I'm testing new Delta 400 in 120 and am processing in Ilfotec DD-X devo. Intentions are to produce studio portraits (lightboxes, umbrellas) and on-location portraits (natural light, fill-flash, panal fill, etc.). So far the test results are thin negs, flat prints. Best result so far is 200 e.i., 9.5 minutes @ 68' Best possible 8x8 print from that thin neg was achieved by: f22, 5 seconds, 3 filter, 90 second devol[ment in 65' Dektol. It looked medicore. Have used Delta 100 with DD-X developer with great customer appreciation, but I need some more ASA for various reasons. I rate Delta 100 at 50 e.i. in studio and process in DD-X for 12 minutes at 68' Prints with #2 filter very nicely. Am using Ilford Muligrade paper.Any suggestions on where to go next with Delta 400/DD-X tests would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

-- lee ball (ballphoto@aol.com), August 30, 2001

Answers

If your negs are thin and flat, if there's sufficient shadow detail but they're lacking in contrast, just develop the film about 20% or so longer.

-- John Hicks (jbh@magicnet.net), August 31, 2001.

I use DD-X at 1:9 for 10mins 30sec @ 20C. Negs aren't thin as you describe and print G1-2 on condensor enlarger (Durst M601)

couple of left-field suggestions, developer's off (was it new), your agitation (I said left-field!) or metering are suspect (maybe made a blunder.. have you done this more than once?)

-- Nigel Smith (nlandgl@unite.com.au), September 02, 2001.

Thanks for the tips. Am planning to another test at 12min development, a bit more then 20% of previous test. This is only going to be the third roll of new D400 I've worked with. The developer is new, I've done some D100 with it and results are consistant. Metering question: The exposures were bracketed, 320 e.i. to 200 e.i. Nigel, out of curiosity, what paper do you print on and with what print developer? I use Ilford multigrade deluxe, pearl finish in Dektol 1:2 at 65' to 68' for 1.5 minutes. Will post test results as soon as I get time to do it. Thanks again.

-- lee ball (ballphoto@aol.com), September 02, 2001.

Lee, I generally use Agfa MC RC (Semi-Matt) and Ilford Multigrade developer. I have used Dektol (1:1) and at the time I couldn't see any difference between them (just general opinion, no side by side testing was done). Dektol did however seem to give me a sinus (nose) iratation, so I went back to the Ilford. For length of time in the developer, many work on the 4-6 times the apperance time. i.e. if the print appears in the developer after 30secs, you'd leave it in the developer for 2-3 minutes. I can't remember what time I used for Dektol, but with the Ilford I follow the bottle suggestions which is 1min (1:9 dilution). I haven't printed any New D400 on Ilford paper but the difference between the two wouldn't be huge, so I can't see that being your problem (plus I imagine you print your D100 negs using the same combination)

-- Nigel Smith (nlandgl@unite.com.au), September 03, 2001.