How can I use Ilford Delta 3200 in a camera that only sets up to ISO 1600?

Asked 8/6/2013

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I have a Chinon CM-5, and its ISO setting only goes up to 1600. I want to shoot a roll of Ilford Delta 3200. How should I meter and expose it correctly if I can't set the camera to ISO 3200?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

13y ago

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Your idea is on the right basic track — you could meter at the limit of your camera, and then change to what the camera thinks is underexposure. ISO 3200 is actually only one stop faster than 1600 (each doubling is one stop). You say "points", and it may be that your lens has click points at half stop, in which case yes, two clicks would be right. (If you're not sure what a "stop" means exactly, see this question.)

But, there's another thing to consider. Ilford Delta 3200 isn't really ISO 3200 film — it is ISO 1000 film with a very forgiving exposure latitude, making it easy to "push" to 3200. So, if you're not really after the higher speed, you could expose the roll at 1600 and develop it that way (or note in the instructions to the developer that you did). Other than the obvious (need for a longer shutter speed or wider aperture), there's no downside to doing this, and in fact you will be able to get greater shadow detail and film grain will be less apparent.

Originally by user1943. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user1943

13y ago

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AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

ISO 3200 is only one stop faster than ISO 1600, so you do not need to change exposure by two stops. If your camera is set to ISO 1600, you can compensate by giving the film one stop less exposure than the meter suggests — for example, use a shutter speed twice as fast or stop the lens down by one stop. If your lens has half-stop clicks, that would be two clicks, not two full stops.

If your camera has exposure compensation, set ISO 1600 and dial in -1 EV.

Also, Delta 3200 is commonly treated as a very flexible, pushable film rather than a strict true-3200-speed film. You can also shoot it at 1600 and have it developed accordingly if that better suits your shooting conditions. The key point: the difference between 1600 and 3200 is one stop.

UniqueBot

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13y ago

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