My take on the Kodak TMax 400 & Tri-x 400

In this post I uploaded some of the photos I took when I decided to compare my all time favourite film - the Kodak TMax with the highly regarded Kodak Tri-X.

First of all, this is a completely non-scientific comparison full of mistakes. Light conditions are completely different, camera settings are not the same and framing is not exact. That being said, I still think it gives a fine perspective of these films and why they have such a great reputation.

All photos were taken with a Leica iif with a Summaron 35mm f3.5 lens and the SBLOO viewfinder. If you want to know more about this camera check this post http://vintage-camera-lenses.com/leica-iif/ (or google it!). In general I am not a great fan of Leica. I just happen to prefer Nikon, in particular the F2 and F3. Anyways, I have to agree with Barnack being a genius and indeed the Leica iif and iiig are among the best cameras ever made (in my opinion!).

Back to Kodak, these first two photos show the differences in light conditions. In fact, there is only half an hour or so difference in time. It was an overcast day that suddenly opened...

^{Tri-x 400. Click on the image for full size!}

^{TMax 400. Click on the image for full size!}

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Again we have more sunny against overcast than TMax vs Tri-X. I wonder how old these benches and table are. I can't imagine benches with tiles being constructed nowadays.

^{Tri-x 400. Click on the image for full size!}

^{TMax 400. Click on the image for full size!}

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For small prints both photos look great with good resolution. It's when you make things big that the difference in resolution sticks out. The photo with Tri-x was probably taken at f5.6 or f8 and Tmax very likely at f3.5 or f4. Even though, comparing pixel to pixel TMax gives way more detail.
In my Retina MackBook the difference is actually staggering. TMax captured all those fine cracks in the tiles that are just lost with Tri-X.

^{Tri-x 400. Click on the image for full size!}

^{TMax 400. Click on the image for full size!}

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Very interesting photo here that shows how valuable orange peels are in Hong Kong that people bother to climb to the top of the hill to have them dry. Anyways, google it and get surprised...there are hundreds of uses for orange peels...I suppose they can't be wrong.

^{Tri-x 400. Click on the image for full size!}

^{TMax 400. Click on the image for full size!}

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This building has some kind or mirror high reflective glass facade that can be tricky to photograph. I think both films did a great job at holding details in the middle of reflections.

^{Tri-x 400. Click on the image for full size!}

^{TMax 400. Click on the image for full size!}

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To finalize a landscape...and again both films show their qualities with impressive tonality and dynamic range.

^{Tri-x 400. Click on the image for full size!}

^{TMax 400. Click on the image for full size!}

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Conclusion

I really love Kodak TMax....it's the film I have been shooting for a few years and I won't change. I couldn't get indifferent to Tri-X reputation so I had to give it a try. Results are amazing and both films live up to their reputation - TMax shines with its impressive resolution and Tri-X with its beautiful grain. I don't develop the negatives myself so I can't really comment on how easy or hard it is to develop TMax. But I have heard multiple times that it is way easier to get consistent results with Tri-X. If you develop your negatives at home keep that in mind.

#filmphotography #photography #streetphotography #photo #hk