Delta 100 grain and sharpness

Thanks Ian. You probably mentioned this in the past but I hadn't retained the info. I am now clearer on the subject

pentaxuser

Ian Grant said:

Poor temperature control is the key to minimising grain.

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Do you mean "proper"?

Tony-S said:

Do you mean "proper"?

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Keeping every chemical and the wash water within one or two degrees C or two or three degrees F.

bvy said:

Perceptol 1+1 or even stock. Overexpose it slightly. Creamy. Beautiful.

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Yeah ....Perceptol is the all time troubleshooter if it goes to have fine grain.
But fine grain and sharpness isn't the same as we all know.... !
If the intention is to have biggest enlargement without visible grain Delta100 is one of the very best films therefore. (E.I. ISO 25 + Perceptol)
If it goes in both bvy's advice is better.
If it goes just about sharpness Neofin blue is also the right stuff.
Rodinal stand developement gives additional contures (pseudo sharpness) + resolution (Neofin is better from my point of view in concern to the resolution).
But Rodinal is a bit destructive to fine grain of Delta 100.
If I resume OP's troubble - there might be gone sonst ging wrong with DD-x development.Because Delta100 has extreme fine grain (normaly) ....and of cause NOT WITH RODINAL or with push development.
The last two mentioned issues are the only - wich I could imagine Delta 100 hasn't such legendary fine grain.
At the end I would agree also with Ian Grand - you have to find out (via experimental use) what developer film combination gives you the result you need. And to tune it may cause a little more rolls of Delta100 than the two you mentioned.
So - pls. give up - you soon will have exciting fine grain with Ilfords bestselling film.
with regards

DoryBreaux said:

For some reason I've become very paranoid about temp control. I mix between 20.5 and 21.5 and by the time I pour it, its between 19.8 and 20.8. I check before I pour.

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By the time - so you mentioned temperature - it isn't very important (0,2 degree, 0,65 degree a.s.o. out of corectnes ....just believe me !
As it is also not of importance to have little incorrect times as : 3'min 32"sec.
instead of 3'min 20"sec. because your exposure is also not in such extreme corectness as you might think am I right.
But wrong temperature could indeed cause extreme grainy negatives.
For example development at 22degree celsius - film washing from water tap in winter (sometimes < 12 - 14 degree)
emulsions with gelantine can't have such temperature extrema without damage
(sometimes I have to state not allways)
So may be the OP has had bad luck from wrong temperature ?
with regards

Ian Grant said:

Temperature control is very important but it's important that all stages including washing are tightly controlled, you need to avoid changes of more than +/- 1ºC between each stage. It's actually very easy once you get the hang of it.

Ian

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Lets also say "room temperature" - if you have developer, other baths and canisters with water in the darkroom (hopefully it is temperated ca. 20 degree Celsius... ) you have not to messure and you can be sure all baths are with same temperature.

with regards

PS : The guys began otherwise to scary about 0,15 degree difference....

I do Delta 100 in Kodak D-76 at 1:1, 68 degrees, 11 minutes. 1 inversion every 15 seconds. Fix with Kodak fixer.

The scans aren’t anything I would complain about in terms of grain or fine detail. I prefer tmax 100 if I want resolution/very fine grain, but that’s been hard to come by in 120 size. I shoot lots of tmax 100 in 135 though, it’s great, if you have enough light.

Dory, I'm just over the hill in Reno. Good to know there's another film shooter around here...

Delta 100 in 120 is my main film for landscapes. I have it developed in XTOL by a lab (Photolab in Berkeley). It comes back very sharp and fine grained. Not sure if this helps, but something to consider...

Dale

Tony-S said:

Do you mean "proper"?

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I meant that poor temperature is a key reason for increased grain, so an error there ;d

Ian

trendland said:

At the end I would agree also with Ian Grand

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I knew his brother, Rio

pentaxuser

Rio for Radar Intercept Officer ???

with regards

Ian Grant said:

I meant that poor temperature is a key reason for increased grain, so an error there ;d

Ian

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Also the only way to me to get much more grain as with Delta 400.
Except massive underexposure. I case of Delta 100 I would bet on - 5 stops and compensate with longer developing (as mentioned here - not the case) - that would be enough to get grainy characteristics and hard tonals/contrast
also with Delta Films.
In normal cases : Impossible to have a grainy look with Delta.
Except Delta 3200 - from this Kodak Tmax 3200 was indeed the better than the Delta - to me I must say.

with regards