[Leica] Advice wanted: TRI-X development setup

[jsmith342 at cox.net (Jeffery Smith)]

You are in exactly the same situation that I was in several years ago. I 
tried XTOL (1:1) many times as it seemed to be the hands-down favorite among 
B&W shooters. I couldn't get good, scannable negatives. I tried Paterson's 
FX50 (another ascorbic acid developer) and got negs so thin, they were 
unusable. I ordered some Bluefire Police film two weeks ago, and it arrived 
completely demolished by the USPS (like someone stomped on the envelope with 
combat boots). However, I got better luck with HC110, but still the negs 
seemed too gritty and contrasty. The best luck I've gotten so far (to the 
point that I'm going to stick with it) is divided D-76. It is virtually 
impossible to underdevelop or overdevelop with it, and temperature isn't 
much of an issue as long as it is reasonable. Times are pretty lax too. I'm 
not a total incompetent; my problem is a 80-ish year old mother in law who 
is persistently underfoot and getting in the way.

D-23 is also good for Tri-X, and it is very simple (two chemicals). If you 
have a place that sells photographic chemicals, buy a bottle of Metol (Elon) 
and a bottle of sodium sulfite, and try D-23 or even divided D-23. Take a 
look here on how to do it:

http://unblinkingeye.com/Articles/DD-23/dd-23.html

You won't waste developer and won't have to worry about it spoiling if you 
make it up as you need it and use it all up that day! Mark Rabiner has 
indicated that the amounts of Metol and sulfite used for D-23 can be 
measured with measuring spoons. Pretty flexible stuff, and it tames both 
contrast and grain pretty well.

Jeffery


> 
> From: Simon PJ <simonpj@mac.com>
> Date: 2006/01/27 Fri PM 12:45:16 EST> To: Leica Users Group 
> <lug@leica-users.org>
> Subject: [Leica] Advice wanted: TRI-X development setup
> 
> I haven't developed black and white at home for over fifteen years, but
> would like to start again with TRI-X, and make sure that I make the most of
> whatever remains of the age of film!
> 
> I know there is a huge fund of TRI-X wisdom on the LUG, and would be
> grateful for advice on the practicalities of getting set up. I'm thinking
> not just of best developer for grain etc., but also such things as
> shelf-life of chemicals for the my modest amount of shooting (e.g., should 
> I
> buy in small or large volumes?).
> 
> Factors to take into account:
> 
> -- 1 to 4 rolls a week, with spikes up to 10 rolls a week about every other
> month.
> 
> -- predominantly indoor available light shooting of people in
> home/social/work situations: so 320/400 ISO and some pushing to 800 (maybe
> 1600)
> 
> -- to be scanned by Minolta Dimage 5400 Elite
> 
> I think this is probably a pretty common shooting profile amongst LUG
> members.
> 
> I'd be very grateful for any advice on chemicals for a practical set-up
> taking into consideration the above factors, and a low level of skill and
> experience with b&w development.
> 
> And if anybody thinks TRI-X is the wrong way to go, please suggest
> alternatives! 
> 
> TIA,
> 
> Simon, Cambridge UK.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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