charles_a_goodman

Take a look at the density versus exposure charts. You see that Tri-X rounds off or compresses for higher exposures. That means that highlights will not have much tonal separation. You either have to reduce exposure or underdevelop for properly exposed negatives to get good separation in highlights. Look to TMax and Xtol for great separation in the highlights. Watch old Black and White movies to see what is possible with B/W film. Sparkling highlights and great shadow detail. Movie sets controlled the exposure and shadow detail with lighting and kept from blowing highlights with development.

I can easily live without any 'new' Panatomic X, whatever name would apply. I am using Fuji Neopan Acros with incredibly fine grain and that creamy, continuous smooth gradation, holding highlights suggestive of a much larger format. Surprisingly, I'm using Diafine and I'm amazed at how difficult it is to even see the grain with my 10X magnifier while making 10X enlargements. That's a total of 100X magnification.

<p>Completely unretouched. No apologies. </p>

<p>I just revisited some of my photos using TMAX 400 with Diafine. Very nice! Much finer grain than TriX in Diafine, better edge definition and acutance. Very wide tonal range. This may be my favorite.<br>

Although, for a "classic" TriX 320 look, nothing beats HC110.</p><div></div>

<p>This sounds like a problem with the shutter. If the trailing shutter is too fast, only part of the negative will be exposed. Sometimes only half of the picture comes through, sometimes less even maybe only a line. <br>

You can check the shutter yourself: <br>

Take the lens off and open the back of the camera. Starting with the lowest shutter speed, cock the shutter and fire it while looking through the back of the camera. Do this at least twice for each shutter speed, looking at the edge of the film gate on the left and right sides. <br>

If the shutter closes too fast, you won't see anything on one side or the other. If the shutter is OK you will see light at about the same intensity on both sides of the film gate.</p>