What would be the recomended developers for 35 mm Tri-X, HP 5 and Delta 400, all shot at 1600. I would also like to keep contrast down as much as possible (no Microphen?)...

Best regards,

-- Boris BRECELJ (boris@brecelj-op.si), April 14, 2002

Answers

I've had good results with straight D23 @ 1600 with Tri X and HP 5, but I've never used Delta.

-- Robert Marvin (marvbej@earthlink.net), April 14, 2002.

Why no Microphen? Microphen is a normal or slightly low contrast developer. I'd suggest Microphen at 24C or 25C. Never tried it with Tri-X or Delta 400 but works well with HP5 Plus.

-- Ryuji Suzuki (rsuzuki@rs.cncdsl.com), April 14, 2002.

Had good results with Microphen and Delta. Higher dilutions perhaps - to get a little compensating effect.

Also, Xtol is very good.

-- Ed Hurst (BullMoo@hotmail.com), April 15, 2002.

TX @ EI 1600 in Diafine is one of my favorites. Diafine is a 2-bath compensating developer, so contrast is held in check. Negatives are easy to print - look great on Seagull G 3.

-- John (johnfleetwood@hotmail.com), April 15, 2002.

Microphen & contrast? Contrast is controlled with any developer, except Diafine and the like, by time, agitation and temperature. Microphen would be a good choice (what I use). DD-X is a liquid version of Microphen. Acufine is another posibility. Tmax developer too.

-- Tim Brown (brownt@flash.net), April 15, 2002.

Anytime you are 'pushing' a film, you are going to increase the contrast. However, this also does give you an apparent increase in the film speed. MICROPHEN gives a true boost of film speed without the contrast increase (although it is only about 1/3 stop), which makes it ideal for push processing (you will still get some contrast increase). Other developers which will work well for developing these films include ILFOTEC DD-X, T-Max, Xtol, and Accufine. For the ILFORD films, you can find development times for all of these developers in the fact sheets on the web site at: http://www.ilford.com/html/us_english/bw.html

David Carper ILFORD Technical Service

-- David Carper (david.carper@ilford.com), April 16, 2002.

I have not tried any of these films at EI 1600. So can't contribute from experience, but I might point out:

1. Anchell & Troop rate D-76 to be one of the best push developers;

2. Kodak T-Max is specifically intended as a push developer.

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), April 16, 2002.

Try Tetenal's Emofin. I get Ilford Delta 400 up to a true 640. So 1600 isnt as much of a push. Plus it keeps the highlights from blowing out too much.

-- Russell Brooks (russell@ebrooks.org), April 17, 2002.

for Tri-X @ 1600, diafine...definitely diafine...very easy to develop...

-- Dexter Legaspi (dalegaspi@hotmail.com), April 25, 2002.