I have recently processed several rolls of T-MAX 400 135 and had the same result from all the rolls. The film was processed to my normal time/dilution, D-76 1:1 for 9 min. at 68 degrees. The negatives have a look I have never seen. They are of a normal density, but of extremly low contrast, a grade five filter on my Saunders LPL is equal to maybe a grade two on the prints from these negatives. The more interesting aspect is that even though the grain looks normal under a magnifier, the prints have an unsharp look that is most strange. It is almost as if there is a veil or fog over them, not blurry, but as if you laid a piece of plastic wrap over a sharp print.

At first I thought that maybe it was a problem with the film, but I developed some from the same trip, same camera, in ID-11 and they came out fine.

I am assuming it was something with the developing, but what? I had mixed the developer just before the first roll, but processed the others over several days.

I learned a hard lesson here. Even with a tried and true developer/process I will always develop and print a test roll first before processing important negatives.

-- Tim Mills (tim_mills@hp.com), May 23, 2001

Answers

Try refixing them in fresh rapid fixer, rewash etc. The problem may be incomplete fixation.

-- John Hicks (jbh@magicnet.net), May 23, 2001.

More specifically, Kodak recommends Rapid Fix for T-MAX films using continuous agitation. A 2-bath fix is preferred, but one bath with fresh fixer will suffice.

-- Mike Feldman (mfeldman@qwest.net), May 24, 2001.