{"id":9929,"date":"2026-10-06T06:00:47","date_gmt":"2026-10-06T10:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/?p=9929"},"modified":"2026-09-25T08:03:03","modified_gmt":"2026-09-25T12:03:03","slug":"extreme-film-test-no-11-kodak-tri-x-400","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/2026\/10\/06\/extreme-film-test-no-11-kodak-tri-x-400\/","title":{"rendered":"Extreme Film Test No. 11 &#8211; Kodak Tri-X 400"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>When it comes to Tri-X, I&#8217;ve always seen this film as having a wide latitude. I have since learned that the new formulation, 400TX, first released in 2007, isn&#8217;t as good as the pre-2007 version, mainly because it has lower silver content. But when it comes to 400-speed films, Tri-X has been a long-time favourite of mine, so I figured it was time to get a full view of what the film can do and is ASA-1600 the best EI for Diafine?<\/p>\n<p><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/55422897743\/in\/dateposted-public\/\" title=\"Extreme Film Review Blog No. 11 - Kodak Tri-X 400\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55422897743_4dcf3574cd_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" alt=\"Extreme Film Review Blog No. 11 - Kodak Tri-X 400\"\/><\/a><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><strong>Film Specs<\/strong><br \/>\nManufacturer: Kodak<br \/>\nName: Tri-X 400<br \/>\nType: Panchromatic B&#038;W<br \/>\nFilm Base: Acetate<br \/>\nFilm Speed: ASA-400<br \/>\nFormats Available: 135 (35mm) &#038; 120<\/p>\n<p>For this roll, I used ASA-400 (box speed) as my benchmark, then shot it between -2 and +2 stops, which translates to ASA-100 to ASA-1600. On the Massive Dev Chart, there is one listed time for Tri-X and Diafine, and that&#8217;s 3+3, and rating the film at ASA-1600. Now the last time I used this combination, it proved disappointing. But this is why I&#8217;m doing this series: to try and figure out what a good combination would be for me. I went with my Nikon F5 and the 28mm f\/2.8 lens with the aperture set to f\/8. Then I used the EV adjustment control to move between -2 and +2 using a remote release.<\/p>\n<p><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/55550091169\/in\/dateposted-public\/\" title=\"Extreme Film Test No. 11 - Kodak Tri-X 400\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55550091169_738d8c5cff_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"119\" alt=\"Extreme Film Test No. 11 - Kodak Tri-X 400\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Nikon F5 &#8211; AF Nikkor 28mm 1:2.8 &#8211; Kodak Tri-X 400 @ ASA-400 (+\/- 2-Stops) &#8211; Diafine (Stock) 3:00 + 3:00 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/55550091164\/in\/dateposted-public\/\" title=\"Extreme Film Test No. 11 - Kodak Tri-X 400\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55550091164_d9d2f00976_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"132\" alt=\"Extreme Film Test No. 11 - Kodak Tri-X 400\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Nikon F5 &#8211; AF Nikkor 28mm 1:2.8 &#8211; Kodak Tri-X 400 @ ASA-400 (+\/- 2-Stops) &#8211; Diafine (Stock) 3:00 + 3:00 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n<p>After pulling the negatives out from the tank I noticed that there is certainly a difference between all five frames, which is a plus because it does give me something to work with a write about. But they already looked better than the last time I had Tri-X running this hot and developed in Diafine, even at the -2 end of things. At the extreme ends there was a lot of density with the +2 and the frames were thin at -2, but the middle three frames all looked good, with the normal and -1 being the best of the lot. But in the case of all five there was still enough detail to make out the scenes. To be fair I was exposing the roll in some serious mixed lighting and conditions, but I know that Tri-X can work things out nicely.<\/p>\n<p><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/55548896362\/in\/dateposted-public\/\" title=\"Extreme Film Test No. 11 - Kodak Tri-X 400\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55548896362_ba045b49dd_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"118\" alt=\"Extreme Film Test No. 11 - Kodak Tri-X 400\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Nikon F5 &#8211; AF Nikkor 28mm 1:2.8 &#8211; Kodak Tri-X 400 @ ASA-400 (+\/- 2-Stops) &#8211; Diafine (Stock) 3:00 + 3:00 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/55550030623\/in\/dateposted-public\/\" title=\"Extreme Film Test No. 11 - Kodak Tri-X 400\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55550030623_bdf6330de8_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"118\" alt=\"Extreme Film Test No. 11 - Kodak Tri-X 400\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Nikon F5 &#8211; AF Nikkor 28mm 1:2.8 &#8211; Kodak Tri-X 400 @ ASA-400 (+\/- 2-Stops) &#8211; Diafine (Stock) 3:00 + 3:00 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n<p>After scanning in the negatives I started to see the differences a lot more clearly. Like I noticed with examining the negatives, there was plenty of details in all five frames, and with a bit of work even on the extreme ends I could easily recover the frames with a bit of work. At the extreme ends it might take a bit more work than the middles frames, with some loss of contrast and details in the shadows\/highlights respectively. But a light touch would only be needed on the middle three frames. Honestly, it&#8217;s a good showing for both Tri-X and Diafine.<\/p>\n<p><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/55549926346\/in\/dateposted-public\/\" title=\"Extreme Film Test No. 11 - Kodak Tri-X 400\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55549926346_802a1b9722_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"114\" alt=\"Extreme Film Test No. 11 - Kodak Tri-X 400\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Nikon F5 &#8211; AF Nikkor 28mm 1:2.8 &#8211; Kodak Tri-X 400 @ ASA-400 (+\/- 2-Stops) &#8211; Diafine (Stock) 3:00 + 3:00 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/55550030628\/in\/dateposted-public\/\" title=\"Extreme Film Test No. 11 - Kodak Tri-X 400\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55550030628_4d8e315840_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"126\" alt=\"Extreme Film Test No. 11 - Kodak Tri-X 400\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Nikon F5 &#8211; AF Nikkor 28mm 1:2.8 &#8211; Kodak Tri-X 400 @ ASA-400 (+\/- 2-Stops) &#8211; Diafine (Stock) 3:00 + 3:00 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n<p>When going into this particular test, I was a little warry. The last time I was running this combination with my roll rated at ASA-1600, I had a poor showing. But I think that had more to do with the status of that particular roll. I also should have read the notes a little closer and would have see that the information provided was for the previous version of the film, pre-2007 Tri-X is different from the modern 400TX emulsion. Does this combination work? I think it does, but you want to rate your film at ASA-800 rather than 1600, but it will also do well rating it at box speed or slightly over (ASA-320). So I would say the 3+3 time is good for anything between ASA-320 and ASA-800. Can you take Tri-X 400 higher, yes but you will want to use a dedicated push developer like <a href=\"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/2020\/08\/24\/developer-review-blog-no-08-ilford-microphen\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Microphen<\/a> or <a href=\"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/2020\/03\/23\/developer-review-blog-no-03-kodak-xtol\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Xtol<\/a> and push your development longer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When it comes to Tri-X, I&#8217;ve always seen this film as having a wide latitude. I have since learned that the new formulation, 400TX, first released in 2007, isn&#8217;t as good as the pre-2007 version, mainly because it has lower silver content. But when it comes to 400-speed films, Tri-X has been a long-time favourite of mine, so I figured it was time to get a full view of what the film can do and is ASA-1600 the best EI for Diafine? Film Specs Manufacturer: Kodak Name: Tri-X 400 Type: Panchromatic B&#038;W Film Base: Acetate Film Speed: ASA-400 Formats Available: 135 (35mm) &#038; 120 For<a class=\"more-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/2026\/10\/06\/extreme-film-test-no-11-kodak-tri-x-400\/\"><span>Read More &rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[22,2133,2132,74,147,82,20,29,75],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9929"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9929"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9929\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10155,"href":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9929\/revisions\/10155"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9929"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9929"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9929"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}