"Best" developer for pushing delta 400 to 1600?

Fall · Aug 29, 2015

I say "best" as in, what is best for you? I shot some delta for the first time, and shot it at 1600. I've never used a lot of ilford products, usually kodak. I figure since it uses tabular grain structure it should be similar to tmax 400. some what... So, what do you use? Post some results! I always love to see what you all shoot.

Ian Grant · Aug 29, 2015

Microphen or Ilford DDX.

Delta 10 is a nice film I use it quite regularly in 120.

Ian

RobC · Aug 29, 2015

I would suggest trying it a EI 1250 developed in Microphen 12mins @ 20degC

That will give you a 6 stop range from black to white on G2 paper (3 below and 3 above spot metered)

Xmas · Aug 29, 2015

Ian Grant said:
Microphen or Ilford DDX.

Delta 10 is a nice film I use it quite regularly in 120.

Ian

As well as delta 100, I use Panf+, when there is enough light.

Noel

Ian Grant · Aug 29, 2015

Xmas said:
As well as delta 100, I use Panf+, when there is enough light.

Noel

I meant to say Delta 400 in 120 it's my main 120 film when there's not enough light to use Delta 100, I also use Pan F and love HP5 for LF hand-held work. We are lucky Ilford give us such a wide choice of films.

Ian

Fall · Aug 29, 2015

I was actually using it in 120. In microphen do you all notice the grain is made visibly "larger"?

"I would suggest trying it a EI 1250 developed in Microphen 12mins @ 20degC" I am going to pick up another roll, or two of delta 400, and I will try this.

I really love tmax400 at box speed in d76, and all I could get at the time was some delta. I got it, and went to a wedding, and got some great shots. meter gave very low reading at reception, (in a music hall) metered for 1/35 and f4 at 1600.

RobC · Aug 29, 2015

if you want full 1600 speed then use delta 3200 and devlop in DDX

Yes microphen generates grain. And delta 3200 with DDX is not fine grain but in 120 people seem to like it.

Delta 3200 EI 1600 dev in DDX 1+4 10.5mins @ 20degC

that will give you 8 stop range black to white on G2 4 above and 4 below spot metered.

RobC · Aug 29, 2015

if you want full 1600 speed then use delta 3200 and devlop in DDX
Yes microphen generates grain. And delta 3200 with DDX is not fine grain but in 120 people seem to like it.
Delta 3200 EI 1600 dev in DDX 1+4 10.5mins @ 20degC
that will give you 8 stop range black to white on G2 4 above and 4 below spot metered.
As always YMMV and above should be used as starting point.

Nathan King · Aug 31, 2015

"Best" developer for pushing delta 400 to 1600?

I use Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 13.5 minutes at 20 degrees Celsius. Contrast and grain are well controlled.

When I get home this evening I can post some examples.

Nathan King · Sep 1, 2015

Here are a few examples of Delta 400 in DD-X pushed to 1600. There's some grain, but you really get a nice range of tones.

Fall · Sep 2, 2015

Nathan, I love the tonal range of the dog, very smooth, and am very suprised by what was available in the very low light setting of the second one. Is that a restaurant? The grain is not as exaggerated as as I would have expected in DDX. Is this a scan of a negative or print? One other thing, is that 35mm, or medium format?

Nathan King · Sep 2, 2015

Fall said:
Nathan, I love the tonal range of the dog, very smooth, and am very suprised by what was available in the very low light setting of the second one. Is that a restaurant? The grain is not as exaggerated as as I would have expected in DDX. Is this a scan of a negative or print? One other thing, is that 35mm, or medium format?

They are both 35mm negative scans. The prints look essentially the same. The grain doesn't become too much until you enlarge past 8x12, if you don't mind some visible grain. The second shot was taken in the dead of night with only weak street lighting. F/2 and 1/30th of a second, I believe. KFAB is our local radio station. DDX does a really good job at keeping the contrast and grain in check. I agitate very gently two inversions per minute.

mauro35 · Sep 3, 2015

I personally did not like at all my result with Delta 400 at EI 1600 in microphen. Of course, I am not very experienced, so it might as well be that I did not develop properly (maybe not long enough). The grain was excessive in my opinion and the image looked rather flat (I know this can depend on several factors, like the contrast of the scene, agitation...). I have had much more succesful experience exposing at box speed. I am actually interested because I would like to give Delta 400 another try and apparently we do not have many options left to choose from regarding high speed film. I´ll be following to read other people´s advice.

Fall · Sep 3, 2015

Nathan very impressive for 35mm, especially in the grain department, which is not bad at all.

Mauro 35 did you scan or print, and was it 35mm? Also, what were your dev times, do you remember?

mauro35 · Sep 4, 2015

Fall said:
Nathan very impressive for 35mm, especially in the grain department, which is not bad at all.

Mauro 35 did you scan or print, and was it 35mm? Also, what were your dev times, do you remember?

The negatives were 35mm, printed optically, if I remember right in grade 3. I used the developing time suggested by Ilford in their datasheet, it was microphen stock for 11 min. 4 agitations per min.

"Best" developer for pushing delta 400 to 1600?

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