Tri-x in FX-2 times test, with print examples.

[arraga]

<p>Hello, i've done some testing of Tri-X in FX-2 (35mm). Tests still

going on (trying stand development and other dilutions), but here are

some results.

 

<h5>Development parameters</h5>

<hl>

<ul>

<li>Temperature:20C

<li>Time: 25'

<li>Working solution composition: 50ml SolA, 50 ml SolB, 1.75ml SolB

<li>Stock solution: kit of Photographer's Formulary.

<li>Agitation: 30secs initial, 5 inversions in 5'' every minute.

</ul>

 

<h5>D-H values</h5>

 

To test the film I mount my F3 on a tripod, pointing to a featureless

white wall, and let autoexposure select shutter speed - it's

continuous and accurate enough to find datapoints spaced 1/3 stops

apart. I vary the ISO of the film from 12500 to 12, obtaining the

following densities in each negative:

 

 

<p>Density ISO Comments

<p>0,00 fb-f fb-f density = 0.24

<p>0,01 12500

<p>0,01 6400+2/3

<p>0,02 6400+1/3

<p>0,03 6400

<p>0,05 3200+2/3

<p>0,07 3200+1/3

<p>0,10 3200 Zone I -> film speed is 200

<p>0,11 1600+2/3

<p>0,14 1600+1/3

<p>0,19 1600 Zone II

<p>0,24 800+2/3

<p>0,28 800+1/3

<p>0,34 800 Zone III

<p>0,38 400+2/3

<p>0,42 400+1/3

<p>0,49 400 Zone IV

<p>0,53 200+2/3

<p>0,56 200+1/3

<p>0,60 200 Zone V

<p>0,68 100+2/3

<p>0,76 100+1/3

<p>0,82 100 Zone VI

<p>0,89 50+1/3

<p>0,96 50+2/3

<p>1,01 50 Zone VII

<p>1,09 25+1/3

<p>1,16 25+2/3

<p>1,23 25 Zone VIII

<p>1,30 12+2/3

<p>1,37 12+1/3

<p>1,45 12 Zone IX

[arraga]

<p>Link to image

 

<p><a href=http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?topic_id=1481&msg_id=00D65m&photo_id=3600082&photo_sel_index=0>

Hard times </a>

 

<p>Diffusion (color) enlarger, grade 2, EL-nikkor 50/2.8

 

Printed in 8x10 agfa rc paper, about 6.5 magnification factor.

[arraga]

Nice image for this testing, as it includes both a heavily detailed subject (acutance testing), and areas of smooth tone (grain testing).

[arraga]

Final EI of this combo = 200. Crawley asserts that FX-2 gives a speed increase of 1/2 - 1 stop, which I find hard to believe after this test.

[goemon]

How much water were you using? Also that seems like you overdeveloped (1,45 density for

Zone IX is something I'm used to seeing from contact printers). Because FX-2 is supposed to

achieve the speed increase by increased development in the shadow region, by going for a

curve as steep as you have you could easily destroy that. It's also sensitive to agitation.

 

For what it's worth, I shoot APX 100 at 160 in it and that seems just right to me.

[arraga]

Forgot the other 'solution' :). Water to make 1 liter. The CI of this curve is ~58, which is targeted to to a diffusion enlarger, and grade 2 paper. I concur that I can go with a lower contrast curve.

 

I do also agree that this developer is very sensitive to agitation. In fact, in an earlier test, with the same parameters, but dropping agitation to 5 inversions every other minute, my CI dropped to 0.44, with zone VIII density of 1.07 (against 1.23). Local exhaustion?

 

I did also try with stand development, with both HP5+ and Tri-X. 25ml each of solA and B, 0.9ml of C and water to make 1 liter. 1h30m letting the tank alone.

 

No good. Bromide streaks in the last negatives of the roll. HP5+ developed fine (shot at 200, undamaged negatives look nice), but Tri-X was underdeveloped (shot at 200, too). Did not measure speed formally; these were semi-throwaway negatives, but I'd say that resultant film speed is nowhere near 400.