T MAX 100 VS DELTA 100

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I am interested in the results of anyone who has compared these 2 films.

I am told that both are very good but that processing T Max may be more critical?

Thanks

-- Wes Martinson (wesmartinson@usa.net), August 17, 1999

Answers

Have not used TMAX, just Delta 100 in 120 size. I'd used Pan F 50 and was ?falsely? told Ilford wasn't making that any more, but that D100 was 'just as good," which at first I didn't believe. But I've tried it and like it: it responds very well to + development in D-76 1:1 ... but I wonder if it would be even better in a TMAX or comparable developer?

Also, I'd like to know if anyone has used Agfa 25 or other ultra-fine grain BW films. ??? Any reviews of these?

Thanks,

-- Joe Sonneman, photographer (senator@ptialaska.net), August 17, 1999.


Not only is processing critical for TMax film but so is exposure . This can be a very difficult film to handle . Delta film is much more forgiving with exposure and processing errors and has a excellent tonal range . For more sharpness try Delta in Agfa Rodinal .

-- M. DuChesne (duchesnem@aol.com.), August 18, 1999.

They are both excellent films. I expose them both at IE 64 for development in PMK. The Ilford product is cheaper, so I use it more often.

-- Ed Buffaloe (edbuffaloe@unblinkingeye.com), August 18, 1999.

I was never able to nail down the contrast on T-Max 100 and finally gave up on it. I did okay with TM400, but found the pink cast annoying, plus it exhausted my fixer rapidly. The T-Max films are just not user-friendly; the Ilford films are a delight to use and are certainly every bit as good. Why make life harder for no purpose?

-- Dave Jenkins (djphoto@vol.com), August 19, 1999.

i think the tabular ilford films hold better detail, and have better tonal values than T-Max films. In addition, the T-Max films were designed to have a thicker emulsion, hence more grain clusters. Need i say anything more... Sean

-- Sean (ZBeeblebrox42@yahoo.com), August 19, 1999.


Tmax 100 is more responsive to development time changes, so you have to be more careful to be consistant. I've developed Delta and Tmax (mainly 120 size)in Xtol and I find the Tmax 100 grain finer. Also, I do alot of copying of line drawings. It's easy to reduce exposure a little and increase exposure time and get crisp, contrasty negs for this kind of work. Delta is a good film but I give Tmax the edge.

-- Tim Brown (brownt@ase.com), August 19, 1999.

The paper manufactuers optimize their own papers to work best with their own films. Iford with Ilford, Kodak with Kodak. That can and will account for differences. So think about combinations within the same brands.

To be honest of all the things that go into making a good photograph, the choice which type/brand of film to use within the same speed category, probably ranks dead last. There are probably 100 things that have a greater impact on the final image than the film brand.

-- Peter Thoshinsky (camerabug1@msn.com), September 01, 1999.


I've tried both films in 35mm and in 120. I now use T-MAX only when I've run out of regular golf tees! Ilford's films are far more forgiving. The BIG YELLOW film handles just like slide film- narrow latitude and absolutely precise darkroom technique. Why bother? Also, Delta 100 has far better shadow detail.

-- John Coates (bronco@ncinternet.net), September 08, 1999.

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