I am going to put my head on the block now, and ask a question that is bound to attract the quite understandable "it's up to you" answers... However, some advice would be great!(posted 8126 days ago)My main photographic application is steam locomotives in action. Given that I live in the UK, this often means photting in low light. Since the subject is a moving one, and I need to work at depth of field (I use 6x7 format), this means using a fast emulsion. I am firmly wedded to ISO 400. In fact, I uprate fairly often to 800, and sometimes to 1600.
I am trying to get the right combination of film and developer. I have tried Ilford New Delta 400, and Kodak Tmax 400. (I would rather avoid the older films, as I am addicted to the fine grain of modern films) I have tried Ilfotec DDX, Ilfotec HC, Tmax Developer and ID-11. I've also thought about Xtol, but have not yet braved it.
Essentially, the characteristics I need at 400 are a good mixture of acutance and fine grain, good shadow detail and plenty of latitude to retain detail in highlights and shadow (imagine black engines, and white steam in a white sky!). At 800 and 1600, shadow detail is important, as is retaining sharpness. It's also important that contrast does not go up too much when pushing. I know grain is bound to go up, but keeping it manageable without sacrificing too much acutance is important.
I have tended to find Delta 400 rather soft, whilst Tmax is punchy. However, Delta seems to have more latitude - detail being retained in highlights and shadows.
I've not found a combination that I'm wholly happy with yet.
Any advice? What film-dev combinations would you recommend for 400 and/or 800-1600. If the answer is different for 400 and pushing, that's fine! Any handy developing tips to get the characteristics I'm looking for would be great.