The unofficial Xtol Appreciation Thread

venchka · 09-13-2010

On September 11, 2010 and September 12, 2010 I had an occasion to develop 5 sheets of 4x5 Arista-EDU Ultra 200 (a.k.a. Fomapan 200) film in Xtol 1:3 each day.

For all of you "Xtol sudden death syndrome" & "You can't use Xtol @ 1:3 because Kodak said so" believers: The Xtol I used over the weekend was mixed 08-01-2009. That would make my developer 1 year & 1 month & 11 & 12 days old. There was a little left and I dumped it because I won't be developing again for about a month. I bought new packets of Xtol on Saturday and will start again with fresh Xtol in October.

Love Xtol 1:3!

ps: When I emptied the Xtol container, the liquid was crystal clear and clean. No residue. No grunge. Just great Xtol ready for more film.

tlitody · 09-13-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by venchka

On September 11, 2010 and September 12, 2010 I had an occasion to develop 5 sheets of 4x5 Arista-EDU Ultra 200 (a.k.a. Fomapan 200) film in Xtol 1:3 each day.

For all of you "Xtol sudden death syndrome" & "You can't use Xtol @ 1:3 because Kodak said so" believers: The Xtol I used over the weekend was mixed 08-01-2009. That would make my developer 1 year & 1 month & 11 & 12 days old. There was a little left and I dumped it because I won't be developing again for about a month. I bought new packets of Xtol on Saturday and will start again with fresh Xtol in October.

Love Xtol 1:3!

ps: When I emptied the Xtol container, the liquid was crystal clear and clean. No residue. No grunge. Just great Xtol ready for more film.

As far as I heard, the issue of sudden death died years ago.

venchka · 09-13-2010

Aye. There be Heretics who persist in keeping the myth alive.

Turtle · 09-13-2010

Great stuff and superb speed too. Use straight for tonality as smooth as a baby's botty or 1+2 or 3 for very good bite with most emulsions or 1+1 for just about anything. Whats not to like?

I have used it close on to a year old in brown plastic chemical bottles and it was also fine... Been using it for years as my main dev, often spending 3+ months in half empty bottles and never a problem.

shyoon · 09-13-2010

XTOL 1:1 is magic with both Neopan 400 and 1600. I've got an 11-month old solution in a half empty, clear plastic bottle and it still manages to produce good results.

fixed point · 09-13-2010

My only experience with "sudden death" was a batch I mixed up this year from a 5L packet. I mixed it with water that was too hot (so it was completely my fault) and it died within two months. Other than that, I've had no problems with Xtol, even stuff that had been sitting for a year.

puppy playing "sudden death" - xtol 1:1 with 400tx

venchka · 09-13-2010

Thanks for the heads up on high temperature mixing.

ianstamatic · 09-13-2010

I use xtol 1:1.5 in my rotary sidekick.
I like it.

I would like to try 1:2 but am worried about minimum working solutions.

Also I tried a roll of Neopan 400 in it last night... Beautiful.

Keith · 09-13-2010

Wayne ... what are the advantages (visual not financial

) of using Xtol at 1:3 as against 1:1 ... I'm curious?

Actually, can you post some examples when you get a chance!

semilog · 09-13-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Double Negative

The majority of issues were with the single liter packages; the replacement 5l packaging seems to be much better, albeit it less convenient I suppose.

I find it vastly more convenient. I mix it up once in awhile, put it in 500 ml bottles, and open as needed. The empty wine-box setup seems even better, although I'm not really prepared to drain a box of wine just to store my dev...

Mcary · 09-13-2010

After seeing all of the excellent LegacyPro + Xtol 1-1 shots posted by Keith and others I decided to give the combo a try.
BTW could anyone suggest some XTol 1-1 times for processing LegacyPro 100 shot at 400

venchka · 09-14-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith

Wayne ... what are the advantages (visual not financial

) of using Xtol at 1:3 as against 1:1 ... I'm curious?

Actually, can you post some examples when you get a chance!

Keith,

Working with Jobo drums or tanks and continuous agitation, developing time is reduced. Working in Houston in the summer with room temperatures above 75°F/25°C reduces developing times further. I picked 1:3 for Xtol and 1:100 for Rodinal to give me comfortable times in the 7-10 minute range.

A recent example. Exposed last Saturday morning. Developed Saturday afternoon. Arista-EDU Ultra 200/EI = 100/Xtol 1:3/7:45 minutes @ 75°F+.

Same morning. A few minutes earlier than the example above. Same developing run.

Most of my new B&W work was developed in Xtol 1:3. A few recent photos are Rodinal 1:100.

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/venchka/backroads/

capitalK · 09-14-2010

I love the tonality I get out of XTOL 1+1 and Rollei Retro 100 film.

JayGannon · 09-14-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by capitalK

I love the tonality I get out of XTOL 1+1 and Rollei Retro 100 film.

Same here, what times/agitations are you doing.

venchka · 09-14-2010

One more for Keith.......
Arista/Plus-X. Xtol 1:3. I hope I have the time written down.

venchka · 10-15-2010

Bump.

In response to another thread.

M5. 35mm/2.0 UC-Hexanon. Kodak Tmax p3200. Xtol 1:3. Rotary agitation.

Pablito · 10-15-2010

Awful stuff. Flat as hell.

Mackinaw · 10-15-2010

Yep, Xtol is great stuff. Delivers full film speed too from what I read on APUG, which is very helpful when shooting with high ISO films like Neopan 1600 (at E.I. of 800). Xtol and Rodinal are now my standard developers.

And, I've stored Xtol more than a year in those accordion squeeze bottles with no ill effects.

Jim B.

kipkeston · 10-15-2010

xtol is nice. it's a medium contrast developer and makes just about any film look good.

Ljós · 10-15-2010

Hi all,

thanks for all the pictures!

This seems like a good place to ask about the only thing that has kept me from trying out XTOL (I use HC-110 Dil. B and 1:50) so far: what is your most convenient method to get the overall temperature of the developer right? With Rodinal and HC-110 I like that I can easily get the water temp right, then add the small quantities of Rodinal and HC-110, not caring about the very minor fluctuation in developer temperature this might cause.

Now, with XTOL straight you would have to get the premixed XTOL to the right temp., and with XTOL 1:1 (which many seem to recommend), you would need to get the final mix to the right temp. I suppose you use water baths with the XTOL bottles in it... how much time does it take you, what's your workflow?

Thanks in advance for your answers!
Greetings, Ljós

Fraser · 10-15-2010

I use my X-tol at room temperature don't even check the temp apart from dipping a finger in to make sure its not too cold, if using 1:1 which is very rare then check the temp of the stock if its 18 degrees mix some cold/warm water to about 22 degrees mix it up with the stock and it will be near enough the right temp(for me anyway).

JayGannon · 10-15-2010

I just make my mix then pop it in the bath with some hot water in it (My version of a water bath) my tap water is usually 18-19 degrees so takes about 2 minutes to bring it up to 20 degrees. I find Xtol is ok within almost a degree either side of 20 C. I'm sure it drops while developing etc but works for me.

Ljós · 10-15-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayGannon

[...] I find Xtol is ok within almost a degree either side of 20 C. I'm sure it drops while developing etc but works for me.

Thanks for your answers so far. Anyone else can comment on how critical the exact temp. is with XTOL?

presspass · 10-15-2010

I try to use the times for ambient temps going from Anchell & Troop's recommendations and the time/temp chart in their film cookbook. I also extend the times considerably (1.5 to 2X recommended) using intermittent agitation - one minute agitation to start followed by 10 sec every three minutes. That works well with 1:3 and tames extreme contrast, i.e. a nighttime house fire with flames showing.