New Tmax 400 in XTOL

[Toyon]

I just bought my first box of TMAX. I plan to develop it in XTOL 1:1. Has anyone tested this combination. I am just looking for a starting point regarding increased/reduced time in this developer.

[Ed Richards]

Kodak has times on their WWW site. They are pretty close to Tmax 100. I used my own Tmax 100 times for Xtol 1:3 and it worked pretty well.

[Jan Nieuwenhuysen]

http://www.kodak.com/global/en/professional/products/films/bw/tMax400.jhtml

See tech pub F-4043 you can download from there.

[Arne Croell]

It depends on your developing method (by hand, rotation, hanger etc.) whether this combination works for all the expansion/reduction possibilities. The Kodak values are a good starting point but give too much contrast for "N" development in my experience, more like an N+1. I recently did this for TMY in 4x5 and started out with XTOL 1+1; I use a Jobo with 3000 series drums (i.e. continuous agitation). It quickly became clear to me that with this combination anything in the N-1 or N-2 department would be well below 5min development time, which is not recommended by Kodak and hard to control, too. The Kodak numbers suggested that D-76 1+1 would be a little better, but not by much, so I went with TMAX RS 1+9 from concentrate, which is what I also use for TMX, anyway. Even then, the N-2 development time ended up at 4:15min, and at my lowest rotation rate (25rpm). However, if you develop by hand or with less agitation or at a lower temperature (I used 75F, anything lower is not practical in Alabama), the numbers might very well work for you with XTOL.
For the TMAX RS, here are the values I got for the Jobo at 75F and with 640ml of developer for 6 sheets 4x5 (a 5 min pre-rinse was used):

N+2: EI 320, 1+9, 50rpm, 16:30
N+1: EI 250, 1+9, 50rpm, 11:30
N: EI 250, 1+9, 50rpm, 8:30
N-1: EI 160, 1+9, 50rpm, 6:00
N-2: EI 125, 1+9, 25rpm, 4:15

[Sal Santamaura]

...For the TMAX RS, here are the values I got for the Jobo at 75F and with 640ml of developer for 6 sheets 4x5 (a 5 min pre-rinse was used):

N+2: EI 320, 1+9, 50rpm, 16:30
N+1: EI 250, 1+9, 50rpm, 11:30
N: EI 250, 1+9, 50rpm, 8:30
N-1: EI 160, 1+9, 50rpm, 6:00
N-2: EI 125, 1+9, 25rpm, 4:15Very close agreement with recent results here. My TMY-2 test was limited to establishing one time for CI=0.50, which approximates "N-1/2." Also 75F, TMAX RS 1+9 at the same developer-to-film-area ratio, 5 minute presoak and rotation speed 45rpm, time was 6:40. EI, however, was midway between 500 and 640, determined classically (fb-f + 0.1) and with exposure measured using my Zone VI-modified Pentax digital spotmeter.

I frequently get higher black and white EIs than do others when comparing similar film / developer / processing method combinations, but transparency exposures established by this meter are spot on with commercial processing. No explanation has surfaced yet.

[Michael Rosenberg]

I just tested and developed some TMY2 in XTOL 1:2 at 72F. The times were identical to maybe a little shorter than those that I used for TMax 100. If you have not used TMax 100 and established developing times in Xtol, then I suggest trying N = 9:45 at the above dilution/temp. for hanger development in 2.5 L tank with agitation every 30 sec.

Mike.

[Toyon]

Thank you kindly for all who responded with their valuable data.

[Ed Richards]

I find that 1:3 lets me do n- development with reasonable development times.

[Arne Croell]

Very close agreement with recent results here. My TMY-2 test was limited to establishing one time for CI=0.50, which approximates "N-1/2." Also 75F, TMAX RS 1+9 at the same developer-to-film-area ratio, 5 minute presoak and rotation speed 45rpm, time was 6:40. EI, however, was midway between 500 and 640, determined classically (fb-f + 0.1) and with exposure measured using my Zone VI-modified Pentax digital spotmeter.

I frequently get higher black and white EIs than do others when comparing similar film / developer / processing method combinations, but transparency exposures established by this meter are spot on with commercial processing. No explanation has surfaced yet.

Hi Sal, I use a Zone VI modified Pentax digital, too. My speeds were determined for Zone I=0.1-0.15 over fb+f (and Zone VIII = 1.3-1.35 over fb+f for N development). Not sure where the difference comes from, but 1/3rd EV offset for each of our meters would account for nearly 2/3rd of the difference.

Ed, yes the higher XTOL dilution should work fine to arrive at reasonable times. The reason I did not go that route is that for a 10-sheet drum which I also use I would need 1 liter of developer solution at minimum (per Kodak recommendations) - that is the upper limit of the Jobo and strains the motor somewhat.

[Eric Biggerstaff]

Sal,

I use a Zone VI modified Pentx spot and I get EI's in your range. My meter was recalibrated a couple of years ago by Richard Ritter and when I re-tested my materials I found that my EI had increased.

I use a Jobo 3010 on a Besler motor base and did use Xtol but now mainly use Rodinal.

The meter works fine and reads in a linear progression, so I feel like a got a nice side benefit having speeds either matching the box speed or a little faster.