Re: Microphen (new thread)

[eml@xxxxxxxxx]

There is no such thing as a cure-all.  I use the Microphen and Microdol-X
interchangeably, at 1:3 dilution, primarily with very fine-grained
films like TMX and TMY, with occasional Plus-X.  Grain is not
a serious problem ever, especially with the TMX, and is very nice on the
PX.   Were I using higher speed films often, I might revise my thinking
a bit.  If I did, I'd probably use Leica Divided Developer as a first
choice.

If there is any one limitation of Phenidone-based developers, I think
it is that perhaps, right at the edge of perception, under ideal
conditions and with a really sharp, sharp lens, there might be a bit
less "edge effect" sharpness than with developers strongly affected by
the bromide released during development.  For Phenidone is virtually 
insensitive to additions of Potassium Bromide.  In my own developer
formulae, I have experimented with using more dilute developers,
and replacing the typical Borax alkali with SDodium Carbonate or
Carbonate/Bicarbonate buffers.  This tends to make for higher overall
sharpness, at least in my experience.


To each his own, though it's a lot better to engage in idea swapping
than to stubbornly cling to one's photographic religeon.  Tell me, 
with HP-5, how you manage to push the film without excessive contrast
buildup?  You see, I'm not by nature a "pusher".  I much prefer to
work on increasing the true "shadow speed" and taking whatever I can get
than rating a film in four digits and developing it in something
resembling boiling lye!  As I said, I seldom push, so I truly don't
know what is actually possible.

Thanks, 

Ed

-- 
    _/_/_/_/ _/_/    _/ _/   | Edward M. Lukacs 
   _/       _/ _/ _/_/ _/    | eml@xxxxxxxxx 
  _/_/_/   _/  _/  _/ _/     | 3850 Tunlaw Road, NW, Apt. 815 
 _/       _/      _/ _/      | Washington, DC 20007
_/_/_/_/ _/      _/ _/_/_/_/ | Telephone: (95) 202-338-1489


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Topic No. 5