Delta 400 & XTOL

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Now that I have a good grip on Delta 3200...tks Ed, John, et al...I want to start improving my (rather dismal)220 format Delta 400 results...I've tried Xtol 1+2 (200ml Xtol + 400ml H2O)@ 13min @ 70 degrees but my results that are normally good for TriX or APX 400 are all over the place...a couple of years ago...before I tried Delta...I had the Ilford rep here in Vancouver tell me that the 400 negs look different, but I can't remember how...my negs look thin but tonal...they require a short exposure with a 4 filter on my VCCE head...I've never run into this problem so I don't know how to solve it...does anyone that uses dilute XTOL and Delta 400 .have an ISO/time/temp/agitation to share...how about very dilute Rodinal say 1+100 or 1+150...does anyone use that...do they loose film speed...again how about some suggestions...hope to nail this film as I have 25 rolls of the 220 that I can't do anything with...tks..jim

-- Jim W Vanson (primary_colors@hotmail.com), May 17, 2000

Answers

I wouldn't use Rodinal with Delta (or any other t-grain film). It doesn't seem to bring out the best in this film.

I haven't yet tried it, but PMK might be worth a shot. Failing this have you tried good old ID-11 / D-76 1:1 or 1:3?

Ilfotec-DDX might be worth consideration too. I've bought some but not tried it.

-- Jim MacKenzie (photojim@yahoo.com), May 18, 2000.


Jim, I develop Delta 400 (120, not 220) in Xtol 1:3 at 68 degrees for 16 minutes. The film is rated at an ISO of 320. Agitation consists of rapid inversion of the tank 5 times (about 5 seconds) every 30 seconds.

-- Joe Miller (jmmiller@poka.com), May 20, 2000.

I'm processing Delta 400 (35mm) in XTOL 1:1. EI 320, 8 1/2 min. Small SS Tank & reel agitation 5 sec every 30 sec.

-- Robert Orofino (rorofino@iopener.net), May 21, 2000.

OOPS! left out the temperature: 60 deg f.

-- Robert Orofino (rorofino@iopener.net), May 21, 2000.

My finger aren't working tonight that's 68 Deg F!!!!!!!

-- Robert Orofino (rorofino@iopener.net), May 21, 2000.


As mentioned previously I develop 35mm Delta 400 rated at ei320 in XTOL 1:1. I find the grain pleasing and the film well behaved. I have not used Plus X for many years and I do not have an opinion on the Delta 400 grain vs Plus X. I usually develop 2 rolls at a time in a 500ml SS Tank & reel.Kodak recomends a minimum of 100ml developer solution per 36 exp roll, that means I must use 200ml, because of this I have not used a dilution greater than 1:1. Before Delta 400 I was using Tri-X rated at ei250 and developed in Microdol X diluted 1:3.I find the Delta 400/XTOL 1:1 is much finer grained and sharper.

-- Robert Orofino (rorofino@iopener.net), May 29, 2000.

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