Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/08/29
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]"B. D. Colen" wrote: > > Thanks, but I am not a master of anything!:-).... > > I use Tri-X almost exclusively, and almost always rate it at 800, unless I'm > going to be out-of-doors on a bright day. I don't develop my own film, but > the place that does it develops it Xtol, and get great results. One of these > days I am actually going to spring for a used single reel tank, some plastic > bottles, and fool around with Acufine, which I used a zillion years ago to > push tri-X. If I remember correctly Jim Marshall, rock 'n roll shooter, > shoots tri-x at 800 almost exclusively and has it developed in Acufine. > ><Snip> BD a couple of suggestions don't get a single reel tank. They have fallen into disgrace! Get a double reel tank, two 35mm reels or one 120 reel. This Pint tank makes for the best agitation pattern when you agitate with inversion; and it a better amount of chemistry to be working with. I think most academic programs tell the students to not get the single reel tanks any more. They are trouble. And Awkward. Acufine was the first developer i ever used! I used it at 800 with my Voigtländer Vito BL. First i replenished it then I did it at 1:1 which gave me much better results. This was 1965. I think it was made in the Chicago area which is where I was. And if your bottles are plastic may they not be the kind you get at even the better photo stores which seem very cheap to me and it seemed to me my chemicals would last MUCH shorter in them when i used to use them. They have high grade Libratory grade plastic which makes for a sealed non breathing enclosure. Me i got Brown glass bottles from a laboratory Supply house which is the yellow pages category. They are beautiful and relatively cheap. You don't worry any air is going to go right through the glass. Last month I drop kicked a gallon of rapid fix in my darkroom as I was talking to my cleaning person. (Who is from Tibet). I just kicked it over and it broke. I keep it on the floor under my sink and it was sticking out. I think i break some glass in my darkroom every 8 or 9 years. Also I happen to know Jim Marshall will shoot his Tri x at 800 for most situations but situations when he'd need plus X; or a medium speed film he pulls his Tri x to 200. A very simple system. Never deviate from one film. Me I'd use the Plus X but I see the top people always have the simplest techniques. Mark Rabiner Portland, Oregon USA http://www.markrabiner.com - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html