Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/02/16

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Subject: Re: [Leica] RE: Tri-X and Kodak vs Ilford?
From: Fred Greenspan <greenspan@earthlink.net>
Date: Tue, 16 Feb 1999 10:33:59 -0400

Bob,

I also use Ilford Delta films almost exclusively, with Kodak Xtol as my main
developer. Like you, I tried the Tmax films but just couldn't get what I
wanted out of them. I also use Ilford paper as I like the way it works with
the Delta films. Kodak paper seems to have a much shorter shelf life than
Ilford. I can't tell you how much Kodak b&w paper I've had to dump in the
trash because it had gone grey. The Ilford never gave me this problem although
it was stored in the same place. I stopped buying Kodak paper.

Fred



RBedw51767@aol.com wrote:
> 
> 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