Delta 3200 in Microphen

[xtolsniffer]

Hi all,
I want to develop three rolls of Delta 3200 in Microphen. I've done this before with excellent results, but I've only done one film at a time. The Ilford datasheet only gives times for stock dilution (9 minutes) and then suggests adding 10% to the time for subsequent films with that spent developer (300ml for a Paterson tank for 35mm being added back into the remainder of the 1 liter of unused stock). Again, done this before, and it works. The issue is I have three films I want to process at the same time. So do I use the time for the first film, or add 20% as I'm doing three films? My feeling is that is should be 9 minutes as I'm using 900 ml of fresh stock, then the next film would be film four so needs 30% extra time. Am I talking sense or rubbish?

I usually use ID-11 one-shot at 1:1 so it's not a problem with that, but there are no 1:1 times for Microphen.

 

[tedr1]

That bit about film four confuses things, I will ignore it.

If you are as you say processing three films in one tank all at the same time using 900ml of stock then use the 9 min time.

 

[pentaxuser]

What tedr1 has said makes sense to me but like you I am confused by Ilford's instructions on what you need to do if using a replenishment regime. It looks like Microphen, unlike ID11 is only available in 1L so once you have done 3 films in 900ml you only have 100ml of unused stock left to which you add your used 900ml before re-use. I am not at all clear on whether 100ml of unused stock is sufficient to replenish and allow only a 10% increase in time for 4th film. Unless someone here has used Microphen in this way i.e. done 3 films at once then tried a 4th from 1L stock successfully then I'd be tempted to seek clarification from Ilford.

pentaxuser

 

[xtolsniffer]

I think I might ditch it after those three films. It's not worth the risk. Then I might move to using DDX, it avoids such issues in the future.

 

[Anon Ymous]

Yes, your reasoning is correct. Use 300ml of fresh solution for the first 3 films and keep the used solution elsewhere. For film #4 you'd have to add the 100ml of fresh developer to the 900ml of used developer and increase development time by 30%.

I think I might ditch it after those three films. It's not worth the risk. Then I might move to using DDX, it avoids such issues in the future.

Or use Xtol? I thought you liked that stuff.

 

[xtolsniffer]

I do indeed like XTOL Very versatile, I just found that I never got through 5 litres of the stuff before it (probably) expired which is why I moved to the 1 liter bags of ID-11 or Microphen.

 

[pentaxuser]

I use Xtol myself but not beyond EI 1600. These days I tend to use it at EI 1250 where I am very satisfied with the results. If you use D3200 at "box speed" then it might be that only Microphen will get you there. I base this statement on some tests a U.K. member here did with various developers and he claimed that only Microphen got "box speed" with D3200. Others of course may dispute those findings

pentaxuser

 

[xtolsniffer]

There also seems to be a fair bit of discussion on 'shoot at 3200, develop at 6400'. I used to develop the much missed Neopan 1600 in Xtol, shot at box speed and it was good. Not had experience of Delta 3200 in anything other than Microphen, and in fact the XTOL datasheet doesn't give any times for Delta 3200. The massive development chart gives it as 7.5 mins at 20 C at stock and 10 mins for 6400 in stock, but given that it's stock dilution, I might as well stick with Microphen as it has the same 're-use' issues. I prefer to use 1+1 one shot where I can, but that's not an option apparently with Microphen.

 

[Anon Ymous]

You can increase the development time in Xtol stock by ~40% and you will get very close to the time for 1+1.

 

[Anon Ymous]

BTW, Ilford's recommendation for D3200 EI6400 is 10' in Xtol stock. 14' in Xtol 1+1 sound about right.

 

[xtolsniffer]

Ah, I forgot to check on the Ilford film datasheet for development times, thanks for that!

 

[RattyMouse]

I think I might ditch it after those three films. It's not worth the risk. Then I might move to using DDX, it avoids such issues in the future.

I've always used DD-X to process my Delta 3200 (at one speed higher than whatever I rated it in the camera). The results are excellent.

 

[xtolsniffer]

Thanks for that. I tend to prefer powder developer as they keep for ages so on the rare occasion I get into the darkroom I have a lot to get through so just make up a fresh batch from powder. Although the inconvenience of that is beginning to irritate me and I quite like the idea of just reaching for a bottle (of developer that is).