HP5, EI3200 and D76 - Should I? Could I? Why would I?

[hoffy]

OK, late last year, I tried HP5 at EI1600 and developed it in D76 Stock (14 mins, 4 inversions each minute - the Ilford way) for the first time and loved the results.

Now its time to experiment again. I am thinking about upping to EI3200 and seeing how that goes. I am (obviously!) not too fussed about grain reduction.

What I want to know, is it possible? Would I yield any useful results using D76? Or this simply beyond this combo? Are there any other caveats I need to be aware of? Does anyone have any starting times? (the massive Dev chart and the Ilford spec sheet don't have a time for D76/ID-11 at this EI.)

Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

 

[mattmoy_2000]

You can shoot Hp5+ at 3200. I developed in DD-X for 18mins agitating every other minute. Came out fairly well, I think.

 

[hpulley]

Other developers (almost anything else, DD-X, Microphen, Xtol, T-Max, even HC-110 1+15) are more suited to pushing but if D-76 is what you haved mixed then go for it.

 

[hoffy]

ok, what differences will I get using the above developers? Is it just grain? Is it contrast?

Cheers

 

[polyglot]

Most of them (XTOL especially) will give you better shadow detail, ie better true speed.

 

[Роберт]

Most of them (XTOL especially) will give you better shadow detail, ie better true speed.

Exactly, DD-X, Microphen, Acu-1, HC-110 are speed enhanced developers so you will have some extra speed which is good when pushing any B&W film to a maximum.
Xtol will give a regular box speed so I would not call this developer a real speed enhancing type. But it combines box speed with small grain, based on Ascorbic Acid derivate for developing agent.

 

[chriscrawfordphoto]

You'll almost certainly get better results with Delta 3200. I have not tried pushed HP5, but I have used both Delta 3200 and Tmax 3200 and both look A LOT better than pushed KOdak 400 films (Tri-X and Tmax 400).

 

[hpulley]

Agreed, use Delta 3200 or TMZ for 3200 if you intend to shoot much at that exposure rating. Again, not souped in D-76/ID-11 though, better in Xtol, T-Max, DD-X, Microphen...

 

[hoffy]

Cheers for all the replies. I think I need to answer my own questions and just try. Next time I am shopping, I will get a suited developer and a roll of D3200. I might even shoot these side by side and see the differences myself. For me, its about getting a gritty grainy image. I don't necessarily want to get the best possible image quality.

Cheers

 

[hpulley]

D3200 vs. HP5+ @3200 is more about the contrast you want than the grit. Both will give you lots of gritty grain at 3200 but the curves will be quite different.