I have been using HC110 with T-Max 400 (4x5 sheet film) for a number of years. While my results are normally satsifying, there have been occasions when the highlights are rather difficult to control (with contrasty subjects). I would like to hear from others who have tried different developers (D-76?) and their results. Thank you!

-- Kirt E. Carter (KEC@Prodigy.Net), October 11, 1997

Answers

I have found success with this film in 4x5 and 5x7 with Ilford ID11 mixed diluted 1:3. Very clean, sharp & predictable. The longer times(13.75 min/75degrees in a jobo 6 shooter type processing drum) help here. I can develop longer or shorter to suit the contrast range of the original scene with no problems. My number one problem with the TMax films was solved with the use of the bigger jobo processing drum-even skies. With the smaller tanks I always had trouble. Now it is consistent. I pre-soak with 2 washes, the first for 3 min and the second for 2. Then develop, stop with a very, very dilute acetic acid stop bath and then 2 bath fix(non hardening rapid fix), rinse & treat for 5 min in Heico Perma Wash, and final rinse for 10-15 minutes. Very repeatable results & very clean. I use the chemicals once & dump, other than the fixer. When I get Highlights that really soar, I plan on one of two solutions. First, 00 Ilford filters and some burning if needed. Second, a contrast mask. It is a real pain to do but works very well. Luckily I don't need it often. But, after reading Howard Bond's articles in Photo Techniques I might start using it more often. He is certainly having success with it.

-- Dan Smith (shooter@brigham.net), October 12, 1997.

Developper choice

I am struggelling with a similar problem. I ended up exposing T-Max 400 (5x7) at 200 ISO, developping 7 1/2 minutes in HC110(B) after a 30 seconds water pre-soak. I was told the problem is connected with the short toe (compared to TRI-X), combined with the curve of new Kodak papers (opposed to Iford multigrade III), which are supposed to compensate the specific curve of new tabular-grain films. If everything fails i'll go back to TRI-X and D76. I'd rather be considered old-fashioned than deliver group-photographs with rocketing highlights.

-- Andreas Perret (aperret@hospvd.ch), October 15, 1997.

I have used hc-110 with t-max 100 for several years with great success. Your problem with t-max lies not in the choice of developer, but in how comprehensive your testing is. Highlights can be controlled regardless of how contrasty the scene is if you are prepared for it.

-- mark lindsey (lindseygraves@msn.com), February 09, 1998.