Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1997/04/01
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Robert Brummett wrote: > > >Robert Brummett wrote: > >> > >> >Hi friends: > >> > > >> >Some months ago, in the LUG there was an interesting thread on developers. > >> >There was somebody that pointed out the new Kodak x-tol developer, and > >>seemed > >> >to have quite an expertise in using it. > >> >I started using it, and although I already prefer it to my former T-max > >> >developer, I still have some black holes. > >> > > >> >Could this person please tell me what does it change to use it at full > >> >strength, or at each of the different dilutions? I find the info that kodak > >> >has on the internet, insufficient. > >> > > >> >Also, when I use it at full strength(supposedly reusable for an amount of > >> >rolls) and keep it in the common black plastic bottle, when I want to reuse > >>it > >> >for the second time, after some days, it has a grey color, totally different > >> >from the transparent color it had after the first use. Is this normal? If it > >> >is not, I am worried that it could be my chrome M6 dying its color into the > >> >negatives and them to the developer. > >> > > >> >P.S: As you see IT IS a Leica-related message : ) > >> > > >> > > >> > Nicolas Levinton. Madrid. SPAIN > >> > nlevintonm.i-solev@nexo.es > >> > >> Nicolas- > >> > >> You may be seeing the residue of anti-halation (and perhaps other) dyes > >> from the film you have developed. I use, and recommend, a water pre-soak > >> immediately preceding development. In addition to removing some of the > >> dyes, this pre-soak renders the film more amenable to even development and > >> helps toprevent airbells. I doubt that the discoloration represents any > >> serious problem, BUT it is just another reason to consider going to a > >> developer that allows fresh, mix-on-the-spot, one-shot doses. > >> > >> Robert > >Nicolas: > >If you are going to pre-soak, you will probably need to increase your > >development time about 20% > >Randolph > > Test this with care! I have pre-soaked for years, and my times are always > 20-25% BELOW Kodak reccs. I don't doubt Randolph's warning, but I'd like to > know how he arrives at it. > > Robert Robert: I had better looking negatives after increasing development about 20% Pre-soak completely eliminated any problems I was having with air bells, but was giving negatives that were a little thinner than I liked. Of course, any statement concerning time/temperature development needs testing by the individual. I have lived places where the water supply gave a one stop push to development in relation to distilled water. There are a number of emulsions that should not be pre-soaked, according to manufacturer's recommendations. Randolph