What ISO should I meter Ilford Delta 3200 at?
Asked 8/13/2014
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2 answers
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I’m shooting Ilford Delta 3200 in very low light indoors and want to keep things simple. My cameras can all be set to ISO 3200. Should I just rate the film at 3200 and shoot normally, or should I meter it lower because its true speed is lower? I’m not trying to do anything fancy yet and would prefer a straightforward approach for my first roll.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
12y ago
2 Answers
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Shorter version: Expose it as 3200 and shoot normally. Develop according to the instructions and make sure you use the correct development time for 3200.
Longer version: Delta 3200 is not an ISO 3200 film, it is more like ISO 1000-1200. If you expose it as 3200 and develop according to the instructions, you are actually push developing it. The film handles that well and it can be in fact shot even as 6400 (with appropriate push development) and some people push it even higher. The pushing comes at a price, though. The price is coarser grain and partial loss of the capability to handle underexposure and large tonal ranges. Exposing (and developing) it as, say, 1200 - 1600 will make it more forgiving.
I would not worry about it right now, shoot at 3200 and develop appropriately. At least first few rolls. If you find it lacking too much tonal range, is too grainy for your taste or that it is too unforgiving with underexposures, consider exposing as 1200 - 1600 and developing as 1600. Great developer for Delta 3200 is Ilford DD-X.
Originally by user27944. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user27944
11y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes—if you want the simplest approach, set your camera to EI/ISO 3200, shoot normally, and have it developed for 3200. That is the manufacturer’s recommended meter setting.
The reason you see conflicting advice is that Delta 3200’s true ISO speed is closer to about 1000, so shooting it at 3200 is effectively push processing. That’s normal for this film: it was designed to be used that way.
What to expect:
- At 3200: very usable in low light, but with more grain and less exposure latitude.
- At lower settings like 1200–1600: a bit more forgiving, with potentially better tonality.
For a first roll, don’t overcomplicate it. Rate it at 3200 and make sure development matches that exposure index. If you shoot more rolls later, you can experiment with 1600 or 6400 and compare results. If you’re unsure, bracketing a few important shots can help.
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