Ilford Delta 3200 processing...

[funkpilz]

Rodinal is the king of developers IMO. I haven't tried it with Delta 3200, but it looks quite nice with HP5+ at 1600, so I assume stand developing Delta 3200 will work just as well if not better.
Again, if grain is an issue for you, move along.

 

[Guillaume Zuili]

Rodinal is the king of developers IMO.

Yes it is. With 3200 it's beautiful.

 

[Harry Lime]

I developed D3200 @ 1600 in DD-X for many years and it always delivered the goods.

I always thought that Rodinal was meant for films that were 400asa or slower.

 

[Matt5791]

Interesting thread - I have a roll to process and I was going to try DDX for the first time.

The last time I processed Delta 3200 I used Paterson Aculux at the recommended dilution of 1:4 - does anyone else have any experience with Aculux?

Matt

 

[chriscrawfordphoto]

I'll be different and suggest Kodak's Tmax Developer. It was designed to process Tmax 3200 for high EI's and in my experience it is the best developer for Tmax 3200. Based on that experience, I have used it for Ilford's 3200 film as well with magnificent results.

EI-1600, 35mm size Delta 3200

EI-1600 120 size Delta 3200

I'm sure it works well for EI-3200 but I have not yet tried it.

 

[Tom Kershaw]

Do Kodak T-Max developer or ILFORD DD-X offer any advantages over a more traditional Microphen type developer aside from being liquid concentrates?

Tom

 

[Dave Martiny]

Like br549, I also like Delta 3200 in D76 straight, one shot. I usually use and EI of 1250-1600 and develop for the time Ilford recommends for EI 3200, and always get nice results.

Regards,

Dave

 

[snallan]

Do Kodak T-Max developer or ILFORD DD-X offer any advantages over a more traditional Microphen type developer aside from being liquid concentrates?

Tom

Unfortunately I cannot comment on this, having never used Microphen. But would be interested in any comments on Microphen with Delta 3200, as I am considering some experiments with homebrew ID-68 (a Microphen type developer).

 

[Tom Kershaw]

Steve,

I've only exposed a very few rolls of Delta 3200, processed in Ilfotec HC 1+31.

Tom

 

[snallan]

I've used a few dozen rolls of the 3200, and I do like it a lot. I usually buy it if I am going to need the speed, up to 6400 so far, and I think it handles it nicely.

However, if I have more than I need I will shoot it at EI 400 to use it within a reasonable time. Though I have shot it as low as EI 100 (note to self:- check the film tab on the back before you stick it on the camera, not when you take it off! ). For that I actually processed in Perceptol, developing for 5 minutes (a little less than the time recommended for EI 400), and got some decent results.

I am going to make up some ID-68 this weekend, and I have some 3200 in stock. So I think I will shoot that at various speeds over the next week, and see how it handles in the homebrew. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[john_s]

Do Kodak T-Max developer or ILFORD DD-X offer any advantages over a more traditional Microphen type developer aside from being liquid concentrates?

Tom

There was a French magazine test a while back that (iirc) Microphen produced the highest speed but DD-X was not far behind and also produced less obvious grain. I'll try to locate it.

 

[john_s]

There's something about Microphen compared to other developers here:

http://photo.net/film-and-processing-forum/008mCk

 

[chriscrawfordphoto]

Do Kodak T-Max developer or ILFORD DD-X offer any advantages over a more traditional Microphen type developer aside from being liquid concentrates?

Tom

I don't know. I've never used Microphen, as the camera stores in the places I have lived (even in the days before digital when stores all still carried full darkroom departments) never sold any Ilford developers. It was Kodak stuff and Rodinal only. So, I use Tmax Developer, which is still carried by the little locally owned camera shop where I live.

 

[Matt5791]

I'll be different and suggest Kodak's Tmax Developer. It was designed to process Tmax 3200 for high EI's and in my experience it is the best developer for Tmax 3200. Based on that experience, I have used it for Ilford's 3200 film as well with magnificent results.

I'm sure it works well for EI-3200 but I have not yet tried it.

Really interesting - I'm going to give the T-max developer a go!

Matt.

 

[Matt5791]

Just printed some of the results of this - T-max developer and Delta 3200. I processed at 20deg for 9.5 mins. Grain is definitiely an improvement on what I have seen before (although I have never tried DDX) and is now a very pleasing level of grain from a 35mm negative cropped to fit 10x8". It's gritty, but nice.

I'll post a result as soon as I scan one.

 

[chriscrawfordphoto]

Just printed some of the results of this - T-max developer and Delta 3200. I processed at 20deg for 9.5 mins. Grain is definitiely an improvement on what I have seen before (although I have never tried DDX) and is now a very pleasing level of grain from a 35mm negative cropped to fit 10x8". It's gritty, but nice.

I'll post a result as soon as I scan one.

Very cool!

 

[Matt5791]

Here is an example - I'm not very happy with the photograph, but should serve to give a flavour of the results!

 

[Tom Kershaw]

I've just processed some Delta 3200 in XTOL (645 format), I wonder how XTOL compares to T-Max developer for this film...

 

[whlogan]

Ilford DDX is both super and super expensive but is really magic with 3200!

Logan

 

[richardhkirkando]

I'll be different and suggest Kodak's Tmax Developer. It was designed to process Tmax 3200 for high EI's and in my experience it is the best developer for Tmax 3200. Based on that experience, I have used it for Ilford's 3200 film as well with magnificent results.

I'll second this. TMax Dev is great for fast films, I've been very happy with my results with both TMax 3200 and Delta 3200, both shot at EI 3200. I just shot a roll of Delta at EI 6400, so I'll see how that looks shortly.

 

[WolfTales]

My votes for Microphen