Re: [Leica] RE: Tri-X and Kodak vs Ilford?

[RBedw51767@aol.com]

Jim and Peter:

After about a 20 year photography hiatus I got back into it last year.  I was
shocked at how little it had changed with the exception of the film category.
Being very familiar with Kodak it was only natural that I began using their
latest product which was Tmax.  After going through about a dozen rolls I was
becoming very discouraged  and began to consider spending more time on other
interests.  As a "last ditch" effort I tried Delta 100 and it was like the sky
opened up and shined.  I have since gone back several times to try Tmax and it
just doesn't work for me.  At this time the only Kodak product that I use is
Xtol.   There are rumors that Ilford will introduce, in the near future, an
ascorbic acid based liquid developer to compete with Xtol.  Perhaps I just
don't know what I am doing with Tmax but the difference is dramatic for me.  

I was taking some pictures of a barn the other day and this young man stopped
to talk to me.  He was a student of photography at a local college.   As I was
loading Delta 100 in my Hasselblad he made the comment that he wasn't aware
that anyone else made film but Kodak.  The only film that he had ever used was
Tmax.  Talk about a generation gap!  Needless to say, I suddenly felt very
old.   I gave him some Delta 100 and asked him to let me know how it worked
for him.

Before it gets started I do not work for  Ilford, in fact I don't work at all.
The Ilford line of products is very easy to use.  I love their liquid
chemicals and papers.  Their website provides a lot of information and I wish
that I could justify owning their  variable contrast enlarger head.  While
Kodak has ventured away from the low volume amateur Ilford has focused their
attention on them. 

I love to hear about the film/developer combinations that work for other
LUGGERS.  Unfortunately, Tmax has made it very difficult for me to consider
Kodaks products.  Perhaps I am not handling it properly.

Thanks for listening.

Bob Bedwell

<< At 06:18 PM 2/15/99 -0800, you wrote:
 >Not ridiculous at all.  Only people I know who use Tri-X are you and several
 >LUGs.  Everyone else uses TMax or T400CN. ;-]
 >
 >Peter K
 >
 
 
 Peter,
 
 Kodak is not known for continuing to manufacture a product that doesn't
 sell. Look at Super-XX and Pan-X.
 
 Kodak supplies Tri-X in:
 
 35mm/24
 35mm/36
 35mm/50'
 35mm/100'
 120
 220
 70mm/100'
 2-1/4 x 3-1/4 sheet
 4x5
 5x7
 8x10
 
 Doesn't sound to me like Tri-X is a slow seller. In reality, there is a
 "HUGE" base of professional and amateur photographers that use tons of
 Tri-X. TMax is not a panacea and T400CN is not a true B&W film, as it
 requires C41.
 
 :)
 
 Jim
  >>