Tri-X with T-Max Developer, 1:9 at 75 degrees for 14.5 minutes

I tried this combination and was very pleased with the results. But one thing confused me:

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I do street work with an old Leica with no meter. My guesstimates are often off by 1 stop or sometimes more. This time, every frame was virtually right on the money. I'm not THAT good.

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I wonder whether the longer processing time with a dilute solution results in a convergence, diminishing the effects of under or overexposure.

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Anyone experience this?

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Many thanks,

Bruce Feldman

Well, that's the old Leica magic for you.

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Sure, it sounds as if perhaps the films might have been under-developed, giving a lower contrast and thus greater latitude.

Another possibility lies in the lenses. Are you used to them, or are they new to you? I use some old screw-thread Lieca lenses, and they have much lower contrast than my newer Nikon SLR lenses. One effect of these old lenses is to spread a bit of light all over the image. This has hardly any effect on the hightlights, but raises the tone in totally dark shadows equivalant to about one stop. This means, I suppose, that it is more tolerant of a little under-exposure.

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Another possibility is that you are better than you think.