Microphen or DDX for Ilford Delta box speed

[jeztastic]

Hi,

Heard lots around here to the effect that DDX and microphen are very similar. Is it a good alternative to DDX for getting box speed with Delta 400 and 100? DDX is a little pricey for me, and I like the smaller quantities of microphen. A litre of stock at a time is about right for me.

I have found stock microphen a little too grainy and soft when it comes to hp5 at 800 ISO even on 120. It also jearly blew the highlights (or my development did at least). But I am intrigued at the thought of using it with Delta instead of DDX.

Will using it 1:1 to preserve highlights negate advantages over DDX? In which case I may as well stick to ID11.

Thanks for you input in advance...

Jez

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[RobC]

DDX will out keep Microphen or ID11 by a very long time so the 1 litre stock argument is total nonsense.

DDX is designed specifically for T-Grain films and will give better shadow separation (shorter toe).

DDX will give approx 1/3 stop more speed than ID11.

DDX will give sharper grain than ID11 (read fractionally bigger grain than ID11)

So use DDX for best speed and shadow separation. Use ID11 if you want a tad less grain at the expense of a little speed and shadow separation.

Alternatively try Tetenal Ultrafin and for finest grain Tetenal Ultrafin Plus both of which will last for years in opened bottles. (and cheaper than DDX)

 

[bsdunek]

Never used DDX, but I use microphen for most everything and really like it. I have always thought HP5 is kind of grainy and low contrast - Tri-X it's not. I also like Ilfosol 3 - always keep some around. Put marbles in the bottle and squeeze all the air out - lasts quite a while.

 

[Colin Corneau]

I'd have to agree on HP5+ vs Tri-X...I've always used DD-X more because it's worked so well with pushing (I almost always shoot 400 at 800) and as mentioned earlier, it is better suited to T-grain type film.
While I doubt it would last as long as Rodinal, say, you may want to try DD-X at 1:9 to see if it will be more economical - as for having it last longer before going bad, it really depends on how much you shoot but I've not heard of it going bad any sooner than any other developer.

 

[jeztastic]

DDX will out keep Microphen or ID11 by a very long time so the 1 litre stock argument is total nonsense.

DDX is designed specifically for T-Grain films and will give better shadow separation (shorter toe).

DDX will give approx 1/3 stop more speed than ID11.

DDX will give sharper grain than ID11 (read fractionally bigger grain than ID11)

So use DDX for best speed and shadow separation. Use ID11 if you want a tad less grain at the expense of a little speed and shadow separation.

Alternatively try Tetenal Ultrafin and for finest grain Tetenal Ultrafin Plus both of which will last for years in opened bottles. (and cheaper than DDX)

Wow...

Anyone want to answer the question I actually asked rather than the one they thought I should have?

 

[RobC]

Wow...

Anyone want to answer the question I actually asked rather than the one they thought I should have?

Good luck.

 

[jeztastic]

I'd have to agree on HP5+ vs Tri-X...I've always used DD-X more because it's worked so well with pushing (I almost always shoot 400 at 800) and as mentioned earlier, it is better suited to T-grain type film.
While I doubt it would last as long as Rodinal, say, you may want to try DD-X at 1:9 to see if it will be more economical - as for having it last longer before going bad, it really depends on how much you shoot but I've not heard of it going bad any sooner than any other developer.

Thanks for the advice. Using it 1:9 may be worth a try, but the data sheet says six months keeping open bottles of stock, and I may not get through that. I could decant into smaller bottles I suppose.

I'm not a massive fan of Ilfosol for faster films, but thanks for advice.

Still curious if anyone has compared DDX and microphen specifically in terms of speed and grain size.

 

[jeztastic]

Good luck.

[emoji28]

 

[MDR]

Just do it. Delta 400 and Microphen works quiet well. DDX is slightly sharper as it has less solvent action than microphen but other than that the results will be very close imo and not worth the extra price.

Regarding the blown ihighlights istead of changing developer you can change your agitation less agitation might give you better highlights.

As for HP5 vs Tri-X the latter might be more dramatic but the former has the longer tonal scale so for fine tones and smooth tonal transition HP5+ is the better film. Tri-X is supposed to push better but never had any problems pushing HP5+.

 

[Ian Grant]

It's a few years since I used HP5 and Microphen but it was combination for shotting theatre and rock bands live forvquite a while.

Microphen and DDX will give sharper grain (and sharper looking images) compared to ID-11/D76 but at a higher EI, it's all about comprimises and what each of us will accept. It's still well worth while though.

Ian

 

[markbarendt]

Wow...

Anyone want to answer the question I actually asked rather than the one they thought I should have?

Both are excellent choices.

Unless you breakout a microscope and do truly scientific testing in a fully controlled situation using test targets you'll never see the difference.

 

[jeztastic]

Both are excellent choices.

Unless you breakout a microscope and do truly scientific testing in a fully controlled situation using test targets you'll never see the difference.

Lovely. Thanks for all the replies people. I'll stick with Delta 400 and microphen for a while then.

 

[Paul Howell]

Is there a replenisher for Microphen?

 

[Xmas]

Wow...

Anyone want to answer the question I actually asked rather than the one they thought I should have?

Yes Microphen is a good developer for any of the Deltas or Tmax films.

It keeps as well as D76 and you might get 1/3 of a stop toe speed and more grain but I've not noticed either.

I've only used it as stock and you can get 10 X 135 films out of 1litre pack. It is not a good idea to try more than 14, don't ask.

Most of the time I scratch mix ID68 which is a Microphen clone, no detectable difference.

 

[Xmas]

Is there a replenisher for Microphen?

Yes add fresh Microphen to maintain the same volume. If you want a replenished PQ there is a different formula that the photo processors used. I need to filter the 2.5 litre of stock I use frequently so 1:3 or 1:2 may be better option.

 

[Ian Grant]

Is there a replenisher for Microphen?

You can us ID-68 replenisher, but if you're mixing that up from scratch you might as well use ID-68 anyway. Microphen is the commercial version of ID-68.

Ian

 

[philbed]

DDX and Microphen are not similar. DDX will give you finer grain. It works better at 1:9 dilution.
At box speed Microphen 1:1 will give you good results. But Microphen never give you fine grain negative.
If you want to preserve highlights, agitate every 90 or 120 seconds during development.