Ilford Delta 400 - overexposure question

[Pál_K]

How well does Delta 400 handle mild overexposure - such as making exposures as if it were ISO 250? What about ISO 125?

My question is in the context of a lab developing the film "straight" - that is, not reducing development time, but using a machine such as a Fuji Frontier for making prints from the resulting denser negatives.

I'm thinking the photos would be acceptable, but with less contrast. I think shadow detail would be very good, but highlights would have little to no detail.

What say you?

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Modern B&W films like Delta don't have much of a shoulder in their characteristic curve, so modest overexposure will not destroy highlight detail. ISO-250 is only 2/3 stop over, assuming the lab uses a developer that delivers box speed. 125 is more overexposure than I'd give any film; you'll get better results using a 100 or 125 speed film if you need to use exposures in that range.

 

[x-ray]

This is an example of exposing Delta 400 at 100 and pulling development 20%. Processed in HC110.

The contrast was extreme in this situation but brought under control by over exposing and pull processing.

Over exposing 2 stops and giving normal processing will make one sense neg that’ll be difficult to print and make look good.