This weekend I shot some indoor stuff on TMZ 3200 and Delta 3200 at EI 3200 before running out of film. All I had around was HP5+ so I shot it at EI 1600, not really expecting much from it.(posted 8727 days ago)I developed everything in Microphen (1:1) and I was surprised to find that there really wasn't much difference in shadow detail - basically not of them had much. However the midtones/highlights were similar and the HP5+ had significantly lower grain - although it was rated one stop slower of course.
I'm going to have to do some tests for a more accurate comparision, but I'd be interested in the opinions of others on HP5+ pushed 2 or 3 stops in Microphen vs "real" (i.e. "designed to be pushed")high speed films like TMZ 3200 and Delta 3200. At what point have others found it worth switching to the higher speed, more grainy emulsions?
In my only tests so far, I'd rate HP5+ as a true 400 speed film in Microphen, Delta 3200 as maybe a 1000 speed film - based on zone I exposure giving 0.1 above b+f. I've never really compared them shot at EI 1600 or 3200.