[Leica] Shoot B&W film again?

[chris at chriscrawfordphoto.com (Chris Crawford)]

I think Tri-X, Tmax 400, and HP5 are all great 400 films. I have gotten
magnificent results with each. If you want to use D-76, Tri-X gives the
nicest tonality. Develop it in D-76 1+1. Tmax 400 works well in D-76 1+1.
I don't like HP5 in D-76. I develop it in PMK Pyro or Rodinal.

I would not use such old chemicals. I'm sure a bunch of guys here will
chime in to tell me how wrong I am. Ignore them. You may get lucky, but
these chemicals are so damned cheap it is just not worth using old stuff
and ruining your film. You do want the photos to come out, yes? Just go
buy some new D-76 and Rapid Fix. Hypo clear is a waste of time and money
with film; they do not absorb fixer like papers do. Wash them in running
water for 10 minutes, and they'll be archival. Your old Photo-Flo may be
fine, it doesn't go bad like developers and fixers can.

-- 
Chris Crawford
Fine Art Photography
Fort Wayne, Indiana
260-437-8990

http://www.chriscrawfordphoto.com  My portfolio

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Christopher-Crawford/48229272798
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On 2/2/14 1:34 AM, "Peter Klein" <pklein at threshinc.com> wrote:

>I am getting this urge to shoot some black and white film again.  I have
>no idea if this is simply misplaced nostalgia or if I'm on to
>something.  But the thought is in my mind.  For two reasons:
>1. I like the look of B&W film.
>2. I would like to use my 50mm Leica-mount lenses as fifties again. On
>my 1.33x crop M8 they are mild-telephoto-ish, and 100mm equivalent on my
>E-M5. Shooting my old M6 would give me a way to use them as fifties
>without having to spend massive bucks for another digital Leica.
>
>I'm talking real B&W film here, not chromagenic. I'm inclined towards
>Tri-X, as this is what I shot before. I'm also mindful of Dante Stella's
>comment that Tri-X is the second-best film for all puposes.  I'd be
>using it as an all-purpose film, indoors available light at EI 400 or
>800, or (probably) with a green filter outdoors on sunny days, unlikely
>as that may seem in Seattle).
>
>Related question:  I have some darkroom chemical powders and
>concentrates in their original sealed containers or envelopes. I bought
>them in Oct. 2001. I don't see any expiration dates on the packaging.
>Are they still good?
>- Kodak D-76 power to make one quart
>- Kodak Xtol powders to make five liters.
>- Kodak Rapid Fixer concentrate to make one gallon.
>- Orbit Bath concentrate (hypo clearing agent)
>- Photo-Flo Concentrate
>
>--Peter
>
>
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