Pushing Ilford's Delta 400

[Andrew O'Neill]

After all the fun I had pushing HP5, I wanted to try Delta 400. This was a "milder" push test. I handheld my RB67. I booked an appointment with the chiropractor for tomorrow... Have a look at my results...

 

[John Wiegerink]

Good video Andy! When I saw your first set of three images I right away thought the ISO 800 image stood out. After seeing all the rest I picked all the ISO 800 images as the ones that had that "snap" that I like. I was surprised when you said you liked the ISO 800 shots a little better also. The Xtol-R seems to be doing a great job also. JohnW

 

[braxus]

+2. I also like the 800 ISO shots the most. The snap Delta 400 has at box speed, was something I really like in its look. It has a very Tri-X 400 look to it. I love Tri-X as well. The Delta 400 shots at 800, aren't over the top in contrast, and is a small bump up in that compared to what the box speed would have shown. I also use Xtol, but not replenished. I develop straight or 1:1 for my films. If I develop a couple rolls at separate times during the same day, I'll reuse the developer and have had no issues doing that. Worked like a charm today on my 2 rolls. Love your videos Andy. The subtle humor is good too. You really got that editing down pat with Premiere Pro.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Good video Andy! When I saw your first set of three images I right away thought the ISO 800 image stood out. After seeing all the rest I picked all the ISO 800 images as the ones that had that "snap" that I like. I was surprised when you said you liked the ISO 800 shots a little better also. The Xtol-R seems to be doing a great job also. JohnW

Thanks for watching! I was pretty surprised with the results. 800 was really nice. I did not expect that. I probably should be using this stuff at box speed and sometimes at 800 when the SLR is normal.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

+2. I also like the 800 ISO shots the most. The snap Delta 400 has at box speed, was something I really like in its look. It has a very Tri-X 400 look to it. I love Tri-X as well. The Delta 400 shots at 800, aren't over the top in contrast, and is a small bump up in that compared to what the box speed would have shown. I also use Xtol, but not replenished. I develop straight or 1:1 for my films. If I develop a couple rolls at separate times during the same day, I'll reuse the developer and have had no issues doing that. Worked like a charm today on my 2 rolls. Love your videos Andy. The subtle humor is good too. You really got that editing down pat with Premiere Pro.

Thanks, Scott. These push tests I've been doing has me re-evaluating how I exposed film. Editing video is something I've enjoyed found for about 20 years. I taught film/TV, a well as media arts for about as long. Started on Final Cut, but switched to Premiere when Final Cut changed to look and feel more like iMovie. Once I retire, I'll lose access to Adobe Suite. I'll get by with Elements.

 

[braxus]

My video editing skills are more old school. I took the Media Resources Program at Cap back in 92-94, and everything we used was linear editing on tape. I still treat it like that today at times. You could have been one of our teachers in the program if you were around at the time. Im probably going to have to learn Premiere Pro at some point, as I have a Super 8 project of 3 films I still have to complete. Laying down sync audio is what is keeping me from getting to it.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

My video editing skills are more old school. I took the Media Resources Program at Cap back in 92-94, and everything we used was linear editing on tape. I still treat it like that today at times. You could have been one of our teachers in the program if you were around at the time. Im probably going to have to learn Premiere Pro at some point, as I have a Super 8 project of 3 films I still have to complete. Laying down sync audio is what is keeping me from getting to it.

I did linear editing in high school. We got to work with 8mm. Audio capture on cassette tape. What did you record audio with for your 8mm?

 

[braxus]

We used Hi-8 back at Cap.

For the 3 Super 8 projects, I used Super 8 Sound film. I then dubbed the audio off the film onto cassette, because once you cut Super 8 Sound film, you lose a second of audio, because the sound is ahead of the frame being cut. So to put the audio back onto the piece with video, I have to relay the audio track back to the video picture. This requires exact frame syncing of the audio. Since its not using any form of clapper board, since the film is already cut, I have to manually adjust the audio to get it to match the needed frame. And I have to do that for 1.75 hours of film for all 3 projects. My audio on the tape is all over the place, so matching it to the scene is even more trouble, then just syncing it.

 

[mooseontheloose]

I mentioned this in the video comments, but I like the 800 shots as well. Watching videos like this makes me wonder if I shouldn't do some more tests to see what I like - I think my tastes have changed over the years, so it's probably worth doing again.

Do you get any flak for wearing a Roughriders cap in BC? My dad always used to wear a Bombers one when we lived in Calgary, but he could take the heat.

 

[Helge]

Absolutely useable at 3200. Might start using D400 more!

"3 sec agitation per minute"‽ Can you even tip the tank once in that time span? I'd be concerned with uneven distribution.
I do 15 sec. (including lifting and putting down). That allows for four careful inversions.
Probably doesn't make that much difference though.

Why didn't you include a 3200 shot with the cat? Indoors shooting is a big part of why people push. 800 was promising.

 

[gone]

This is a helpful thread, thanks for posting it. I was thinking of getting some Delta 400 because the prints from my 1st roll of 100 were amazing. What a great film. But, the reviews on the 400 kept me from buying it. As often happens, it seems to just need to be worked with to understand what it can do and what it can't.

I am concerned about the grain of the 400 if I make 11x14's using the smaller 35mm film, but lots of times the grain almost disappears in the darkroom prints.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I mentioned this in the video comments, but I like the 800 shots as well. Watching videos like this makes me wonder if I shouldn't do some more tests to see what I like - I think my tastes have changed over the years, so it's probably worth doing again.

Do you get any flak for wearing a Roughriders cap in BC? My dad always used to wear a Bombers one when we lived in Calgary, but he could take the heat.

Thanks Rachelle. I read your comment on youtube. I appreciate it! All this testing has me rethinking my approach to certain scenes now. It was hard work for me, but glad I did it. I wish I did it years ago, though... and yes, I do get some flak but it's all in the name of fun... except for the time one guy wanted to punch me at BC Place after the Riders kick their butts.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Absolutely useable at 3200. Might start using D400 more!

"3 sec agitation per minute"‽ Can you even tip the tank once in that time span? I'd be concerned with uneven distribution.
I do 15 sec. (including lifting and putting down). That allows for four careful inversions.
Probably doesn't make that much difference though.

Why didn't you include a 3200 shot with the cat? Indoors shooting is a big part of why people push. 800 was promising.

I do three figure eights, one per sec. I've been doing it this way since entering puberty... I had the 3200 roll in a 220 magazine. It buggered up the frame count. I wanted to shoot Kiki at that speed but sadly couldn't. I sure learnt a lot doing these tests!

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

This is a helpful thread, thanks for posting it. I was thinking of getting some Delta 400 because the prints from my 1st roll of 100 were amazing. What a great film. But, the reviews on the 400 kept me from buying it. As often happens, it seems to just need to be worked with to understand what it can do and what it can't.

I am concerned about the grain of the 400 if I make 11x14's using the smaller 35mm film, but lots of times the grain almost disappears in the darkroom prints.

It really is an intriguing film. I plan to explore its extended red sensitivity compared to HP5, and see how it reacts to different colour filters...

 

[Ben 4]

…and some of the shots at 3200 have a bit of a "day-for-night" look!

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

…and some of the shots at 3200 have a bit of a "day-for-night" look!

That's an interesting observation. Would that be for the building shots mainly?

 

[Ben 4]

I was looking at the trees when it entered my mind, but I think it probably goes for the buildings too.

--Ben

 

[Sirius Glass]

I was looking at the trees when it entered my mind, but I think it probably goes for the buildings too.

--Ben

Well one can always branch out ...

 

[pentaxuser]

Andrew, great video. I had decided my conclusions before the end of the video and when you stated yours, mine were exactly the same.

Quite some time ago I watched a video by someone who had no known pedigree, nor was he known by anyone on Photrio and what he did was to shoot D400 at 3200 and compare the former with the Iatter then posted his video on Photrio. He used Microphen. His D400 pushed to 3200 looked pretty good as well. So in the hope of producing a balanced discussion on it, I posted his video in March of last year

I have just re-read it and whereas your video has not has any negative responses I cannot say the same for the one I posted, especially at the start of the thread. However as I said the video maker was not known and thus by definition not respected here unlike yourself

Still I tried to ask questions and eventually the discussion became more balanced but initially the reaction to the video was like the very negative one that Calvera in "The Magnificent Seven" got when he described being chased by the whole American army for robbing a bank in Texas. He realised that in Texas only Texans can rob banks .

Anyway your video proves that D400 can be pushed to at least 800 with almost no ill effect and in those light conditions and for most of your subjects 3200 gave only a slightly poorer result

Thanks

pentaxuser

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Andrew, great video. I had decided my conclusions before the end of the video and when you stated yours, mine were exactly the same.

Quite some time ago I watched a video by someone who had no known pedigree, nor was he known by anyone on Photrio and what he did was to shoot D400 at 3200 and compare the former with the Iatter then posted his video on Photrio. He used Microphen. His D400 pushed to 3200 looked pretty good as well. So in the hope of producing a balanced discussion on it, I posted his video in March of last year

I have just re-read it and whereas your video has not has any negative responses I cannot say the same for the one I posted, especially at the start of the thread. However as I said the video maker was not known and thus by definition not respected here unlike yourself

Still I tried to ask questions and eventually the discussion became more balanced but initially the reaction to the video was like the very negative one that Calvera in "The Magnificent Seven" got when he described being chased by the whole American army for robbing a bank in Texas. He realised that in Texas only Texans can rob banks .

Anyway your video proves that D400 can be pushed to at least 800 with almost no ill effect and in those light conditions and for most of your subjects 3200 gave only a slightly poorer result

Thanks

pentaxuser

Thanks for your input, pentaxuser. I always appreciate what you have to say. I have to boxes of Microphen sitting in my darkroom. I'll develop some Delta 400 in it as well as Xtol-R and compare.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Well one can always branch out ...