Re: Which B&W film to start with?

On Wed, 9 Jul 2003 19:27:18 -0400, "Michael A. Covington"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>
>Tri-X Pan is an excellent film to start with because it is tolerant of
>exposure errors and processing errors. You will not have to do much
>experimenting to find the right development time before you start getting
>good pictures.

I've often wondered what is so tolerant about Tri-X. Frankly it can
develop contrasty highlights like nobodies business, drop shadow detail in the
blink of an eye and being less hardened than T-Max it's more sensitive to
temperature variations. In contrast T-Max can develop a very straight-lined
contrast gradient even when over-exposed by 4~6 stops. It can handle any
temperature variations within reason and it's simply a durable film to work
with.

Regards,

John - Photographer & Webmaster - http://www.darkroompro.com
A summation of American society after 9/11:
Never have so many known so much and yet done so little.


John

John <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
: On Wed, 9 Jul 2003 19:27:18 -0400, "Michael A. Covington"
: <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

:>
:>Tri-X Pan is an excellent film to start with because it is tolerant of
:>exposure errors and processing errors. You will not have to do much
:>experimenting to find the right development time before you start getting
:>good pictures.

: I've often wondered what is so tolerant about Tri-X. Frankly it can
: develop contrasty highlights like nobodies business, drop shadow detail in the
: blink of an eye and being less hardened than T-Max it's more sensitive to
: temperature variations. In contrast T-Max can develop a very straight-lined
: contrast gradient even when over-exposed by 4~6 stops. It can handle any
: temperature variations within reason and it's simply a durable film to work
: with.

I agree that Tmax is a fine film. The problem that I see a beginner<SP?>
having with is it's sensitivity to processing.
--




Keep working millions on welfare depend on you
-------------------
(E-Mail Removed)

On Thu, 10 Jul 2003 00:25:35 -0500, Frank Pittel <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>: I've often wondered what is so tolerant about Tri-X. Frankly it can
>: develop contrasty highlights like nobodies business, drop shadow detail in the
>: blink of an eye and being less hardened than T-Max it's more sensitive to
>: temperature variations. In contrast T-Max can develop a very straight-lined
>: contrast gradient even when over-exposed by 4~6 stops. It can handle any
>: temperature variations within reason and it's simply a durable film to work
>: with.
>
>I agree that Tmax is a fine film. The problem that I see a beginner<SP?>
>having with is it's sensitivity to processing.

This seems to be the source of Tri-X's "tolerance" but all one has to do
is dilute the developer to add in some tolerance as any effect of processing
variations will be minimized in the longer development times. I had this same
problem myself when using T-Max developer at the 1:4 concentration and went to
the 1:9 dilution. Problem solved. Use a two-bath fix and a good hypo-clear and
your all done.

Regards,

John - Photographer & Webmaster - http://www.darkroompro.com
A summation of American society after 9/11:
Never have so many known so much and yet done so little.