Back to basics D76 & TriX

[dfoo]

I just looked through the set... some really amazing shots in there!

[Tom A]

Originally Posted by helenhill

What a Charming Street Shot Tom... A True Classic ...LOVE IT !
You are The Master Supreme

Best Wishes .. Speedy Recovery from those side effects
You are in My Thoughts & Prayers
xo-H

Thanks, Helen and Eric. It is a bit rough occasionally, mostly tiredness, but I have gone through it before and it after a while you get used to the medication.
It is fun to go through the old stuff though - lot of it I haven't seen for 20+ years.

[gnuyork]

When I was in college I used d76 exclusively with Tri-X and Plus X. I got nice results with d76 (especially with the pls x), but then I didn't know any different. I recently have used T max developer, and I have some Xtol I've never tried yet. I now have a LOT of D 76 thanks to a friend who gave me a large supply, so I'll be using that combo more again.

Best wishes to you, Tom. I enjoyed your images on FlickR.

[maclaine]

This thread inspired me. I had been slowly working my way through a batch of HC-110 that I bought after extensive research on developers. I wanted the extra acutance, but often found myself a little disappointed with the tonality and extra grain (be careful what you wish for, I guess). So today, I developed a couple rolls of Tri-X I had lying around, as well as one of Plus-X and one of Tmax 400. All of them came out great, and I think I might switch permanently. Sometimes I have to learn the hard way, but it's so easy to mix, and the tonality is just so great. Thanks Tom!

[sanmich]

I have tried some "superlative" films but always have been disapointed.
Tri-X is the WV beetle of the films.
Does the job, reliable and cheap.
It is releasing to know that you can shoot digital-style without worying about costs, and the amount of badly exposed frames is very low, the amount of badly processed rolls practically zero (and I'm pushing my luck)
It's simply an amazing film.
I use Emofin, BTW.

Tom, wishing you a good health!

[maclaine]

Originally Posted by maclaine

This thread inspired me. I had been slowly working my way through a batch of HC-110 that I bought after extensive research on developers. I wanted the extra acutance, but often found myself a little disappointed with the tonality and extra grain (be careful what you wish for, I guess). So today, I developed a couple rolls of Tri-X I had lying around, as well as one of Plus-X and one of Tmax 400. All of them came out great, and I think I might switch permanently. Sometimes I have to learn the hard way, but it's so easy to mix, and the tonality is just so great. Thanks Tom!

Here's the first example I scanned from today's batch. This was shot with an M2 and what I believe was a Jupiter-3. I also shot with a ZM Planar that day, but this was towards the end, with the light fading, so I think I broke out the J-3. I really love the tones. Thanks again for the inspiration, Tom.

BIG version here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/maclain...n/photostream/

[michaelbialecki]

Hey Tom....I am a huge fan of tri-x and D-76.....that's really all I use for my black and white work....well, maybe the occasional roll of xp2 for around town.....but if I am going to go shoot a project in black and white, it is tri-x all the way....in my darkroom here in Bangkok, I mix D-76 1:1.....I have to put the air conditioning on about 30-40 minutes before and set the chemicals in an ice water bath to bring them down to a cooler temperature....I have a pretty good system down and it works well for me.....

For some reason, I have been shooting a lot of color film recently, but I have 40 rolls of tri-x sitting in my refrigerator just waiting to be used....and a couple packets of d-76 waiting to be mixed up.......

D-76 and tri-x just rocks.....

hope you are doing well......cheers, michael

[robbeiflex]

Great photos Tom! I always look forward to your posts in the film and developing forum, and now I plan to keep more of an eye on your flickr too. Hope you have a speedy recovery.

Rob

[Lilserenity]

Wishing you a speedy and comfortable recovery.

I have always enjoyed D-76 and Tri X (or HP5) -- I will use Xtol if it's all that is available but it's such a robust combination that I figured I may as well stick with it if I like it!

Vicky

[paulfish4570]

i don't know what you are recovering from Tom, but shooting tri-x is a marvelous therapy for any condition ...

[gns]

Tri-X, D76 1:1 is so pervasive, it should be considered the "Default" B&W formula.

[Patman]

I haven't done any film processing in ages but when I did I had settled on TRiX and D76 1:1 for 9:30 minutes I used to use another developer that I liked very much also and haven't seen it mentioned here, and that was Microdol, it made for nice fine grain and good contrast. Is it still around and did anyone else ever use it?

[Mcary]

Originally Posted by Patman

I haven't done any film processing in ages but when I did I had settled on TRiX and D76 1:1 for 9:30 minutes I used to use another developer that I liked very much also and haven't seen it mentioned here, and that was Microdol, it made for nice fine grain and good contrast. Is it still around and did anyone else ever use it?

Haven't used it myself but LegacyPro advertises that Pro Mic-X yields similar results to Microdol.

[bwcolor]

Best with regards to your health.

Regarding "Back to Basics".. Lots of great shots and memories. My last Tri-X and D-76 was probably in the late sixties. Recently, back to film I've been using Xtol and TMax Developer and the grain is in your face with these, so I only shoot Tri-X in medium format. I do like D-76 with Tri-X.. good post and get well..

[Olivier S.]

For all 400 iso films, I use D76 stock 12mn. Today I am in the "HP5+" camp, but before it worked very well with Tri-X also.
Your photographs in your flickr are really valuable and so interesting to see.
Take care.

[Tom A]

Originally Posted by Patman

I haven't done any film processing in ages but when I did I had settled on TRiX and D76 1:1 for 9:30 minutes I used to use another developer that I liked very much also and haven't seen it mentioned here, and that was Microdol, it made for nice fine grain and good contrast. Is it still around and did anyone else ever use it?

I have used Microdol X for TriX. Grain is very fine and tight - but you better remember that you loose about 2/3 stop (rate TriX at 250).

[sparrow6224]

Tom, I've had S 208 Sweden 1992 up among my browser tabs since the day this thread started and I was browsing through the Flickr group you'd posted. Just an amazing photo (I commented there on its evocation of Eisenstein...)

For those who haven't seen it, check it out:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rapidwi...7625706534323/

the downside is, I never got any further in the collection....

best,
Vince P

[Tom A]

Vince, it was in June, bright sunshine and my sister and brother-in-law lived in a house right by the square. Big balcony - looked like something you issued political proclamations from!
I use that neg to test enlarger alignments. If all the cobble stones are straight - the enlarger is aligned! For some reason I have never printed it though!
Tom

[rodneyAB]

i've been on the D76 regimen for several months now. partly as a paper negative developer, rather than the Dektol, the D76 develops the paper negative (5x7) much much slower than Dektol, which is an advantage, instead of a near black negative in 45seconds, i can go 4 minutes with a slowly forming image using D76.
My last 35mm TrX roll at ISO 100 in D76, D76 for 1min, water for 4min,..1,4,1,4,1,4...got some bright highlights, not blown, and some deeper blacks with deeper gray details, looking for contrastier prints

[Tom A]

Rodney, interesting using the D76 as a paper developer. I have used Dektol for film on occasion - gives new meaning to grain!
The water bath process is quite effective. It does tame the contrast considerably. My only problem with that is that you really have to anchor the tanks somehow. Way to easy to knock one over in the dark! Been there - done that.

Once we start having a bit of more consistent sun - I will try it again with D76 - summer is supposed to come one day. At the moment it is strictly 1/250 and f5.6 and excessive contrast is not a problem.

[charjohncarter]

Thanks Tom for all your online help. You don't know that (in my case) but we all find it useful and really important to are 'work.' I used D-76 with Trix 40 years ago, but not since. I, like you, have been through some of my old negatives and I like them. You are right 'basics' is the way to go. I hope you start to feel better. You are are a year younger than I am, and I have had 35 years of the big 'C' so keep your head up.

[jpa66]

Like many others. I also used to develop Tri-X exclusively in D-76. After I discovered Rodinal, it became my developer of choice. However, whenever I look at those negatives developed in D-76 ( at least 20 years old now ), I find that I love the look. I just may try some of the new emulsion Tri-X in D-76 and see how much I like the results.

And Tom, best wishes for a speedy recovery. You're an inspiration to many of us, as well as someone who has given excellent advice to people like me.

All the best,
Jan

[Tom A]

Just did another run with Arista Premium 400 and XX/XXX. I usually rate my XX and XXX @ 320 (less chance of a mix-up and the 1/3 stop +/- does not seem to affect densitiy and tones. Both the XXX and the Arista are fresh, new films. The D76 worked well, compared it to some older stuff from Australia and Paris (1986/87 for OZ and 1982/83 for Paris). Still looks pretty much the same. In the spirit of this - I ordered 500 rolls of Arista Premium 400 from Freestyle to continue this "trend". Well, I did order 1000 rolls - but splitting off 500 rolls to fellow shooters - and I will probably turn them on to D76 too!

[rover]

500 rolls, you are my hero.

[Tom A]

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rapidwinder/5396750218/" title="I shoot digital... not sure what's going on ... Tom will have to explain to me by T&amp;T and Mr B, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4087/5396750218_1035911991_o.jpg" width="4000" height="3000" alt="I shoot digital... not sure what's going on ... Tom will have to explain to me" /></a>