Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/01/03

[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]

Subject: [Leica] tri-x and microdol-x
From: robertmeier at usjet.net (Robert Meier)
Date: Tue Jan 3 12:03:52 2006
References: <000401c61080$67ed96c0$656c0e44@newukolbqveo9i><EC5D3613-7B16-4D58-BDFB-5FBA204D33A3@pandora.be><a2f8f4470601031040y260173bbw2476983424c06d@mail.gmail.com><0d5601c61097$11479d90$0400a8c0@robertbxucevjs> <a2f8f4470601031119m9092531m2345bfe3e0d8dd8e@mail.gmail.com>

Daniel,

Thanks.   Mike has published my pictures a couple of times before, 
illustrating one thing or another.   This time he just used this shot as a 
favor  because I wanted to get my four grandsons into print.

Bob

> It sure is! I took it for granted that it was one of Mike Johnston's
> pictures to illustrate the lens he raves about in the article.
>
> Congratulations!
>
> Daniel
>
> On 1/3/06, Robert Meier <robertmeier@usjet.net> wrote:
>>
>> Daniel,
>>
>> The December issue of Black and White Photography also has one of my
>> pictures in it, on page 51.
>>
>> Bob
>>
>>
>>
>> > Philippe,
>> >
>> > Have you ever seen the magazine "Black and White Photography" from the 
>> > UK?
>> >
>> > http://www.gmcpubs.com
>> >
>> > In the current, December 2005, issue there is an article about fine
>> > grain developers. They run through the merits and disadvantages of
>> > Microdol-X, Adox ADX, Calbe A49/Adox ATM49 (both are Agfa Atomal),
>> > Tetenal Ultrafin Plus and Mac LP-Cube XS.
>> >
>> > Most of what has been said about Microdol-X has already been said here.
>> >
>> > I don't know where the idea comes from that Tri-X is grainy. The 400TX
>> > is one of Kodak's most fine-grained films (TMX probably beats it out,
>> > but I doubt if much else does). Don't give up on the obvious before
>> > you dive into esoteric concoctions. Diluted D76 or Xtol will get you a
>> > long way. My print for round 4 of the print exchange was Tri-X and D76
>> > 1:1. I don't think it is grainy.
>> >
>> > Best,
>> > Daniel
>> >
>> >
>> > On 1/3/06, Philippe Orlent <philippe.orlent@pandora.be> wrote:
>> >> Thank you all for the input.
>> >>
>> >> But concluding after my initial question:
>> >> 1) Better don't combine Tri-X with Microdol X because the developer
>> >> counteracts on the speed and grain of the emulsion, thus on the
>> >> character of the film.
>> >> 2) But if you do, expose the Tri-X at ISO 200, dilute the Microdol 1
>> >> to 3, and search the web (f.i. on http://www.digitaltruth.com/
>> >> devchart.html) for correct development times since Kodak's times 
>> >> stink.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Op 3-jan-06, om 17:11 heeft Jeffery Smith het volgende geschreven:
>> >>
>> >> > I've seen a few respectable pictures taken with Tri-X and Rodinal.
>> >> > I've
>> >> > never ventured into that combo, but I may try it using a bit of
>> >> > overdevelopment like you suggest. It is next to impossible to get
>> >> > Rodinal
>> >> > down here for a decent price. I think I'll try Photographer's
>> >> > Formulary
>> >> > generic Rodinal.
>> >> >
>> >> > Jeffery Smith
>> >> > New Orleans, LA
>> >> > http://www.400tx.com
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > -----Original Message-----
>> >> > From: lug-bounces+jsmith342=cox.net@leica-users.org
>> >> > [mailto:lug-bounces+jsmith342=cox.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of
>> >> > Dan
>> >> > States
>> >> > Sent: Tuesday, January 03, 2006 8:16 AM
>> >> > To: lug@leica-users.org
>> >> > Subject: RE: [Leica] tri-x and microdol-x
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > Microdol x used at recommended times does reduce film speed, but
>> >> > when shot
>> >> > at 250 and developement is extended it produces proper negative
>> >> > density.  I
>> >> > have found that much of what I used to call poor resolution was
>> >> > actually
>> >> > underdevelopement.  Tri-x needs to be fully developed or the 
>> >> > sharpness
>> >> > impression is reduced.  The problem with high accutance developers
>> >> > like
>> >> > FX-39 and Ilfosol s is the granularity increase is very
>> >> > unattractive at
>> >> > greater than 5x enlargement.  (FX-39 is really not even recomended
>> >> > for high
>> >> > speed film.)
>> >> >
>> >> > Considering that maximum resolution on hand held photography is
>> >> > rarely more
>> >> > than 60lp Tri-x is capable of all the sharpness you could need.  The
>> >> > reduction of grain appearance is, in my opinion, more important to
>> >> > final
>> >> > image quality with that film.
>> >> >
>> >> > So far I have found Kodak's rec development times to be total
>> >> > crap.  Nearly
>> >> > all thier films require 15-30% more developement time than their
>> >> > website
>> >> > states.
>> >> >
>> >> > In the end, you should try microdol, d76, xtol, DDX, rodinal and 
>> >> > other
>> >> > developers.  They are not expensive, and you will be able to find
>> >> > what works
>> >> >
>> >> > best for you...plus, it's fun!
>> >> >
>> >> > best wishes
>> >> > Dan
>> >> >
>> >> >> From: "Jeffery Smith" <jsmith342@cox.net>
>> >> >> Reply-To: Leica Users Group <lug@leica-users.org>
>> >> >> To: "'Leica Users Group'" <lug@leica-users.org>
>> >> >> Subject: RE: [Leica] tri-x and microdol-x
>> >> >> Date: Tue, 3 Jan 2006 07:09:45 -0600
>> >> >>
>> >> >> I found that the grain-dissolving action of Microdol-X left very
>> >> >> little
>> >> >> snap
>> >> >> in the images. It even made Panatomic-X look bad. My advice would
>> >> >> be....don't use.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Jeffery Smith
>> >> >> New Orleans, LA
>> >> >> http://www.400tx.com
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >> -----Original Message-----
>> >> >> From: lug-bounces+jsmith342=cox.net@leica-users.org
>> >> >> [mailto:lug-bounces+jsmith342=cox.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of
>> >> >> Philippe
>> >> >> Orlent
>> >> >> Sent: Monday, January 02, 2006 3:40 PM
>> >> >> To: LUG Group
>> >> >> Subject: [Leica] tri-x and microdol-x
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Just bought both to see how they combine.
>> >> >> But having never worked with either: are there things that I should
>> >> >> know? Do's and don'ts?
>> >> >> Push or pull?
>> >> >> Dilute or not?
>> >> >> ...
>> >> >> I would be very grateful if the combined knowledge base of the LUG
>> >> >> would help me on this one.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> _______________________________________________
>> >> >> Leica Users Group.
>> >> >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more 
>> >> >> information
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >> _______________________________________________
>> >> >> Leica Users Group.
>> >> >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more 
>> >> >> information
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > _______________________________________________
>> >> > Leica Users Group.
>> >> > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > _______________________________________________
>> >> > Leica Users Group.
>> >> > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>> >> >
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> _______________________________________________
>> >> Leica Users Group.
>> >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>> >>
>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > Leica Users Group.
>> > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>> >
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Leica Users Group.
>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
> 



Replies: Reply from dlridings at gmail.com (Daniel Ridings) ([Leica] tri-x and microdol-x)
In reply to: Message from jsmith342 at cox.net (Jeffery Smith) ([Leica] tri-x and microdol-x)
Message from philippe.orlent at pandora.be (Philippe Orlent) ([Leica] tri-x and microdol-x)
Message from dlridings at gmail.com (Daniel Ridings) ([Leica] tri-x and microdol-x)
Message from robertmeier at usjet.net (Robert Meier) ([Leica] tri-x and microdol-x)
Message from dlridings at gmail.com (Daniel Ridings) ([Leica] tri-x and microdol-x)