Which HC-110 dilution for Ilford Delta 400?

[p.giannakis]

Hi all,

Managed to get some Ilford Delta 400 cheap so I will be shooting them soon. I am a long term HC110 devotee so I am wondering which dilution to use. Ilford suggests B but has anyone tried any different? Please post pictures also if you have.

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

I recently did a roll in B and found nothing to be excited about. Not particularly sharp and a bit muddy in tone.

Whereas I find FX39 at 1:9 to make it sing!

 

[benlees]

I would use the dilution you are familiar with and base the time calculation roughly on Ilford's recommendation of dilution B. Do a test roll and see if anything needs to be tweaked.



I used dilution H with HP5+ for years but can't remember if I used any Delta films...

 

[charjohncarter]

I've only used Delta 100: HC-110h, EI 50, 10 minutes, 30 second initial agitation, then 3 inversions at 9 minutes and 4 minutes, 68 degrees F. I find HC-110's times to be linear so if you want to use dilution B then do 5 minutes development. First and only roll was a sucess:

Delta 100 expired HC-110h by John Carter, on Flickr

 

[jim_jm]

This one is Delta 400 in HC-110 Dil B for 7.5 mins, from a 6x4.5 negative. If developer temps had dictated dev times of 5 mins or shorter, I would have used Dil H to extend the time. I've been pretty happy with HC-110 for most films, occasionally using D76 or Rodinal in some situations.

[/IMG]

 

[p.giannakis]

Thanks everyone,


I shot a roll some time ago and developed it at 1:50 for 11 minutes but i wasn't happy with the results. Almost the whole roll cal out like this - quite muddy greys (and I have adjusted the highlights on GIMP on this one).

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

That's my experience too Pan - I had run out of FX39 so used HC110 and really regretted it.

This was using FX39. It is an exceptional developer for T grain.

 

[p.giannakis]

Thank you Charles, I will have to check it out, seems to be quite cheap developer to have. What dilution/time did you use?

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

1:9 for 10 minutes at 20 at box speed.

It's reasonable and very long lasting. Must get some more myself!

 

[p.giannakis]

It's reasonable and very long lasting. Must get some more myself!

I read that shelf life is about 3-4 weeks once opene.

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

That may be the case for the old FX39 but the FX39II that is now available is much better - I've not had problems with it open for 3-4 months, but once it looks like finely aged Rodinal it is past it.

 

[p.giannakis]

I see you can buy it in 100ml bottles, that's 3 films for 1:9 dilution. Should be able to use it before it goes bad.

 

[Dan Daniel]

When someone says that they used developer XX and it gives bad results so they went back to developer YY, almost always what this really means is that they didn't take the time to find the correct dilution and time to get the results that they want.

HC-110, 1:50 dilution, 11 minutes @ 20, agitate 1 min then 10 sec every minute, gives me results that work for me.

I'd post an image but this board is so antiquated that it won't take it and I'm not playing the old 'post somewhere then copy link to embed' game.

 

[John Bragg]

Delta 400 in HC-110 Dilution H 12mins @20°c. 15 seconds initial agitation then 2 inversions at 4 and again at 8 mins.

https://flic.kr/p/drDVmj

 

[John Bragg]

Delta 400 in HC-110 Dilution H 12mins @20°c. 15 seconds initial agitation then 2 inversions at 4 and again at 8 mins.


19300F by E.J. Bragg, on Flickr

 

[charjohncarter]

^^^^Hard to beat that.

 

[madNbad]

Looks like I found an answer..