I am new to developing my own black and white film; I just started about two weeks ago, and so far I REALLY enjoy it, and I have had positive results. I developed TMAX 100 4X5 in TMAX developer in a Yankee Tank, and the negatives came out fine. I scanned them on an Epson V700, and printed on HP Z3200, using Han. Photo Rag Baryte. I feel as if I have no idea what I'm doing, but the results were surpisingly good. I developed the TMAX in Rodinal, and the results were good, also.
My issue is that I just tried developing Efke 25 4X5 in Rodinal 1 + 50 for 8 min, and the results were MUCH too contrasty. So contrasty, that it wasn't worth printing from the scanned negatives. I am frustrated by this, b/c I like the Efke film, and want to develop this on my own. I took a polaroid, first to judge the exposure, and it was perfect. Any ideas of what I might have done wrong, or any suggestions? Thank you.
Adam
Since Polaroids are typically 100 ASA, did you remember to adjust your exposure down two stops? I say this because I've been in your shoes using the same polaroids and have forgotten myself.
Also, you say the film is too contrasty. Does that mean that the highlights are blown out? If not, then is it possible that the problem is that the scanner can't scan through the dense highlights. If the highlighs aree blown out then you need to go back and adjust your exposure.
Denis K
