Delta 100 4X5 first time....

[John Conway]

Picked up a box of Ilford Delta 100 4x5 film from K&M down on broadway in Manhattan today.It's been a while since the last time I stopped in. Man, I couldn't believe how they cut down on the film stock. Not many choices. But hey, they had Delta, so I figured I'd give it a try. Any advice on this film will be appreciated. I am going to do some portraiture, both natural light and floods, and I will use it for a special project photographing a barn that a good friend spent two years restoring. I want to make him a very special picture of his barn, with dark skies and puffy clouds. I will use my 121 super angulon because I know there will be a need for considerable front rise. I'm looking for snappy contrast with this film.

[John Conway]

I have not opened a box of Ilford in a while. I assume they still package it the same, two boxes with the plastic wrapping?

[Brian Ellis]

I've never used Delta 100 but Don Kirby recently sent an email message to his former workshop participants and others that might be helpful to you. He said that his wife has used it for years with good results and that he recently tried some with seemingly good results. He rated it at 100, placed the darkest important shadows on Zone IV, and processed it in a JOBO tank with Xtol 1:2 for the same times as he processes TMax 100.

[Drew Wiley]

I've always found Ilford's speed rating to be rather optimisitic. I'd probably start at ASA
50 and go from there. Depends on the specific developer of course. Delta has quite a
toe on it, so you need plenty of exposure if you're going to get good shadow separation. I certainly wouldn't call it a snappy film as far as deep shadows are converned, though the upswept curve gives nice separation of the highlights and upper midtones.

[Greg Blank]

Film speed depends on developer. Which do you wish to process with? I have used Delta 100 for more than fifteen years.

[Eric Biggerstaff]

Delta 100 is my primary film, I rate it at 100ASA and develop it in Rodinal 1+50 in a Jobo. Film speed is dependent on developer, developing method and your meter so testing is a good idea. It is a very nice film with creamy whites, it takes a bit to get used too but I find it works well for most of what I like to photograph.

[John Conway]

It is nice to hear so much positive response about Delta film. I also like the fact that the positive feedback comes from people who have used the film for a long time.Creamy whites also sounds nice. As far as developers, it will be D76 or Rodinal, for now.

[Lenny Eiger]

It is nice to hear so much positive response about Delta film. I also like the fact that the positive feedback comes from people who have used the film for a long time.Creamy whites also sounds nice. As far as developers, it will be D76 or Rodinal, for now.

It depends on what you are doing with it, of course. I love my Delta! I think its great film.

I soup it in Xtol 1:1 in a Jobo. I also think that Pyro is also excellent. Personally I don't think that Rodinal or D-76 are excellent. Rodinal is a special use type developer, which will articulate the grain. If that is what you like, then its perfect. D-76 is just an old basic developer, with too much solvent action against the more modern Xtol. Same with HC-110.

I'd go with Xtol or Pyro....

Lenny

[Drew Wiley]

Pyro does give wonderful highlight control with Delta - a very nice combination for high key subjects.

[John Conway]

Thanks for the tips on developers. I need all the advice I can get on the darkroom issue.