Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/11/29

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Subject: [Leica] Xtol dev times
From: dlridings at gmail.com (Daniel Ridings)
Date: Tue Nov 29 01:29:47 2005
References: <106BBE6A-14FA-42A6-AFE9-E0F8E0054BE1@earthlink.net> <4cfa589b0511281448h7b0c7ba3m4f60b56051c111ac@mail.gmail.com> <A3FA9E77-BBAF-4733-941D-1FF8FA79C4D6@earthlink.net> <6.1.0.6.2.20051128172137.05e5b840@192.168.100.42> <BD070E1C-9E48-46F9-A1C8-91D832CCBC10@earthlink.net>

Feli, developing is easy. Just get a few variables down pat:

1) Exposure index
2) Temperature
3) Agitation

Like Mark, I have no problems with tap water and Xtol. I do filter the
water, but that is only to get the little particles of crap out of the
water so that they don't dry on my negatives.

If you are not using a thermometer, it is impossible to say anything.
My guess is that your temperature is more like 17 or 18 degrees rather
than 20 (65 F rather than 68). Xtol doesn't really care what
temperature you use, as long as you adjust the times accordingly. The
two stick together likes birds of a feather. Without knowing your
temperature, you will never be able to get consistent results.

I had to underexpose a bit when using Tri-X last week (EI 640) since I
had neither light nor Neopan 1600, but I was using 13 minutes at 1:2,
not 1:1:

http://folk.uio.no/danielr/payday

I'm not looking for bullet-proof negatives. If you get too thick and
contrasty negatives, it will be hard to scan them (I only scan
now-a-days). Even when printing in the darkroom, I was satisfied with
#3 or #3 1/2 filters. (I'd much rather prefer #3 Portriga Rapid, but
that's just dreaming).

So get a thermometer and let us know how you're doing.

Don't make a judgement about the negatives until you've printed them.
That is what counts.

Daniel

On 11/29/05, feli <feli2@earthlink.net> wrote:
>
> On Nov 28, 2005, at 5:23 PM, Richard wrote:
>
> > Probably?!!!??? Where's your thermometer? :-) (I know they cannot
> > be 100% accurate unless you only have one....)
> >
>
>
> Yes, I have one. I'll check it next time, but no developer I have
> previously used
> yelped at my regular tap water.
> ;-)
>
> feli


Replies: Reply from mark at rabinergroup.com (Mark Rabiner) ([Leica] Xtol dev times)
In reply to: Message from abridge at gmail.com (Adam Bridge) ([Leica] Xtol dev times)
Message from richard-lists at imagecraft.com (Richard) ([Leica] Xtol dev times)