XTOL + Pre-Soak: What gives?

[Renato Tonelli]

I have been following the advice on a Jobo bullettin where it says not to use a water Pre-Soak (2500 seris tanks and Expert drums).

This evening, I was reading Kodak's XTOL publication to check the published times for some old film I found and lo and behold! it says to pre-soak sheets before development.

What gives? I realize that I'm up late and that I am tired, but....

Do you pre-soak your sheet film when you are using XTOL?

[Richard Wheat]

I use a jobo drum on a roller, and I always pre-soak.

[Arne Croell]

I am not using XTOL, but TMAX RS in my Jobo Expert drums, and I always presoak.

[Paul Bujak]

I use XTOL and always pre-soak at least one minute.

[Ed Richards]

I use Tmax and Xtol in expert drums. I did not presoak for a year or so, and had problems with uneven skies. Started doing a 5 minute presoak and have had no more problems.

[Larry Gebhardt]

I always presoak with XTOL in the Jobo tanks. I see no issues with doing that. Just be consistant, and make sure the presoak water is at the same temp as the developer.

[Renato Tonelli]

Really, I was wondering how this conflicting information came about in the first place and why.

When I was using HC110 I always used a pre-soak and still do wit 35mm and 120 with Microdol-X. I always liked the idea of a pre-soak - it seems to make sense.

[Jim Noel]

I always pre-soak for 5 minutes. The instructions I have for the Expert drums states that a 5 minute soak should be used.

[Gene McCluney]

Pre-soak does no harm.

[Andrew O'Neill]

I never presoak.