up-to-date reference on film and developing?

[NancyP]

Recipe book, chemistry book, web sites?
Newbie here, trying to educate myself. I am modestly chemically minded ("molecular biology - practicing biochemistry without a license"). I am finding all sorts of new-fangled options such as TMax and other "tabular grain" (?) film. Bear in mind that my level of sophistication at the moment is old Tri-X or Pan-X and Microdol - 40 years ago.

[Patrick13]

Welcome home to a place where people regularly discuss chemistry from the mid 1800's on up

[Luis-F-S]

Tri-X-Great film still use it almost exclusively and develop it with HC-110 Dil B. L

[NancyP]

My only reference book is the 40 year old spiral-bound Kodak handbook, which does have some useful tables.

[Peter De Smidt]

You might check out the Massive Development Chart. See also the Film Developing Cookbook: http://www.amazon.com/Film-Developin.../dp/0240802772, although I don't agree with a number of their biases. Kodak might have some current technical documents on film and developers. Google Sandy King's Pyrocat if you'd like a staining developer...

There's nothing wrong with Tri-x. Tmax 400 is a little faster for me. Fuji Acros is a great 100 speed film with very fine grain and first rate reciprocity characteristics. If I need speed, I use Tmax400. If I don't, I use Acros, but there are many fine choices.

[Bill Burk]

I am modestly chemically minded ("molecular biology - practicing biochemistry without a license").

I guess the question is ... do you want to "use" your chemistry background to blend your own developer on demand?

I enjoy reading about different developers, but I'm not using them. Many people here love making their own from scratch - for the thrill of it - and are perfectly willing to share ideas.

I prefer to mix a bag of D-76 and have four bottles on the shelf to use as needed. D-76 1:1 and 400 TMAX is my favorite combination for 4x5.

p.s. I work for Kodak but the opinion is my own and not necessarily that of EKC.

[Doremus Scudder]

Hi Nancy,

The Darkroom Cookbook by Stephen Anchell and The Film Developing Cookbook by Stephen Anchell and Bill Troopis are good references for formulas and film developing info/techniques. There are also lots of formulas at APUG and at unblinkingeye.com.

General books on black-and-white photography that are more modern/still relevant include the Ansel Adams books, The Camera, The Negative, The Print, (the middle of which is dedicated to film developing and the Zone System) as well as Ralph Lambrechts Beyond Monochrome. There are also great references by Tim Rudman, Ctein, and others that have large sections devoted to film and formulas.

I would recommend starting with Adams' The Negative Then get Beyond Monochrome and the Anchell/Troop books (I think they are available in eBook form) and go from there.

If you aren't familiar with the APUG forums, you should check them out as well.

Best,

Doremus

[NancyP]

Thanks. AA Negative is on my to-read table already. Of course, being new, everything ELSE is piling up behind Ansel. Just trying to buy a lens or two requires a fair amount of study: Symmar-Sironar-Sinaron-S-NSW-IIN-single coat-multicoat-APO-Caltar-Ektar-Tessar-Ronar-MTF-WTF Thank god I found the "Show your mistakes" thread, because I am beginning to find my confusion hilarious.

[bigdog]

ILFORD
http://www.ilfordphoto.com/home.asp

KODAK
http://www.kodak.com/global/en/profe...319/1231/13405

Kodak: Teaching Basic Darkroom Techniques
http://www.kodak.com/global/en/consu...llCourse.shtml

Kodak: Darkroom Design for Amateur Photographers
http://wwwcaen.kodak.com/global/en/p...bs/ak3/ak3.pdf

Kodak chemicals for processing black-and-white films and papers
http://www.kodak.com/global/en/profe...?pq-path=14024

Kodak FAQ (photo chemistry)
http://www.kodak.com/global/en/servi.../faq5026.shtml

[Bill Burk]

Thanks. AA Negative is on my to-read table already. Of course, being new, everything ELSE is piling up behind Ansel. Just trying to buy a lens or two requires a fair amount of study: Symmar-Sironar-Sinaron-S-NSW-IIN-single coat-multicoat-APO-Caltar-Ektar-Tessar-Ronar-MTF-WTF Thank god I found the "Show your mistakes" thread, because I am beginning to find my confusion hilarious.

Haa, my latest mistake photo in that thread (Wild Horse) was taken with my first LF lens, for $50 a Tessar. I learned a lot with that lens.