D76 vs Thornton's 2 Bath HD developer, Ilford Delta 100 in 4x5

[Kino]

I typically take 2 shots of any subject to experiment with various development times. I was satisfied with my initial D76 1:1 @ 20c/68f for 6 minutes, so I neglected the 2nd negative until I decided to try Thornton’s 2 Bath HD developer just to see how it would handle the same exposure.

Shot #1 D76

Now, these are scans and not matched the best in curve placement, but good enough to see the differences between the developers.

In the 2 bath, I gave baths A&B equal time at 4:30 @ 20c/68f with a water stop and TF5 fix for 4 minutes.

Shot #2 Thornton's

Since I print with a condenser enlarger, the Thornton’s neg might be easier to print closer to grade 2 than the D76 negative, which in my experience, must be printed at 1 or 1.5; maybe even lower than that.

 

[Paul Howell]

Wonder how the negative in D76 would print split grade. Somewhat surprised that Thorton's did not separate the clouds more, , was under the impression that it was highly compensating. Nice shot though.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I seee no difference between the negative in the screen display.

 

[John Wiegerink]

I do see a slight difference when I switch back and forth between the two. I see it in the contrast of the belfry shutters and the shadows under the shrubs, but both pictures are very, very close for sure.

 

[bernard_L]

I was satisfied with my initial D76 1:1 @ 20c/68f for 6 minutes

Ilford's technical datasheet says Delta 400 in ID11 1+1 14' @20°C. ???

 

[bernard_L]

Somewhat surprised that Thorton's did not separate the clouds more, , was under the impression that it was highly compensating.

Quite the opposite, not surprising. Compensating means decreasing contrast in the highlights.

Sure, a compensating developer avoids the highlights recording as too high densities, but that is achieved by a decreased slope. Example from the datasheet of APX100 (original)

 

[koraks]

The rationale of a 2-bath developer is to compress the tonality of the image. The benefit of this is supposed to be that it makes the negative 'easier to print' - if it works (IF), everything fits more neatly in the tonal scale of the paper. What's left unmentioned much of the time is what this means for tonality, especially at the higher end of the tonal range.