Re: [Leica] Re: Delta 400 New

["Mark Pope" <mark.teampope@ntlworld.com>]

I didn't get on very well with Delta 400 in DiXactol (single bath).  I don't
know why but I just couldn't get a print that I was happy with and the grain
wasn't to my liking. I've gone back to HP5 plus in the same developer, or
Perceptol. OTH, Delta 100 in DixActol works very well indeed.

Please let me know how you get on and if you are successful, what the secret
is!

Regards

Mark Pope
Swindon, Wilts
UK

http://www.monomagic.co.uk
- ----- Original Message -----
From: "henry" <henry@henryambrose.com>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: 03 May 2001 19:15
Subject: Re: [Leica] Re: Delta 400 New


> >Has anyone a suggestion for processing the NEW Delta 400 in XTOL on a
roller?
> >
> >I shoot at 400 and use a valoy (condensor) enlarger. Thanks, Bill Lawlor
> >
> Hey Bill,
>
> You might be in for some work here.
>
> I've been playing with the new Delta 400 and DDX. I find that its really
> easy to get run-away print highlights.
>
> PhotoTechniques ran an article about this film that says it resists
> higlight blocking, but I have film to prove otherwise.
>
> I've run some in my Jobo and it was bad! But only one run so thats not
> authoritative by any means. The best results I've had have been using
> inversion with very gentle agitation and to cut the suggested times by
> about 15% AND letting the film stand (no agitation)  the last 3 minutes
> of an 8 min total time.
>
> I am about to run some in Diafine and DiXactol, both 2 bath developers. I
> hope to find that one of these developers will help compensate for what I
> think is a tendency of this film to run away in the highlights.
>
> In less contrasty conditions it is an amazingly fine grained, broad range
> film with a real speed of about 500 by my earlier tests. It may have to
> get slowed down though - we'll see. I've shot a bit in 120 also and its
> better there, but probably because I have not asked it to perform
> miracles like I do in 35mm.
>
> So far, I have not gotten the results from Delta 400 that I have with
> Delta100 and DDX, which is lovely. For some reason I think there should
> be a common thread to these films but I have not found it yet. Delta 400
> does scan extremely well so I'm going to keep working on it until I get
> what I'm looking for or give up and go to Agfa 400 which is pretty film
> if not so fine grained.
>
> Please let us hear your results.
>
> Henry