From: sparks@col.hp.com (John Sparks)
Subject: Re: 4x5 T-Max: your experiences
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1992 16:56:37 GMT
Organization: HP Colorado Springs Division

In article <1860052@hpcndaw.CND.HP.COM> antonsen@hpcndaw.CND.HP.COM (Tim Antonsen) writes:
>Hello all--
>
>I'm an experienced but (alas) part-time photographer who uses a 4x5, mainly
>for B&W field work, but am tinkering with $0.25 studio (I'm cheap about lights) 
>and architectural work. I also like to do long exposures (well into reciprocity
>failure). I consider craftsmanship necessary to my artistic goals, and use
>the Zone System to control my materials.

In that case, I don't think you will have any problems using Tmax films.

>But, I'm way behind the times, practically neolithic in my materials. Never-
>theless, I'm going to try some of this new-fangled T-Max stuff soon. I'm
>interested in the comments of you who've used 4x5 T-Max 400 and 100:
>
>  * What are the relative merits/demerits of 100 vs. 400 (4x5 remember)?
>       Corollary: How would you compare T-Max to older films like Tri-X Pro?

Well, Tmax 400 is slightly finer grain than Tri-x Pro with about the
same speed (I find Tmax 400 maybe 2/3 to 1 stop faster than Tri-x).
Tmax 100 is much finer grain than Tri-x, but with less speed under
normal conditions.  Tmax films have much better reciprocity
characteristics than conventional films.  The way it was told to me,
Tmax 100 has a single emulsion consisting of the new "T-grains", Tmax
400 has two emulsions one with T-grains the other with normal grains.
T-grains and thus Tmax 100 are not as affected by reciprocity departure
as conventional emulsions.  Tmax 400 is somewhere between Tmax 100 and
conventional films.

Tmax films also have shorter toes than Trix pro.  In use, this means you get
more shadow detail with Tmax films than trix.  I have found this to be a good
thing!  Highlight rendition is very similar to Trix pro with a nice straight
line well past normally used zones so there is no blocking up.  You sometimes
have a hard time getting it all on paper however.  35mm photographers use
to non-pro Trix have some complaints about the lack of a sholder with Tmax,
but it's not that different from trix pro.

I use both Tmax 400 and Tmax 100 (I haven't used any trix pro in a couple
of years).  For most things the 100 is great, especially with long exposures.
I mostly use Tmax 400 for photographs of moving water where I find the higher
speed allows a more pleasing rendition of the water.

>  * What are the relative merits/demerits of different developers with T-Max?
>       Corollary: I hear T-Max is a b*tch to process. Why? How to overcome?
>                  I am using single-sheet tubes to process my film these days.

I don't think Tmax any harder than other films to process, especially to
someone used to the zone system.  It is somewhat more sensitive to
development time/temperature changes than normal films, but that is part
of what makes it appealing to Zone system users as it is easier to
intentionally vary the contrast.  From my experience and from various
magazine articles, the best choices for developers are D76 and Tmax RS
developers.  D76 will give slightly more acutance with slightly larger
grain than Tmax RS developer.  The other thing that gives some people
problems is the magenta color resulting insufficient removal of the
anti-haliation backing during processing.  I have never really had that
problem, but I alway use a rapid fixer for about 5 min.  and I always
use hypo-clear.  Most of the color is gone after fixing and the rest is
gone after hypo-clear.

>  * How is T-Max with regard to reciprocity failure?

Great.  For Tmax 100, at 1 sec, no compensation required, at 10 sec use
15 sec and at 100 sec use 200 sec (I am remembering these numbers so
they may not be exactly right and I can't remember the contrast increase
these times produce).  The Kodak documention on recprocity seem very
accurate in my experience.  Tmax 400 is not quite as good, but still
better than Tmax 100.  For long exposures, Tmax 100 is faster than trix.

>  * Any other useful comments will be of interest.

I think you will like them after a little testing.

John Sparks
sparks@col.hp.com