[Leica] B&W technique

[Erwin Puts <imxputs@knoware.nl>]

Several topics on B&W technique popped up on the LUG.
First of all the best films/developer combo's.
Some Luggers advice Rodinal for several filmtypes. Well Rodinal is good,
but its large grain reduces the capability of Leica lenses to render
extremely fine detail. Its qualities for generating a long tonal scale are
easily matched by Xtol or others. So forget about Rodinal. It is not good
for Leica images.
As mentioned before: the developer of choice nowadays is Xtol or Paterson
FX39.
These developer formulae are designed to exploit modern film/lens
combinations to the full.
NEVER push B&W films. It may help capture an impossible shot. But the iron
rule is this:
if ISO100 is too slow, use ISO 400, if that is not enough use D3200 or TMZ
with an EI of 1200 to 1600. Above that everything is just myth and personal
experiemce.
The best low speed films are  still APX25 and PanF-Plus, very closely
followed by D100 and TMX, trailed by APX100. APX25 and PanF+ need some
training to get best results.
At ISO400 the d400 is excellent as is XP2Super and CN400.
The PlusXpan is a very charming film: fine but gritty grain, high acutance
and a very nice look of the '50s. For moderate enlargements (20x25cm) very
very good.
The story on presoaking has never been proved scientifically. My own tests
(densitometer etc) indicate that the whole issue of presoaking is marginal.
If any result at all if falls within statistical margins of randomness.

The choice of film is maybe less important than the care of matching
exposure  and developing technique. I did a study of many  different films
in many different developers and repeted many combinations over the years.
Results were not always consistent as environment parameters changed.
It is only valid to make conclusions after many months of using a
particular film/developer/exposure combo and many small variations of
paramaters to make sure small differences do not get overproportiate
attention.
Do not believe all the claims about special developers and secret formula.
Chemics is a very straightforward topic.
Extensive studies have proved that variations in developer chemistry have
small effects on the total result.
There is no holy grail here. Just solid experimentation and scientific sense.

Erwin