Hi. I'd like to try some of the faster films for available light work, but I'd rather pull a film than push it. So that leaves me Delta 3200 and T-Max. I want to shoot at ISO 1000 (to start), so I am curious for answers to the following questions: 1) which of these films pulls "better" as far as grain size, "prettiness", and as far as tonal range is concerned? 2) I develop my own B+w's, so I'd like any info on developers and times at these ratings. I generally use Ilford HC, but will use whatever developer will give me the best results for these emulsions/ISO's. Thanks. Shawn

-- shawn gibson (shawn.gibson@utoronto.ca), April 15, 1999

Answers

I haven't tried Delta 3200, but here's what I know: TMZ is really an 800-1000 speed film, so EI 1000 would not be a push. I think Xtol has one of the best speed/grain ratios of the popular developers. Microphen can increase real speed about 2/3 stop without a contrast increase, with most fast films. I use TMY @ EI 800 with Microphen, with better grain and sharpness than TMZ @ EI 800 in Xtol. TMZ in Microphen @ EI 1600 looks pretty good.

-- Tim Brown (brownt@ase.com), April 15, 1999.

Hi Tim. Thanks. Can I ask you what times and reductions you use for TMY at 800ISO--just for a startin point to my own experiments? Thanks again. Shawn

-- shawn gibson (shawn.gibson@utoronto.ca), April 16, 1999.

1000-1200 ASA is right for TMZ in my view also. I think I like FUJI Neopan 1600 pulled to 1000 in HC110 (1:40, 6.5') better for standard work, nice grain, nice tonal scale, no surprises. I prefer TMZ for experimental work, e.g. in bright sunlight with filters and with deliberately chosen graininess.

-- Lot (lotw@wxs.nl), April 16, 1999.

See the thread on wedding work by the way.

-- Lot (lotw@wxs.nl), April 16, 1999.

You might try a search in this forum for comments on these two films. I rate themn both at ISO 800, dev then both in T-Max developer, 24 deg C, 1+4, 9.5 min. I prefer the granularity and tonality of Delta 3200.

-- Alan Gibson (Alan.Gibson@technologist.com), April 17, 1999.

I shoot a lot of city street stuff at night and go with TMAX 3200 rated at 1600, as do two other guys I know shooting the same style of stuff. IMHO that seems to be the best compromise of film speed and image quality. Most exposures ( city streetlights and sidewalks ilumianted by stores) seem to fall right at 1/15th at f 2, maybe 1/30th if lucky. I would hate to lose that 2/3'rds - 1 full stop by shooting at ISO 800-1000. That little bit of film speed is a BIG deal when you are hanging on the edge of "handheld". I like 1/30th, 1/15th is ok in a pinch, but 1/8th scares me.

-- Peter Thoshinsky (camerabug1@msn.com), April 18, 1999.

Peter: my statement 'I rate themn both at ISO 800' had a precise meaning, even if I can't type properly. It means that I have measured them both to be ISO 800. I wouldn't quibble about a third of a stop; I may be inaccurate, they may really be ISO 1000. But they are certainly not ISO 1600.

If you get good results by underexposing (eg by rating the film at EI 1600) and possibly overdeveloping, of course that is fine.

-- Alan Gibson (Alan.Gibson@technologist.com), April 20, 1999.

Shawn, sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. For TMY at EI 800 I develop in Microphen diluted 1+2 for 10 min. at 75 Deg. F. This works for 120 and 35mm film.

-- Tim Brown (brownt@ase.com), April 22, 1999.

I shoot Delta 3200 at EI 800 and develop in PMK for 15 min at 70 deg. F.

-- Ed Buffaloe (edbuffaloe@earthlink.net), April 22, 1999.