Hi all- I am looking for information regarding Xtol and Ilford 3200. Specifically interested in dilutions, times, temps, amount of agitation necessary to process the Ilford 3200 (120)In Xtol. Thanks in advance. Deb, Cleveland

-- Debra Rozin (PhilnDebra@aol.com), October 24, 1999

Answers

Deb, Ilford's website here:

http://www.ilford.com/html/us_english/bw.html

has PDF files showing what you want. They DO list processing times for Xtol.

-- bcarriel (bcarriel@cpicorp.com), October 26, 1999.

I have used some of John Hicks' recommendations and they have worked for me. I don't remember what thread it is; look around. The ones of his I have used have been:

ISO 1250: Xtol 1+1 75f 12 min.

ISO 1600-2000: Xtol 1+1 75f 15 min.

Search on photo.net in the Q&A also; he comes up with quite a bit of useful stuff on various topics.

He recommends Microphen for faster speeds/times. I didn't have any on hand, so I shot Delta 3200 at 3200 and developed in Xtol 1+1 75f 18min. Pretty grainy, but there. Since his other times are so good, I'll be getting some Microphen. This is a really versatile film if you know what you're after!

-- Paul Harris (pharris@neosoft.com), October 27, 1999.

>Xtol 1+1 75f 18min

Somewhere along the line I came up with 20'/75F for EI 3200 in Xtol 1:2, so 18' sounds about right for 1:1.

Microphen times are 7'/75F EI 2000 and 9'30"/75F EI 3200.

Now...something to think about...back when I was using lots of TMZ I'd often add some sodium sulfite...25g-50g/liter....to Microphen. That would take a little of the hugeness off the grain but it wasn't enough solvent action to make mush. I don't know why, but I haven't yet tried that with D3200 or with Xtol.

-- John Hicks / John's Camera Shop (jbh@magicnet.net), October 28, 1999.

D3200 in Xtol 1:3 ... about 27-30 minutes at 68F.

-- Jonathan Borden (jborden@mediaone.net), December 07, 1999.

OK folks, fwiw I did a little experimenting....

D3200 at EI 2000 in Ilford DD-X 1:4 and Kodak Xtol 1:1, each with the addition of 50g/L sodium sulfite.

The DD-X negs are significantly finer-grained and resolve slightly finer detail than the Xtol negs, which in comparison are sort of salt'n'pepper gritty. Without the sodium sulfite, DD-X negs are slightly grainier than Xtol negs. The Xtol negs show higher acutance.

Sodium sulfite had no discernible effect on D3200 in Xtol 1:1.

Odd and interesting. Your mileage may vary.

-- John Hicks (jbh@magicnet.net), December 07, 1999.