Delta 400 and perceptol

[mhainz]

Just thought I'd try some Delta 400 in 120 format and was looking up development times for my fave finegrain developer Perceptol. Could only find times with the film rated at 200-320. Does the film perform better at these speeds? Then again considering I'll be printing from 6x7 negs, would grain be an issue anyway?

What are people's opinions of this film and what developers do you recommend?

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Delta 400, Perceptol stock, EI 200, 12 min., agitating every minute is a great combination, with a smooth look, solid blacks and delicate highlights.

At the expense of a little more grain, try it in D-76 (1+1), EI 400, 14 min., also agitating every minute.

Try both and see which you like. I prefer it in Perceptol, and would use it more often if it came in sheet sizes.

 

[Maine-iac]

I use 120 Delta 400 rated at E.I. 200 and develop in Phenidone/Vit. C developer for 6 minutes at 70 degrees. Great tonal scale, and virtually no grain from either 645 or 6X7 negs.

Developer formula: 1 tsp. Kodalk (sodium metaborate), 1/2 tsp. Vit. C powder from health food store, 4ml 1% Phenidone solution to one liter of water. (I dissolve 1 gram Phenidone in 100ml of 90% alcohol; this stock keeps for many months.) I use it as a one-shot, but one liter will actually process four rolls of film without a problem. I have a two-roll tank, and often do a second run, increasing the time by 1 minute the second run. Can't tell the difference in the negs from the first run.

 

[Helen B]

I've used Delta 400, rated at EI 320, developed in Perceptol diluted 1+3 for 17½ mins at 24°C. That combination gives me what I consider to be low graininess for the speed. However, I prefer TMY in Perceptol 1+3, and find that I can set my meter to 400 with that combination (12 mins at 24°C). I use 200 ml of stock Perceptol per film - ie 800 ml of dilute developer.

Best,
Helen

 

[Joseph]

Perceptol vs Microdol

How does Ilford's Perceptol 1:3 compare to Kodak's Microdol-X 1:3?
Does Perceptol give an Adjacency Effect with 1:3 dilution?

 

[Helen B]

'How does Ilford's Perceptol 1:3 compare to Kodak's Microdol-X 1:3?'
I'd say it compares closely.

'Does Perceptol give an Adjacency Effect with 1:3 dilution?'
I've not noticed anything obvious, but it gains in sharpness over stock Perceptol largely because it changes from being high sulphite to low sulphite (as far as I know). One of the reasons I like it is because it gives a good, natural sort of balance between smoothness and sharpness.

Best,
Helen

 

[transporti686]

Hi everyone, how speed should I use for Delta 400 or TMX 400 in Perceptol 1+1? EI 200 or 320?

 

[David Allen]

My film / developer combination of choice for over 10 years has been Delta 400 with an E.I of 200 developed in Barry Thornton's Two-Bath developer (5.5 mins in Bath A and 5.5 mins in Bath B).

For my work I find it the perfect combination (all the images on my website are using this combination in a Mamiya 7 with 65mm lens). My standard prints are on 16 x 12" paper with a white border and I find the grain fine.

Bests,

David
www.dsallen.de

 

[ghart]

It depends on the "look" that you are after. Very subjective, depends on what you shoot, etc. etc. It's my no 1 film for "pictorial" work, mainly landscape and associated architecture, on account of excellent tonality and even handling of the values from top to bottom. I expose at EI 200 and develop in ID-11 1+1 for 8 min at 20 degC, agitation constant for the first 30 sec then 4 inversions per minute.

Perceptol gives finer grain but IMO less good tonality. I agree with Michael R's comments on Delta 100. But for my purposes, tonality is better with Delta 400 and unless you print very big, grain doesn't interfere.

 

[Athiril]

Delta 400, Perceptol stock, EI 200, 12 min., agitating every minute is a great combination, with a smooth look, solid blacks and delicate highlights.

At the expense of a little more grain, try it in D-76 (1+1), EI 400, 14 min., also agitating every minute.

Try both and see which you like. I prefer it in Perceptol, and would use it more often if it came in sheet sizes.

I would choose Xtol over D-76 though.


Delta 400 exposed at 100, in 24 degrees celsius seasoned/replenished Xtol, two gentle inversions per minute over the development time (Around 5 min iirc) gives a really nice look for landscapes, street, architecture, etc. It doesn't simply look like a contraction, but a completely different film.