Delta 3200 and minimizing grain

CZeni · Feb 7, 2005

I shot some 120 D3200 and processed it in Microphen per Ilford's recommendations...came up a bit grainy for my tastes:
http://www.attackblob.com/irc/kittytongue.jpg
Any suggestions to knock down the grain a bit? Or is this as good as it gets? I know that by doing it myself I'm getting less grain than when my local lab was doing it so I'm hoping to get a bit finer yet.

kaiyen · Feb 7, 2005

At EI 3200? That's actually pretty good in terms of grain, I think. But I've only ever shot it in 35mm.

I'd be interested to hear if anyone has any ideas, myself. D3200 is known for having big, "popcorn" grain. I can't think of ways to minimize it, really.

allan

etriplett · Feb 7, 2005

You could try it in DD-X but having never dev. in Microphen I can't say if it's better or worse. I know that in 35mm if I rate it at 1600 and dev in DD-X if can get an 8x10 enlargement without too much grain and some VERY nice edge effects. Do you absolutely need it at 3200?

CZeni · Feb 7, 2005

etriplett said:
You could try it in DD-X but having never dev. in Microphen I can't say if it's better or worse. I know that in 35mm if I rate it at 1600 and dev in DD-X if can get an 8x10 enlargement without too much grain and some VERY nice edge effects. Do you absolutely need it at 3200?

When I'm shooting 120 I need all the speed I can get...I'm an available light junkie when I'm indoors. The linked image was from a Bronica S2 with the 75/2.8 Nikkor wide open at 1/30th. In a rangefinder I can go at 1600 or 800 no problem...

Any details on the DD-X processing - times/agitation?

Thanks!

Dave Parker · Feb 7, 2005

My best suggestion, if you want to cut down on the grain......don't shoot at 3200EI, by nature, this type of speed equates to grain... I would have to say, for an EI3200 shot, this looks quite good! EI 3200 is what we used to shoot for B&W newspaper pop shots, where the image mattered more than the grain!

Dave

Konical · Feb 7, 2005

Good Evening, Czeni,

I've only used Delta 3200 in 35mm. I processed in HC-110B, if I recall correctly, and was pleasantly surprised by the grain structure. It seemed (long-term subjective memory here) about the same as or better than the Tri-X I used back in the '60's. I got good 5 x 7's and acceptable 8 x 10's from it.

Konical (also a Koni-Omega addict)

McCarthy · Feb 7, 2005

I will ask the guy that does my film developing (yes, I am lazy) what mix he uses because my 120 Delta P3200 comes out pretty grain free. I am shooting 6X6 an usually enlarge to about 11X11 and there is WAY less grain. In fact, I have been contemplating ways to get more grain for an assignment in my photo class. One thing that might help reduce the grain might be to shoot at a faster speed. Come to think of it I had plenty of light so I was shooting at 1/250 sec to 1/500 sec. That is probably the difference. But, I will post after finding out how my film is developed.

rbarker · Feb 7, 2005

My only experience with Delta 3200 has been in 35mm, rated at 3200 and developed in DD-X for Ilford's recommended time. Tough to compare 35mm to 120, but mentally selecting out a 35mm-sized area, your scan appears to be slightly more grainy than what I got with 35mm.

Robert Brummitt · Feb 7, 2005

Pyro with pushed Delta 3200

I use Deta 3200 pushed to 6400 for some dance photos. I processed the film in PMK and WD2D+. I got some nice results with it.
My records say I did 9 minutes in 68 degrees.
Like I said it came out ok.

rogueish · Feb 8, 2005

McCarthy said:
In fact, I have been contemplating ways to get more grain for an assignment in my photo class.

Try it in Rodinal and you'll have all the grain you could want. I developed according to times at http://www.digitaltruth.com/devchart.html and times from Les McLeans book Creatrive Black & White Photography (3200 at 3200 in Rodinal 1to10 for 10 minutes, 20degrees C.) Both work but I think Les' times will give more grain plus a slightly higher base fog but your negs still easily print.

titrisol · Feb 8, 2005

I have used 35mm D3200 and developed in DDX, Ilfosol (big mistake), FG7, and Rodinal
I can say that DDX is the best so far, grain is there, but is not bad. And as it has been said many times, expose for 3200 develope for 6400.

DD-X and Microphen have the same time reccomentdations, and I believe that one is the liquid version of the other.

CZeni said:
I shot some 120 D3200 and processed it in Microphen per Ilford's recommendations...came up a bit grainy for my tastes:
http://www.attackblob.com/irc/kittytongue.jpg
Any suggestions to knock down the grain a bit? Or is this as good as it gets? I know that by doing it myself I'm getting less grain than when my local lab was doing it so I'm hoping to get a bit finer yet.

etriplett · Feb 8, 2005

CZeni said:
Any details on the DD-X processing - times/agitation?

Since everyone else has supplied some good references for the dev. times, I can tell you that I agitate 3 times once every minute and sometimes I even skip that last agitation. I also always process at 68 deg. F using a water bath temperature control.

Cheers,
Eric

Delta 3200 and minimizing grain

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