Pushing Tri-X to 1600...advice?

[David_Manning]

I'm traveling to The Big Easy this Saturday, and I'm just taking the M6, 35mm Zeiss lens, and Tri-X. I'm sure I'll want fast film at some point, but since I didn't plan very far ahead all I have is Tri-X.

I'd like to see examples and hear experiences (and advice) of pushing Tri-X to 1600.

Thanks.

----David.

[David67]

Rodinal 1/50, 18.5mn.
Works well for me. Grainy but surprisingly not too much, just in a nice way.

http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=3370...00+trix&m=text

[David_Manning]

Looks good, David. Thanks for taking the time to chime in.

[xwhatsit]

D76 does it quite well, 13.25 minutes 1:1 as per the Massive Dev Chart (and Kodak's sheet) works for me. Microphen gives it a lot more shadow detail though, and grain seems smoother.

At one point the Massive Dev chart gave way too high numbers for Tri-X pushed in Microphen. I found 12 minutes 1:0 worked very well for me.

The only pushed Tri-X shot I have handy right now is actually at 3200 (D76, 1:1, 16 minutes). It's daylight, so helping things a bit, but it still surprised me how well it did, especially in terms of grain:

[Roger Hicks]

DDX or Microphen give the highest true ISO speeds, but EI 1600 involves more contrast and emptier shadows than I like. Stick with 1000 and you're only looking at 1/3 stop push in either.

Then again, experimenting in pushing with irreplaceable shots is a bit rash. The further you push, the more experimenting you need to do. Stick with 1000 and again, it'll be easier.

Alternatively, buy some faster film when you're there: must be possible.

Cheers,

R.

[David_Manning]

Xwhatsit, nice shot...the push looks good with plenty of light.

Roger...good advice, although I'll really be surprised to find any 1600 or 3200 film downtown in New Orleans without spending half the day. Luckily, no irreplaceable shots here...just farting around near Mardi Gras!

[raytoei@gmail.com]

here's a link for tri-x in diafine at iso 100,200,400,800, 1600, 3200

http://retro.ms11.net/diafinemedium.jpg

[Chris101]

HC110 dilution b for 15 or 16 minutes at 68F:

[Riccis]

You will find samples all over my blog.

Enjoy!

[Dave Jenkins]

Really, really nice, Chris.

I used to use Acufine (is it still available?) and Diafine. Diafine worked very well for me and was my standard developer for some years.

[Dave Jenkins]

Riccis, congratulations on your article in Rangefinder.

[flanil]

here's mine with hc110 dil B @ 16mins 45 secs @ 20c

http://www.flickr.com/photos/buluidong/5366306800/

and the rest of my other pictures are all tri-x 400 @ 1600 too.. i dont have much time to go out and shoot during the day and i just cant refrain myself from firing them shutters hahaha.. so yeah.. trix rated at 1600 all the way

[Turtle]

I would go for Microphen, DDX or dilute Xtol. Try Xtol 1+2 for about 25 mins (depending on scene) at 20 degs C at an EI of 800 with agitation at the beginning (30 secs), 1/3 way and 2/3 way (three inversions each) through the total time. You'll be amazed how much speed you gain in the shadows by cutting out almost all the agitation. I find the results miles better than normal agitation but controlling highlights while giving shadows a real kick in speed. Not one for when you have smooth sky tones as you can get some uneven development but you will never see any issue with normal low light, night, or indoor scenes etc. I never have anyway.

IMHO, 1600 is a bridge too far for TriX unless your original scene is as flat as a pancake i.e. a couple of stops of range.

[wlewisiii]

Diafine. This situation & Tri-X is where it shines. I usually use 1250 but 1600 will work.





William

[presspass]

I have had good luck with Xtol 1:1 and 1:3 as well as Diafine. If you use Diafine, follow the agitation recommendations on the box - and be gentle. Too much or too harsh gets huge grain. I have also done 1600 and 3200 with HC110 dilution H - a bit sharper but the grain is more pronounced. Right now, I'm having great luck with TriX at 800 done in Xtol 1:1 at 68 degrees F and 13 minutes.

[calebk]

Tri-X in HC-110(B) for 15 min 15 sec. Agitations initially 30s, and every two minutes thereafter for 10s each cycle. I've been doing this for about two months now with consistently good results:

[mathomas]

Originally Posted by wlewisiii

Diafine. This situation & Tri-X is where it shines. I usually use 1250 but 1600 will work.





William

+1, and a few of mine @1250:

[wlewisiii]

Nice, Mike. I especially like the guitars & the fountain with silhouettes. Thank you!

William

[Chris101]

Thanks Dave! I'm seeing a lot of nicely pushed stuff in this thread.

[imush]

Rodinal stand 1:100 always works for me...



Tri-X @1600, Rodinal 1:100, 90 minutes, no agitation.

[flanil]

PUSH FOR THE WIN heheehe ,)

[Turtle]

I don't wish to be cruel, but many of the shots here show why not to push this film so hard if you can possibly avoid it. Many have either empty black voids where shadow detail should be (thats bec there is not detail in the neg) of flat muddy dark greys because efforts have been made to prevent these detail free black blocks being printed down, but in the process showing that it is an underexposed neg being printed. Others have seriously blown highlights.

There is no such thing as a free lunch and I feel that 1600 is actually a modest push for Tmax 3200 or D3200, never mind TriX! When you have no shadow in the neg you have that horrible decision to make: muddy dark grey or detail free black void and neither make for good prints.

[maajka]

So what do you do when you need ISO 800 or 1600? With my limited darkroom knowledge, you would either underexpose at 400 and try to fix in darkroom with high contrast filter/paper, or shoot at 1/8 or 1/4.

By the way a lot of great pictures here. I'm gonna be a best man at a wedding in may, and I'll try to take a few photos if I get a chance. I thought about arista premium and D-76 at 800 or 1600 and I see some nice pictures here with that combination.

[jimrohrer]

I've had awesome results with Diafine at EI 1600... it's a pretty foolproof combination.
-Jim

[David_Manning]

Thank you all for the input and examples. One thing is for sure...I'm on the road now and will be shooting Tri-X pushed to 1600 tomorrow in New Orleans.

BTW...any other RFF shooters in New Orleans tomorrow? I'm sure I'll be taking occasional "hurricane" breaks

David.