Re: [Leica] Anyone use Xtol Developer?

["rlb" <rlb@triad.rr.com>]

Johnny, I have run perhaps close to 500 rolls of Delta films during the past
year in Xtol and have never experienced the variability that you refer to.
I have run into packages of 1 liter Xtol that the part A had solidified.   I
have had two containers of Xtol stock solution that were exhausted after 3
to 4 weeks producing blank negatives.  I have used at all dilutions during
this time but generally prefer 1:3 or 1:2.

I am very anal about mixing all of my stock solutions in distilled water and
making sure there is at least 100ml of stock solution per roll of film.
Other than those things Xtol has consistently produced fine negatives for
me.

Bob Bedwell


- ----- Original Message -----
From: "tom coleman" <tdcoleman@home.com>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Tuesday, May 02, 2000 7:28 AM
Subject: Re: [Leica] Anyone use Xtol Developer?


> Johnny,
>
> Thanks so much for the excellent advice and observations!  This confirms
> what I have rather unscientifically come to suspect.  I'll try some of
> your suggestions and see what happens in particular using less dilute
> development, test rolls and extending development times.  I've found, in
> general, that Kodak's recommended development times are always short of
> what's desirable.  Negatives that I shot, for example, in London in
> February came out really thin.
>
> You're right though, I haven't used a developer that produces like XTOL
does.
>
> Obliged,
>
> Tom Coleman
>
> Johnny Deadman wrote:
> >
> > on 2/5/00 7:32 AM, tom coleman at tdcoleman@home.com wrote:
> >
> > > Dear LUGers,
> > >
> > > While I love the extremely fine grain of Xtol developer on TMax 100,
> > > I've also encountered unexpected variability in the development of the
> > > negatives.  Some rolls develop differently that others.
> > >
> > > While I have been careful with times, temperatures and dilutions, I
> > > still can't necessarily predict what results I'll get when I souped
them
> > > in my 3 reel tank.
> > >
> > > Any suggestions on things to watch out for will be greatly appreciated
> > > such as particular sensitivity characteristics of this film that I
> > > should be aware of.
> >
> > Tmax emulsions and Xtol are a tricky combination at any dilution other
than
> > stock. Personally, I increase the dev time by two minutes to eleven
minutes
> > for TMY in Xtol 1:1.
> >
> > I think the reason for this (Rabiner is the expert) are threefold:
> >
> > (a) Tmax emulsions are greedy for developer, so there is a real issue
about
> > whether you get enough active Xtol in a dilute solution to fully develop
> > them, unless you use stock. Even 3 rolls in 1 litre of Xtol 1:1 can lead
to
> > underdevelopment, though each roll has more than the recommended 100ml
of
> > Xtol stock available to it.
> >
> > (b) Tmax emulsions are very sensitive to processing variation. So the
> > effects of (a) are intensified, where the same effect might not be as
> > obvious in another (traditional) emulsion.
> >
> > (c) Xtol is notoriously variable from batch to batch.
> >
> > IMHO the results are absolutely worth it and I wouldn't use any other
dev
> > for these emulstions nowadays, but in order to get consistent results I
> > recommend:
> >
> > (a) run your own test to establish the correct development time for your
own
> > combination of exposure, temperature and work habits. Some people find
it
> > works great at the nominal times/temps, others (like me) find a radical
> > increase in dev time is necessary (and I *like* a flattish neg)
> >
> > (b) run a test roll with every new batch of xtol.
> >
> > (c) if you really run into problems, consider using distilled water to
make
> > up your xtol as despite the presence of EDTA (a chelating/sequesterint
> > agent) in the formulat, the level of impurities in your water can affect
the
> > activity of the developer.
> >
> > --
> > Johnny Deadman
> >
> > photos:      http://www.pinkheadedbug.com
> > music:       http://www.jukebox.demon.co.uk