HP5+ pushed to 3200 dilemma

[jfserejo]

Last night I visit a friend and she asked me to take my camera and make some shots to her new born baby. With indoors available light only (mostly Tungsten and Fluorescent) and with the lens I had (Pre Ai Nikkor-S 50mm f1.4 that I wanted to use at f2.8 if possible) I had to rate HP5+ (the fastest film I had at the moment) at EI 3200 if I wanted to shoot at 1/60 speed.
Most shots where made this way. I even over exposed some shots ½ to 1 when the metering was getting mainly white cloths areas.

Now the dilemma starts – I once done some HP5+ at EI 1600 and developed with DD-X but the results where very discouraging. It could be the lens that I used that time, that had contribute to the bad results (I think that with the Nikkor 1.4 the results can be far better) but, even if part of the problem came from the lens, it couldn’t be all. I get blocked darks with lack of mid tones and a ugly grain that was not even close to what I saw in searches in internet samples…

In the massive dev chart, there is a time for HC-110 (dil. H) smi-stand development for HP5+ rated at EI 3200 and I am very tempted to try this combo.

What do you think!? Should I go for a second attempt with DD-X knowing that this time I have used a reasonable fast and sharp lens or, should I try this compensating smi-stand with HC-110? If some one could post a shot or two, I will be much appreciated.

Thanks. Regards,
Joao

 

[stuken]

If you do a search around I remember a thread of someone rating delta 100 at 2000 and getting very very acceptable results using a mix of xtol, and I think it was rodinal. I can't quite remember. You could probably do something similar.

Found it, he used a mixture of rodinal 1:100, and xtol 1:4. I have to say, that big of a push the results are very nice.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51483&highlight=delta+100

 

[minoltist7]

I used to push HP5+ to 3200 with Microphen, and I like the results.
Of course grain is huge, but for portraits or nude it's ok
here is my fav example:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=79995&ppuser=18148

 

[peterc]

Stock Microphen for 16 minutes is probably your best bet. Ilford doesn't recommend DD-X for HP5+ above 1600ISO.

 

[jfserejo]

Thanks all for the help. The samples you gave will help a lot.
The Robert thread and the results he get with that mix of x-tol and rodinal are really amazing! I've got X-Tol and Rodinal at home (although I never open or tried X-Tol yet) and probably will give it a shot...

 

[kaiyen]

Robert is kind of a master of the mixed developer methods. I have to give him that. (well, not that I don't give him many things, such as a great eye, use of DOF, composition...).

But Microphen gave me just fine results with HP5 at 3200. Blocked shadows, sure, but IMO HP5 blocks up at 800 so...

k

 

[jfserejo]

I did the 1st roll with HC-110 Dil. H Smi-Stand and the results are pleasing, even with the exagerated grain...

samples:

I leave the X-Tol / Rodinal mix experience for the 2nd...

 

[seph barretto]

I did the 1st roll with HC-110 Dil. H Smi-Stand and the results are pleasing, even with the exagerated grain...

samples:

I leave the X-Tol / Rodinal mix experience for the 2nd...

what film/developer/dillution/dev times/agitation did you use for the first one?

 

[jfserejo]

Hi Steph,

Both photos where done the same. I think that the diferent results is because the difrent lit that was falling under the subject.
I tried the combo pointed in Massive Dev Chart for HP5+ (EI3200) with HC-110 smi-stand.

Here is the link:
http://www.digitaltruth.com/devchart.html

See the notes for the agitation. I've done 2 inversion every 5 minutes.

Regards,
Joao

 

[minoltist7]

Nice results!
Try to print them - grain sometimes looks scary on the monitor, but good on prints