Developer for old Delta 400

[WJJ3]

I have some old Delta 400 I'm shooting through lately, and TMax developer doesn't seem to be a good developer for it. Does anyone have any suggestions for a developer that will give me decent shadow detail and finer grain in my expired Delta 400? Below are some examples of results I'm getting with standard times in TMax developer. I am not used to seeing this much grain in Delta 400, and shadows are more blocked up than they should be. Would appreciate any suggestions!

e-0083

e-0146

 

[Freakscene]

Always use HC-110 or equivalent for old or expired film. It has very strong developing agents and a lot of development restrainers. For film with high fog or lowered sensitivity, it is just the best available.

Not my website, but I am a fan:

Found Film – Page 1

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Delta 400 looks nice in Tmax Developer but you have to be careful not to agitate too vigorously or it becomes very grainy, like your examples. The lack of shadow detail is simply underexposure.

 

[skahde]

I had great results with HP5+ and HC-110 or its equivalents (Ilfotec HC, LC-29) but with old Delta 400 not so much, highlights get easily blocked with lower dilutions and there is little room for error, higher dilutions were a bit too high in grain for my taste. But I'm talking about real "old" but not expired Delta 400, when it was first released and before its revision so things may have changed. For your expired rolls I'd try undilute Microphen to recover the shaddows as much as possible and keep the grain at bay at the same time. I don't mind fog, as long as it doesn't chew on the shaddow-detail which it usually doesn't.

 

[WJJ3]

Thanks for your advice and comments guys. I had really nice results with Delta 400 in TMax several years ago, but not so much with this old expired Delta 400 in the current TMax B&H sells.

 

[Rob-F]

Thanks for your advice and comments guys. I had really nice results with Delta 400 in TMax several years ago, but not so much with this old expired Delta 400 in the current TMax B&H sells.

WJJ3, how old/expired is your Delta 400. What's the expiry date?

 

[Freakscene]

Thanks for your advice and comments guys. I had really nice results with Delta 400 in TMax several years ago, but not so much with this old expired Delta 400 in the current TMax B&H sells.

As @Chriscrawfordphoto noted, the empty shadows are from underexposure; film loses speed with time. Fog will also increase, and along with underexposure this increases grain. TMax developer has very high activity and few restrainers - if there is such a thing as a “fog maximising developer” it is TMax (well, actually the old TMax RS would have been better, but it doesn’t exist anymore).

Expose more, develop less, and use a less active developer. Old style HC-110 works best. I am not a giant fan of its tonality, but itis by far the best developer for expired film or film that was exposed a long time ago.