Delta 400, the bastard stepchild?

Richard S. (rich815) · Dec 8, 2013

Everyone frequently talks of the old favorites Tri-X and HP5+, and there's a decent amount of discussion around Tmax 400 but relatively speaking seems few use or talk of Delta 400 much. Is it the least favorite of the "professional" 400 speed films? Even less forgiving than Tmax 400? Tough to get it dialed in?

polyglot · Dec 8, 2013

Coarser than TMY2 is IMHO the main drawback and also I suspect it may not push as well as the other three 400s. It'd be nice to have it in sheets as competition/backup for tmax though; I'll be pretty pissed if Kodak stops making TMY2 and I can't get fast sheet film that isn't made of sandpaper. Maybe the disappearance of TMY2 is a necessary commercial precondition to coating D400 on thick base?

StoneNYC · Dec 8, 2013

polyglot said:
Coarser than TMY2 is IMHO the main drawback and also I suspect it may not push as well as the other three 400s. It'd be nice to have it in sheets as competition/backup for tmax though; I'll be pretty pissed if Kodak stops making TMY2 and I can't get fast sheet film that isn't made of sandpaper. Maybe the disappearance of TMY2 is a necessary commercial precondition to coating D400 on thick base?

I would agree with your suspicion, if TMY-2 goes away, ilford will probably make Delta400 available in sheet.

JLP · Dec 8, 2013

Not sure, A few years ago Simon Galley responded to request about Delta 400 in sheets and I believe it was a no because they felt it would compete with HP5+ and therefore could jeopardize the existence of HP5+

Dan Daniel · Dec 8, 2013

I settled on Delta 400 for a 'fast' film in 120 size. After Neopan 400 was discontinued, I tried Tri-X (again), HP5, TXMax 400, and Delta 400.

First, I have to say so people can stop reading right now- I develop and then scan and photoshop, which many here consider not real photography. So be it.

Anyway, I found that Delta 400 with a light green filter (for me this is important- I don't like the look without it), developed in HC-110 (1:50, 12 min) gave me the look I wanted. A bit more grain than TMax 400, a nice grain that reminded me of Tri-X in D-76 1:1 30 years ago. Nice tonality, etc. And it seems very forgiving. Even gross overexposures retain detail. It works for me. And with what is going on with film makers, I figure that Ilford is going to be the last one standing so I might as well dial it in now.

Well, it's all personal.

erikg · Dec 8, 2013

It is all personal. It's a favorite of a buddy of mine, but I prefer TMY. I remember when it seemed there was nothing but hate for Tmax. Hard to believe Ilford makes 5 different 400 speed films.
I'll have to try that light green filter trick with delta 400 sometime.

markbarendt · Dec 8, 2013

I don't know what you guys are talking about, Delta 400 is gorgeous, easy to use, pushes real well, and is quite forgiving.

markbarendt · Dec 8, 2013

polyglot said:
I suspect it may not push as well as the other three 400s.

I suspect that's a guess. (And a silly one IMO.)

Dr Croubie · Dec 8, 2013

I've used a lot of tmy2 and txp, and a fair bit of hp5 (although I haven't shot enough to really pick the differences... yet). I love Delta100 and 3200. But for some reason I've just never tried Delta400, it's just never in whatever shop/website I'm at when I'm buying.

Jeff Kubach · Dec 9, 2013

I have tryed Delta 400 a few times and liked it.

Jeff

Xmas · Dec 9, 2013

When I have a choice and need 400 it is first cept if there is something cheaper like Kentmere or Forma or expired, expired is my fave.
Don't know why the tabulars have not killed the conventional.

Ian Grant · Dec 9, 2013

I used quite a lot of 120 Delta 400 and I get excellent results. I hadn't used HP5 for manyn years but began using it again for hand held 5x4 work 6 years ago and the results are outstanding.

Poor availability meant I'd had to switch away from Tmax100 & 400 (I couldn't get it easily in Turkey/South America) but I've not regretted the switch.

Ian

Keith Tapscott. · Dec 9, 2013

Delta 400 is not my favourite ISO 400 film by a long way, but I am sure it has it's followers. It isn't available in LF sheets either.
I do have a high regard for Delta 100 though.
Personally, I much prefer HP5 Plus and TMY2 to Delta 400.

Simon R Galley · Dec 9, 2013

I have to say it is one thread title that I could'nt miss.....!

DELTA 400 is a deeply loved and cared for child, one of our 400 iso family that we adore.

Simon ( Dad ) ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited

Darren O'Keeffe · Dec 9, 2013

It's my favourite 400 film.

Regards,
D.

mr rusty · Dec 9, 2013

Yes, another vote for Delta 400. In DDX works well for me. I haven't got the years of experience of others, but very satisfied with the results.

Roger Cole · Dec 9, 2013

erikg said:
Hard to believe Ilford makes 5 different 400 speed films.

Um, they do? Delta 400 and HP5+ and...?

I like Delta 400 but I use mostly conventional B&W in rolls, tabular in sheets where I can control development individually, and it is no longer available in sheets. I have a nearly full box of 4x5 that has been frozen since the 90s but haven't tried it since to see how it's fared. Given the speed I suspect not so well.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Simon R Galley · Dec 9, 2013

Well not ILFORD but HARMAN make : XP2 Super / PAN 400 / KENTMERE 400 / DELTA 400 / HP5+

And Darren....consider yourself adopted !

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN tcehnology Limited :

Roger Cole · Dec 9, 2013

Ah yes - I shouldn't have forgotten XP2 Super. I was the one over on LFPF saying if you made it in sheets I'd order C41 chems for the Jobo the next day. It's a wonderful film.

And I wasn't thinking about non-Ilford branded but Harman coated products as "Ilford made" though I suppose the distinction is academic.

Steve Smith · Dec 9, 2013

polyglot said:
I suspect it may not push as well as the other three 400s

markbarendt said:
I suspect that's a guess. (And a silly one IMO.)

I don't push film very often but I have had more success pushing D400 to EI 800 and 1600 than I have with using D3200 at these speeds.

Steve.

miha · Dec 9, 2013

Roger Cole said:
Ah yes - I shouldn't have forgotten XP2 Super.

And Ilford Pan 400 The fim I've started with so many years ago...

Vincent Brady · Dec 9, 2013

Delta 400 developed in stock ID11 is my film of choice.

erikg · Dec 9, 2013

Simon R Galley said:
Well not ILFORD but HARMAN make : XP2 Super / PAN 400 / KENTMERE 400 / DELTA 400 / HP5+

And Darren....consider yourself adopted !

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN tcehnology Limited :

Thanks Simon, I should have been more precise. I've used all five and I think it great to have such good choices.

David Allen · Dec 9, 2013

Delta 400 with a personal EI of 200 developed in Barry Thornton's two-bath has been my sole combination for the past 12 years. This combination meets all of my needs. However, in my opinion, the make of film/developer combination that a photographer chooses is not that important. Far more important is sticking to a chosen combination so that you can get on making photographs and gain an in-depth knowledge as to how your chosen tools react over a wide variety of situations.

Bests,

David
www.dsallen.de

pentaxuser · Dec 9, 2013

Steve Smith said:
I don't push film very often but I have had more success pushing D400 to EI 800 and 1600 than I have with using D3200 at these speeds.

Steve.

Interesting and useful Steve, given the price premium that is charged with D3200

pentaxuser

Delta 400, the bastard stepchild?

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