I'm setting up my darkroom using some old gear I purchased quite a while ago from a retiring pro. My goals are modest, shooting, developing and making smallish enlargements in black and white. Maybe 11x14, most likely 8x10. My only previous experience doing this stuff was back in the 70's and 80's, 35mm roll film. When I bought the old gear in the early to mid 90's it included some paper, shown in the photo. I also have some old Oriental Seagull and Ilford paper I bought new, some of it from Calumet, so you know it's old, circa 1985. I also have some Plus-X dated 1/93 and Tmax dated 2/94, which have both been stored in the freezer.
I've never used the RC papers much, back when I bought my Zone VI, Fred Picker consistently badmouthed them, calling it Polycontrastless. Are graded papers used much anymore? Is any of the stuff above worth using? I shot a test negative with the Plus-X, developed with HC110, 1:15 solution as shown in Adam's book, "The Negative", and it seemed to be okay.
Not really sure which way to go with this, just looking to enjoy the journey. Any suggestions are welcome, if there are better materials now, different B&W chemistries, etc.
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