Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/08/15
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]In digest #243, Martin Howard wrote: >I would like to hear if anyone has experience >of Ilford films (such as FP4+, HP5+, Delta 100 & 400) and X-Tol >developer, and what that experience is. Martin, I've been using Ilford's Delta 100 in both 35mm and mf for quite some = time and find it to be a truly astonishing film; BEAUTIFUL tonal range, = high sharpness, and (in 35mm) grainless prints to 8x12! It would = probably go larger, but 8x12 is about as big as I print (35mm). I = develop all Ilford films (BTW, I love 'em all!) in ID-11 at 1:1. I ran = sensitometric tests (this ought to get some email flying!) on the Delta = 100 through Darkroom Innovations (here in the USA) and determined that = ISO 64 would be a good exposure index and about 8:45 to 9 mins in ID-11 = @ 1:1 provided proper development...I think Ilford recommends something = like 10-11 mins! Waaay to long for the beautiful contrasty = characteristics of Leica M lenses-IMHO!! I'm sure Xtol would give = similar results...start with Father Yellow's recommendations and adjust. Hope this helps. By the way, I used to be a dyed-in-the-wool Tri-X = user, but those velvety tones from Delta 100 coaxed me away. Still use = Tri-X for large format though...does anyone still use LF? Now...for = really smooth tonal gradations, etc. lets talk 8x10 contact, but that's = waaaay off topic! Good luck. Best, AH =00