Best Developer for Ilford Delta 3200

[bwakel]

Anyone got suggestions for the best developer for Delta 3200 to minimise grain (or at least keep it under reasonable control without losing sharpness)?

I've nearly finished my first roll of this film which I've been using for available light photography at the various family christmas gatherings - works a treat with my Leica M6 and Tri-Elmar.

Thanks

Barry

 

[FrankB]

I have used DD-X with some success, although I found it was a good idea to develop using Ilford's times for the next speed up (i.e. shoot at 1600 ISO, process as if 3200 ISO. Shoot at 3200 ISO, process as if 6400 ISO), otherwise the negs come out thinner than a supermodel!

 

[Harry Lime]

I use DD-X, but have also had excellent results with XTOL.

For best results rate Delta3200 between 1200 and 2000asa. This way you will retain good shadow detail and keep the grain reasonable.

 

[Rob Archer]

1600 in Microphen works well too. I've not tried it at higher speeds in Microphen but I've done up to 6400 in DD-x with good results.

Rob

 

[MikeSeb]

EI 1600 tops; Xtol undiluted. Fabulous combo, creamy smooth pleasing grain. Looks like film should.

 

[bwakel]

Rollei High Speed Developer

Thanks for all the advice guys.

Being between Christmas and New Year and given that we're heading to The Lake District tomorrow, I popped into the local camera store yesterday rather than try and order some DD-X over the Web. Surprise, surprise, when I asked if they had any DD-X they simply laughed at me. They could sell me a DSLR and they had a few rolls of HP5 and FP4 but developer? You must be joking. Sign of the times, I guess.

So I checked my stock at home. Some Ilfosol and some Multigrade Developer. No. Then I remembered that I'd got some Rollei High Speed Developer in the test pack of Rollei IR film. I decided to give this a go.

It worked a treat! The Delta 3200 had been exposed at ISO3200 so I used Rollei's recommended 8 minute development time at 20C and the negs are relatively low in contrast but with wonderful tonality. The grain's pretty full-on but works well in some shots that I took in the recent freezing fog that covered most of England for a few days last week.

So worth a try if you ever feel the need.

Barry

 

[matti]

I shot some Delta 3200 at 6400 during christmas. Developed in HC-100 for 13 minutes at A-dilusion. The negatives look quite thin and I can see the grain at an arms lenght. (Slightly exagerating...) It will be interesting to see how it prints.

/matti

 

[Kensey]

Anyone got suggestions for the best developer for Delta 3200 to minimise grain (or at least keep it under reasonable control without losing sharpness)?

I've nearly finished my first roll of this film which I've been using for available light photography at the various family christmas gatherings - works a treat with my Leica M6 and Tri-Elmar.

Thanks

Barry

Hi Barry
I'm not sure about being "best", but try Delta 3200 @ 1600 developed in Perceptol: stock 15mins @ 20C
Kind regards
Ken

 

[FrankB]

Thanks for posting your results Barry.

...and if a 'camera store' laughs at you for requesting a photographic product, ask them if they're a photographic store and when they answer, 'Yes', laugh back!

It won't do any good, but you might feel better!

 

[Harry Lime]

I shot some Delta 3200 at 6400 during christmas. Developed in HC-100 for 13 minutes at A-dilusion. The negatives look quite thin and I can see the grain at an arms lenght. (Slightly exagerating...) It will be interesting to see how it prints

Delta 3200 negs tend to look a little anemic. The actual filmbase is physically thinner than lets say something like Tri-X. They look a little strange, but print perfectly fine. ;-)

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

In one word: Xtol - gives that grain a nice look, and the tonality to match. Great negs depending on how you expose the negs. Normal speed is somewhere around ISO 800. Most people prefer around 1600, but 3200 is certainly fine, with a slight loss of shadow detail. It prints beautifully.

- Thom

 

[fatboy22]

Hi Barry,

I have been shooting this a lot in 120 and found TMAX RS has given me the nicest grain very tight, excellent contrast. I have also used Rodinal 1:25 and 1:50. Although the grain was very wild it gave kind of a neat effect. I expose it at 1600 ISO as well.

Jamie

 

[matti]

Two examples

Ok, here are my examples. The first one of my wife just after her disertation. Delta 3200 @ 1600 developed in Pyrocat. Looks fine.

But the second picture (of some bearded guy that came home to us at christmas), well, if I want to be nice to myself, I can say I managed to pull something pictoralistic out of it. Obviously it is underexposed due to my bad metering with point light sources in the background. This is Delta 3200 @6400 developed in HC-110.

/matti

 

[jasparks]

I have tried a bunch of developers with Delta 3200 and have found Tmax or Tmax RS to give the best results. As much or more real speed than anything else, relatively fine grain and a slight boost to the highlight contrast which I think this film really needs.

John

 

[Jon King]

Ok, here are my examples. The first one of my wife just after her disertation. Delta 3200 @ 1600 developed in Pyrocat. Looks fine.

/matti

Matti, what time/temp/agitation did you use with Pyrocat? I've been looking around for times, and only found one thread here on APUG.1+1+100, 21C, 23 min, agitate every 3 minutes. The first roll I did was ok, but I have one, exposed at 1600, of people, and I do like the way the tones in the photo of your wife turned out.

 

[Robert Budding]

Ok, here are my examples. The first one of my wife just after her disertation. Delta 3200 @ 1600 developed in Pyrocat. Looks fine.

But the second picture (of some bearded guy that came home to us at christmas), well, if I want to be nice to myself, I can say I managed to pull something pictoralistic out of it. Obviously it is underexposed due to my bad metering with point light sources in the background. This is Delta 3200 @6400 developed in HC-110.

/matti

Nice capture of a Tomte - sort of like capturing "Bigfoot" here in here U.S. These sorts of shots should be a bit soft.

 

[matti]

Matti, what time/temp/agitation did you use with Pyrocat? I've been looking around for times, and only found one thread here on APUG.1+1+100, 21C, 23 min, agitate every 3 minutes. The first roll I did was ok, but I have one, exposed at 1600, of people, and I do like the way the tones in the photo of your wife turned out.

Yes, 23 mins with 1 min+10s every 3 mins agitation was what I used with pyrocat at 21C.

/matti

 

[matti]

Nice capture of a Tomte - sort of like capturing "Bigfoot" here in here U.S. These sorts of shots should be a bit soft.

Yeah, but I don't think it really is a real Tomte. They are not kind giving presents like that. It might be the Coca-Cola version.
/matti

 

[Black Dog]

I use semi stand develoment in PCAT HD 1:200 for 60 mins at 24 c, with 1 minute of agitation initially and then 30 secs halfway through. I agree with previous comments re speed BTW.

 

[matti]

I use semi stand develoment in PCAT HD 1:200 for 60 mins at 24 c, with 1 minute of agitation initially and then 30 secs halfway through. I agree with previous comments re speed BTW.

What speed did you use with this?

Thanks/Matti

 

[kb244]

I seem to get desirable results developing in HC-110 for about 14 minutes, shot at 3200. Two images from such combination.

 

[Lee L]

I seem to get desirable results developing in HC-110 for about 14 minutes, shot at 3200. Two images from such combination.

Dilution? Temp? Agitation routine? Thanks in advance.

Lee

 

[Black Dog]

What speed did you use with this?

Thanks/Matti

1600

 

[Robert Budding]

Yeah, but I don't think it really is a real Tomte. They are not kind giving presents like that. It might be the Coca-Cola version.
/matti

The Tomte that I met in Sweden (my mother-in-law's family) was a bit gruff. But he did deliver gifts.

 

[matti]

The Tomte that I met in Sweden (my mother-in-law's family) was a bit gruff. But he did deliver gifts.

You are right, they do that nowadays. Probably got inspired from the rest of the world and thought they had something to do with Santa... Before that they were only a menace letting cattle loose, etc. This one was a bit mean, though, only giving me ugly coffee cups and such. No "Recollections" book, no light meter and no tripod.

/matti