I'm interested in trying some of the dedicated T-grain developer -- with the aim of finding one that is simple to use (i.e., not extremely finicky regarding developing parameters) and yields consistent high-quality results. I have used Diafine with the new Delta 400. The processing was easy, but the negatives seemed flat and a bit to grainy. I've also used DiXactol with T-max -- some great results, but uneven. I've also used rodinal (my regular developer) with T-max -- again, too much grain. Looking at the PF site I see they have a developer called BW-2. I'd be interested in hearing anything about this developer. Also, I have hear that Xtol is great for Delta/T-max. My concern here is getting "flat Xtol," which happened once two years ago and turned me off to Xtol -- may go back if someone argues strongly in its favor. I've also heard that Ilfosol-S works great -- again, comments appreciated.

-- Chris Hargens (ldmr@cruzio.com), November 15, 2001

Answers

Xtol seems to have been mended. I have never begun to approach the overall positive results I have had with TMY and TMX in any other developer. the odd thing is that my processing times are wildly different than Kodak's recommendations which must be a clue to something. I thought John Hicks had reviewed this developer (BW-2) and found it much the same as Kodak's. perhaps I am thinking about the D76 clone.

-- daniel taylor (lightsmythe@agalis.net), November 15, 2001.

I've never tried BW-2; I did try TFX-2 with TMX a while back and found that results were indistinguishable from Rodinal 1:100.

I don't think there's such a thing as a "dedicated T-grain developer," there's only advertising. An interesting tidbit is that the standard developer used for R&D of the T-Max films was D-76 1:1.

At any rate, I'm getting good results with HP5+ and Delta 400 with Ilfosol-S 1:14, but I don't see that they're signficantly different in any way than my standard D-76H 1:1 to 1:3. Curve shapes are _slightly_ more S-shaped, which means flatter deep shadows and flatter extreme highlights, but the differences are so slight that while they're measurable I really doubt they'd be apparent in ordinary usage.

-- John Hicks (jbh@magicnet.net), November 15, 2001.