Advice on Delta 400 for Push Processing

[Michel Hardy-Vallée]

Did anyone work with Delta 400 in MF at EI of 3200 ? I bought some expired film, and was intending to try it out with D-76 (but I have some Rodinal availabe as well) for some evening/low light photography. Would it be more worthwhile to try with Tri-X instead? I'm looking mostly for good contrast without too much blocking in the highlights (within the limits of push processing, of course).

 

[titrisol]

Given your choices... I'dtry d76 for that
[if you don;t have access to DDX]

 

[Michel Hardy-Vallée]

Well I have access to pretty much any developer I want here (except for specialty stuff like Neofin which I would need to mail order) but if there is no huge advantage, I'd stick with what I have in my cupboard. Have you tried it with either?

 

[titrisol]

Not really, Delta 400 has not been my cuppatea. I prefer Neopan or HP5 in the 400s.
However, I just got some Delta400 (el cheapo) that was expired for $1.50/36 exp
So I have it loaded in my old rangefinder and I'm playing with it. I'll develop it in DDX and Rodinal and see what comes out.

As for pushing with D76 Digital truth has listed this:
Delta 400 Pro D-76 stock 1600 14.5 14.5 20C
Delta 400 Pro D-76 stock 3200 19 19 20C

So someone else has tried it befor e

My guess is that DDX will be better, since that developer was "tailored" for the Deltas (3200 specifically)
Delta 400 Pro Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 800 10.5 10.5 20C
Delta 400 Pro Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 1600 13.5 13.5 20C
Delta 400 Pro Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 3200 18 18 20C

Regards

PS. how was the F1 race last weekend?

 

[Michel Hardy-Vallée]

Same for me, I didn't look specifically for Delta 400 but I got some expired rolls for a buck each, so why not. I thought that if I massacre it in push processing then I haven't ruined a big investment. I was thinking of D-76 as well because a) I have it and b) it's the equivalent of ID-11, chemically.

Oh boy that F1 race: it was the worst heat wave in years (50C when accounting for humidity), and people were driving in the streets like some amateur Schumacher. Apparently the Ontario police arrested people from Toronto/Ottawa going at 180 KM/h (that's 100 Mph I believe) on the highway on their way to Montreal... Morons filled the street immensly.

 

[geraldatwork]

Same for me, I didn't look specifically for Delta 400 but I got some expired rolls for a buck each, so why not. I thought that if I massacre it in push processing then I haven't ruined a big investment. I was thinking of D-76 as well because a) I have it and b) it's the equivalent of ID-11, chemically.

Out of all of the faster 400 speed films out you probably will get the worst results with the Delta pushing the film. The film may be cheap and certainly you cal fool around with it but losing a great shot becauce you have blocked up highlights and no detail in the shadows is no bargain.

 

[kaiyen]

While I haven't ever played with Rodinal on a Delta film, you might give a try with dilute Rodinal with minimal agitation. Try 1+50 or even 1+100, 10s agitation eery 3 minutes, increase dev time by 50%. I was able to get a good 1600 out of Tri-X through this technique, and I think I could've gotten to 3200. But TXT is very forgiving of pushing, so...

allan

 

[gnashings]

As far as I know, Rodinal won't really push that far - but have never tried it. I used microphen in similar situations... it works...

I believe Raikkonen won, the two Ferraris second and third (Schu and Rubens, in that order)

 

[Michel Hardy-Vallée]

Out of all of the faster 400 speed films out you probably will get the worst results with the Delta pushing the film. The film may be cheap and certainly you cal fool around with it but losing a great shot becauce you have blocked up highlights and no detail in the shadows is no bargain.

Which one would you recommend instead for push? Tri-X seems to be a favorite; anything else worth looking at?

 

[geraldatwork]

Which one would you recommend instead for push? Tri-X seems to be a favorite; anything else worth looking at?

I'm far from an expert on pushing film. I would 2nd Tri-X and would think Ilford HP-5 which is similiar also a better choice than the Delta 400. You could also try one of the faster films like the Delta 3200 or the Kodak Tmax 3200 versions.

I don't think it is a bad idea fooling around with the Delta pushing it to 3200 since you got it at a good price and you seem to have the time and desire to try. You may just come up with a look you really like. I just wouldn't try it with a subject or event that could be important the first go around.

 

[Paul Howell]

I have pushed TriX in Dinafine (sp?) acufine, D 76 and even Microdox X with good results. I did a story in the 70s that required me to shoot in brothel with one lamp no flash, I pushed TriX in Rodinal to 3200 and got printable negatives, at least printable by newspaper standards of the day. But printed on grade 4 paper it is still an interesting look. I have not pushed any T type film, may be an interesting experiment.

 

[Max Power]

I went to a 'Cabane à Sucre' about 2 months ago. Typical Murphy's Law situation, the lighting was unbelievably poor and all I had was my Canonet and some D-400 (and I really hate flash). Nothing to lose so I exposed at 3200. I souped it in DDX for the Ilford recommended time and was actually quite surprised at the quality. For film pushed that far, it came out really well.

If you have the luxury of being able to shoot a test roll, try one out to see what you get. Photoco on Donegani (at Les Sources) has DDX in stock, and it's a good price.

Kent

 

[Michel Hardy-Vallée]

Think I'll try the DD-X then; I can get it at Photo Service in the Old for cheap, so it will be a nice reason to try yet one more developer... I'll be trying as well to push 35mm Tri-X in D-76 for that gritty look.