Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/08/13
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Martin Howard wrote: >I also like the idea of the X-Tol developer, without the environmentally >hazardous hydro-whatsits. I would like to hear if anyone has experience >of Ilford films (such as FP4+, HP5+, Delta 100 & 400) and X-Tol >developer, and what that experience is. > >Please include all the relevant information on development, as the >example above. I like FP4 and HP5, and now use Xtol. I find it very convenient to be able to mix and use the developer at the same temperature, and also like the environmental benefits. I use it at 1:1 at 21 degrees C, at the times that Kodak recommends. They have a tech bulletin on the web (j107 ?) in PDF form that gives basic info on the film, and processing times for various manufacturer's films. Just make sure that you do not use less than 100cc of stock solution, in whatever dilution, for a 36exp. film, as underdevelopment will result (in faster films especially). Xtol is also good with HIE and the Tmax family. As with D-76 or ID-11, contrast and tonal control both in the toe and shoulder of the density curve is easy with Xtol, and both these film need all the help they can get. I also seem to get slightly finer grain and acutance with Xtol compared with D-76, just as Kodak claims. Tmax developer seems to produce finer grain with the Tmax films, but the shoulder area of the curve is a lot harder to control, with resulting hard-to-print highlights in a lot of cases. * Henning J. Wulff /|\ Wulff Photography & Design /###\ mailto:henningw@archiphoto.com |[ ]| http://www.archiphoto.com