Using T-Max Reversal Kit for Super 8 (Svema/Quarzchrome) ... ?

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Dave Phillips - 02 Apr 2005 18:16 GMT

hi all

Having done 35mm BW developing before, altho some years ago, I'm about
to try my hand at doing Super 8 movie processing at home, using the
Kodak T-Max Reversal kit and an old Russian developing tank built
especially for Super 8 (these are OOP now but were quite common in the
1960s and crop up sometimes on eBay).

The film I've been shooting is the out-dated Ukrainian "Svema" stock
that is sold cheap in the UK by Widescreen Centre (£4/roll) altoh for
some reason they call it "Quarzchrome". This is a grainy, 50ASA BW
film.

Two questions:

What I'm wondering is, having read the instructions for theT-Max Kit,
am I supposed to make up all the solution and store it, or do I make
up just enough solution for each film when I do a processing run?

Also, I always thought a reversal process would require re-exposure to
light in the middle of the process, but the T-Max kit makes no mention
of this at all. Is it necessary to do this with this kit?

cheers,
Phil
London

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Bernie - 02 Apr 2005 18:57 GMT

Phil, you can either make up all the solutions at one time or "split" them
by making up a partial quantity each time you process. I don't remember how
much the reversal kit makes, but you should consider how much solution your
tank requires.

As far as the light reversal, it is not required by this kit. There is a
chemical reversal agent in the redeveloper which will develop all the silver
halide which was not developed by the first developer and bleached out.

Good luck, but I am a little concerned about the potential for age fog
depending on the age of your film and how it was stored.

> hi all
>
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
> Phil
> London

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pclark@tapeop.com - 02 Apr 2005 19:34 GMT

hi,
thanks for the quick reply!
The Svema film is dated 1993. I'm wondering about age fog as well. I
shot one roll, and had it developed by Widescreen Centre (they charge
about £12 for this, and it's outsourced elsehwere). It came out fine,
if a little low on contrast but it has a nice "old time" look about it
with a pleasant grainy effect. So I thought I would shoot some more,
and try my hand at developing it myself. How could I jack up the
contrast? I've read that extending the second developer time would
maybe do this. Guess I'll need to do some tests!
cheers,
phil

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Mike King - 05 Apr 2005 14:44 GMT

If it works like most reversal processes, you alter contrast or "push" the
film in the first developer. In most reversal processes the second
developer goes to completion (or nearly to completion) anyway. You could
either extend processing time or switch to a more contrasty first developer.

--
darkroommike

----------
hi,
thanks for the quick reply!
The Svema film is dated 1993. I'm wondering about age fog as well. I
shot one roll, and had it developed by Widescreen Centre (they charge
about ?12 for this, and it's outsourced elsehwere). It came out fine,
if a little low on contrast but it has a nice "old time" look about it
with a pleasant grainy effect. So I thought I would shoot some more,
and try my hand at developing it myself. How could I jack up the
contrast? I've read that extending the second developer time would
maybe do this. Guess I'll need to do some tests!
cheers,
phil

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