T-MAX film speed

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I am just getting back into photogaphy after a hiatus of about ten years and I am trying to figure out T-MAX 400. It is interesting to me that if you push it to 800 the published development time is the same as developing it at 400. I have tinkered around with the development times a bit and seem to get better results if I give it more time in the developer, up to a minute and a half sometimes. Does anyone have any information or a good source on T-MAX developing times and different developers. So far the only developer I have used is the T-MAX developer.

-- Justin Fullmer (provo.jfullmer@state.ut.us), March 14, 2001

Answers

Justin, You can find alot of developer times/temp. at www.digitaltruth.com Just plug in the info on the "massive developing chart" and that should get you started. You might be very surprised with your results using the lowly D76!!! Cheers, Scott

-- Scott Walton (f64sw@hotmail.com), March 14, 2001.

Kodak was a bit smug about their development times for T-Max 400 at EI 800--I would definitely give it more time in the soup. This is an underrated film that can give excellent results. I like it in PMK because you can get a true 400 speed out of it. I have pushed it to 640 in PMK+ with no problem.

-- Ed Buffaloe (edb@unblinkingeye.com), March 14, 2001.

I rate T-Max 400 at 320 EI & develop in T-Max Developer with a 20% pull. Results were good, but, I have found Ilford Delta 400 in XTOL to be better. (Ihaven't tried the new version of Delta 400 as yet.)

-- Robert Orofino (minotaur1949@aol.com), March 14, 2001.

Justin keep tinkering. Manufacturers times are just a suggested starting point. Take the Massive Chart times as suggestions. Optimum development is a personal thing.

-- Tim Brown (brownt@flash.net), March 15, 2001.

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