Thoughts on pushing Delta 400?

[Hamish Gill]

I went into town today to get some delta 3200 for the blad for some indoors shooting tomorrow ... No where had any
So...
I'm thinking of using delta 400 and pushing it to 1600 or 3200
I've had a look online about the place and people seem to say that ilford DDX is the way to go
I'm quite happy to find that it is a liquid as I'm a little nervous with these powders still

It seems I'm likely to get a large increase in contrast, which I have to say sort I appeals to me!
But am I likely to get vast grain at 3200, should I stick to 1600? Or just throw caution to te wind?

 

[Pete Askew]

I often go to 1600 with Delta 400 and have shot at 3200. Contrast and grain do not increase as much as HP5 though (which is my preferred film to push as I like the effect). I haven't tried using DDX with it though and have only done extended development in ID11. I would probably only go 2 stops though if you can get away with it.

 

[Hamish Gill]

I think 3 stops might be for the best, I'll have a play before I commit though
How do i know what sort of timings to go to?

 

[Pete Askew]

There is usually some guidance on the datasheet for the developer and Ilford also have some more general technical guides.

ILFORD PHOTO - Push Processing

Their push processing fact sheet covers Delta 400 +3N with a range of developers.

 

[Brian Moore]

Hamish,...for developing times I refer to "The Massive Developing Chart." It doesn't always have what I want, but it's my first stop. Here's a link to answer your particular question, though. As you'll see they provide a dev time for 400 pushed to 3200.

Digitaltruth Photo - The Massive Dev Chart B&W Film Development Database

 

[Hamish Gill]

That massive dev chart has an iphone app
It has a timer, gives you quantities for dilutions ... Genius!
Good link linked that Brain

Pete, I never knew all that stuff about HP5!

It does seem DDX is the way to go... That's on my list for as soon as SDS re-opens!

Merry Christmas

 

[Peter McCullough]

Do Kodak still produce T-Max 3200 asa film I wonder?

When I shot with Nikon FM2n I used to shot mainly with T-Max 3200, then push it to 6,400 asa. The developing time (by hand) from memory was 18mins 30 secs, but it produced lovely grainy photo's, quite like crude/rough pencil drawings, loved it so much!!


It was my all time favourite film.

 

[Pete Askew]

They certainly do .

KODAK PROFESSIONAL T-MAX P3200 Film

Silverprint - Store - Browse Products -

 

[Hamish Gill]

I went into jessops the other day asked to look in thier box of films ...
Found some OOD films inc some t-max ... As I was buying some in date film she gave me all the OOd stuff ... 5 rolls, roll of tmax, roll of kodak c41 b&w and 2 ilford delta 3200's and 1 panf ...
The date on the pan f is 12/11

 

[Hamish Gill]

the results
http://www.realphotographersforum.c...ander-down-river-delta-400-pushed-3200-a.html

and of pushing hp5
http://www.realphotographersforum.com/people-portraits/3642-day-life-connie-hp5-pushed-3200-a.html

 

[Hamish Gill]

For my next trick i shall be pushing delta 3200iso to 25,000iso using ddx

 

[Pete Askew]

Well it will definitely be black and white. Whether there will be anything in between though...

Looking forward to it. You'll get a sore wrist from all that agitation though!!

 

[Hamish Gill]

Ive seen a few shots out there in internet land that actually look quite special ...
All seem to say ddx is the way to go ... since i have some i think it is worth the experiment ... even if i do just get a black and white with not much between photo

lot of practice keeps the writes well exercised ...

I can ... do we need the silly jokes from dan and kev?
probably not... but i imagine they are coming none the less ...

 

[Pete Askew]

It's the recommended developer for Delta 3200 and I too have seen some impressive stuff from this emulsion. Only used it a couple of times myself and not pushed hard (+1 I think).

Silly jokes from Dan and Kev. Surely not. But it would be a shame to lose your eyesight after only just getting a Hasselblad!!

 

[Hamish Gill]

I used to shoot delta loads ... but before this place i was less good at learning and used to dev in ilfosol ... VERY GRAINY results!
not unpleasant, but not really that great in real terms ...