Ilford Delta 3200 - DD-X

[mw_uio]

I shot a roll of Delta 3200 @ 1600, I have bought a liter of Ilfotec DD-X, what do you recommend for developing times? Ilford recommends 1:4 dilution for 8 minutes, @ 68F. What will happen if I extend the developing times....or reduce developing times?

Thank you,
Mark

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Increasing developing time will increase contrast, reducing it will lower contrast, but with a film like Delta 3200 it was also reduce shadow detail. Try Ilford's times to begin with. I use Kodak Tmax Developer for Delta 3200 and have found Ilford's times are perfect.

 

[Rob-F]

I can't recall trying D-DX with Delta 3200, but I use it a lot with Tri-X. I wouldn't increase the developing time because you are liable to block the highlights. ISO 1600 is only a 1/3 stop push for Delta 3200, and D-DX is potent stuff. My bottle of D-DX shows 8 minutes at 20 degrees C for ISO 1600. I wouldn't go over that for a starting point. You can always bump up the contrast during printing if needed, but it's much harder to get rid of too much contrast! let us know how you are doing with it.

 

[back alley]

try delta at 1000 and follow ilfords directions.

 

[mw_uio]

Thank you Chris and Rob. I plan to develop this Sunday, as I have another roll of Delta 3200 to shoot tomorrow.....I will follow Ilford's time of 8 minutes. I have downloaded the digital truth massive development app, which I have used before and I find it very helpful to keep in sync when to agitate.....

Mark.

 

[mw_uio]

Hi Backalley, shoot @ 1000 and develop for 8 minutes?

 

[back alley]

Hi Backalley, shoot @ 1000 and develop for 8 minutes?

it's been a long time since i developed film...but i shot it at 1000 (which is it's true speed) and followed the directions.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Dear Mark,

The true ISO of Delta 3200 in DD-X is about 1250 but because it's a very long-toe film, designed for pushing, if you expose and develop for this speed you will usually get quite flat-looking negatives.

Exposing at 1600 and following the Ilford recommendations or giving a little longer delivers the very best quality from this superb film. Generally, I develop for a bit longer than the Ilford times: half-way between the time recommended for the speed I used, and a stop faster.

Source: long discussions with Ilford, and using Delta 3200 since just before it was released (Frances and I were among those who tested it before its release) to this day.

Cheers,

R.

 

[lawrence]

I can't recall trying D-DX with Delta 3200, but I use it a lot with Tri-X. I wouldn't increase the developing time because you are liable to block the highlights.

D3200 is very different to Tri-X and in my experience it's virtually impossible to block the highlights. Personally I prefer Tri-X pushed to 1600 in stock D76 but that's another story 😉