full strength and 1:1 dilution.

Nicole · Apr 5, 2005

Thanks Hortense! Highpeak (wish I knew your real names) no I have only tried Xtol at full strength so far.

JohnArs · Apr 5, 2005

Hi Nicole

Great result from the beginning, but if you ever will see the ultimate sharpness take a TMAX 100 or the Ilford Delta 100 or Fuji Acros 100, 35mm and take your sharpest prime lens and soup them in XTol and make an enlargement 30x40cm or 40x50 cm and some people will ask you was it MF?
And then say no it was only XTol!
Good luck and good light!

Peter De Smidt · Apr 5, 2005

I love Xtol, and I've used it since the year it came out. I often use it diluted 1 + 2 or 1 + 3, mainly to get reasonable development times in my Jobo at 75F. I've stored Xtol for a very long time in a plastic tank with a floating lid. I've never had "xtol failure", and I've never heard a good explanation as to what happened to those who did. For me the combination of easy mixing, long storage capacity, fine grain, high sharpness, and slight speed increase can't be beat.

-Peter
www.desmidt.net

Neil Souch · Apr 6, 2005

Hi,

Good to see your XTOL pics and that you are getting on well with XTOL. I have been using XTOL neat for TriX and HP5+ since it came out (8 mins at 20 C) and get very printable negs (rated @ 400 ISO). Lately have been using it also for Neopan 400 and 1600 (also at 8 mins in neat XTOL). Results with Neopan look good as well. I usually put six cassettes through a litre of XTOL (not all on the same session) then chuck the litre. I always use the 5 litre packs and store in 5 1 litre brown glass bottles. I find part used XTOL keeps well for 12 weeks or so and unused for at least 6 months.

All the best,

Neil

Flotsam · Apr 8, 2005

The strangest thing happened the other day. A friend called me and said that he was standing in front of a store with walls, a door and windows where you can actually purchase film and darkroom supplies. You can even buy things there without having a computer or an internet connection and you can pay with something called "Money" instead of filling in a form on your monitor. I vaguely remember that they used to call stores of this kind a "Photoshop" (Obviously a rip off from Adobe).

Anyway, I told him that if they have Xtol, pick some up for me. They did, he did and I'm looking forward to trying it.

chuck94022 · Apr 8, 2005

Flotsam said:
The strangest thing happened the other day. A friend called me and said that he was standing in front of a store with walls, a door and windows where you can actually purchase film and darkroom supplies. You can even buy things there without having a computer or an internet connection and you can pay with something called "Money" instead of filling in a form on your monitor. I vaguely remember that they used to call stores of this kind a "Photoshop" (Obviously a rip off from Adobe).

Anyway, I told him that if they have Xtol, pick some up for me. They did, he did and I'm looking forward to trying it.

Be careful. It may not be legal to exchange "cash" for photographic chemistry among human beings, at least in some U.S. jurisdictions. Check your local laws carefully...

To be completely safe, I now only develop in Urine, self produced only after consuming pure grain alcohol and rain water, and fix with Windex (still known legal in all 50 states).

-chuck

Nicole · Apr 8, 2005

NEOPAN IN XTOL? Have you tried it? What did you think? Do you have examples?

Neal congratulations, I'm sure you'll love the Xtol!

Occasionally I have been shooting Neopan 400 and 1600 but have been getting them developed at the pro lab in TMax until now.

Has anyone had any experience in developing them in Xtol?

Neopan in Xtol?
Have you tried it?
What did you think?
Do you have examples?

Cheers, Nicole

XTOL with TriX and Agfa APX

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