T Max developer

f16sunshine

f16sunshine

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Does anyone use T Max developer (liquid).
If yes or no please explain what you do or do not like about it.
Any comparison to Rodinal ??
Thank you for your replies.
 
Andy, since I just began experimenting with it, I can't comment on its performance. But I can say that I'm a bit chilled by its cost compared to rodinal, if that isn't already obvious. I'm interested in fdigital's stand development technique with TMax developer not just for its results but also because it may be more economical.
 
When the Tmax film first came out I decided to give it a try...It was supposed to be the next great film from Kodak...I was then told I should develop it in Tmax Developer... I did..I wasn't all that happy with Tmax, I thought it was too flat...I was then told to rate it @ 250...I did...still not too happy...
I have used it here and there through out the years but it never WOWed me...
I have about 20 rolls of Tmax 400pro in the frige...I've been slowly using it up but now developing it in Rodinal...it's not Tri-X but I am a bit happier using it...
As far a Tmax Developer goes I would never buy it again now knowing I can use other developers with better results...
 
I use it all the time. I also use Rodinal and D76.

I use Tmax Developer primarily for Tmax 3200 and Ilford's Delta 3200 films, it was designed for pushing these films and it gives the best tonality with them of any developer I have used.

I used to use it all the time for Tmax 400, but when the new Tmax 400 came out (TMY-2) I began using D76 for that film. I recently shot some Tmax 400 that I developed in Tmax and liked the results and will be using it some more. I have not decided if I like it or D-76 best for TMY-2 yet. I use it diluted 1+7 for TMY-2, just as I did for the old Tmax 400. Tonality is nice, grain finer than I got with D76 1+1 but highlights block up more easily than with D76.

leica2.jpg

Tmax 400, Tmax Developer 1+7

leica14.jpg

Tmax 400, Tmax Developer 1+7

mack_2-14-09_1.jpg

Tmax 400, D-76 1+1

insert-politicians.jpg

Tmax 400, D-76 1+1

marys-bar11.jpg

Tmax 3200, EI-1600, Tmax Developer 1+4

As to how Tmax Developer compares to Rodinal, it has finer grain than Rodinal. Tonality is different too, but that varies by film. I think Rodinal's tonality is gorgeous on Tmax 100, but Tmax 400 tends to have too little shadow contrast and the highlights have too much:

mack_3-19-09_2.jpg

Tmax 400 in Rodinal 1+50. I have only done one roll of Tmax 400 in Rodinal so maybe by testing I can find a dev. time that would work better but my initial impression is that the tonality is harsh, which works for some subjects.
 
I think it's a great developer, but is way too expensive. It's single shot, and doesn't dilute as much as rodinal.
 
A paradox

A paradox

I agree with everything the Chris wrote. Importantly, T-Max and T-Max RS are NOT the same developer. Neither were either of them specifically formulated to be used with T-Max films. They are speed enhancing developers that work really well with TMZ and Delta 3200. When I worked at a lab that used TMax RS as standard, it was really difficult to get good tonality with all films. I found, however, that it did aid in getting printable contrast out of a range of tones on films exposed at box speeds (I typically shoot B&W films at half the ISO speed). I remember APX25 in T-Max RS in particular as being very, very difficult.

But I keep it on the shelf for big pushes.

Marty
 

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Mephiloco said:
I think it's a great developer, but is way too expensive. It's single shot, and doesn't dilute as much as rodinal.
Click to expand...

It can be diluted 1+7 or 1+9, which is a considerable cost savings over the 1+4 dilution. I only use 1+4 to develop the 3200 films, because they use fairly long dev. times. For Tmax 400 or any other non-3200 film, I dilute 1+7. The 1+4 times for most films are just too short for my taste, due to the danger of uneven developing. The higher dilutions give decent (9 to 10 minute) developing times and a lot of savings in cost. If anyone needs the times for the higher dilutions, they're in Kodak publication f4016 for Tmax 100 and 3200 (the Tmax 400 info in pub f4016 should be ignored, it is for the older version of the film...see publication f4043 for new Tmax 400). As mentioned in the previous sentence, the current version of Tmax 400 has its own tech publication, f4043. These can be downloaded in PDF format free from Kodak.com

I find Kodak's times to be very close for me. Use them as starting points and you'll do ok.
 
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