Students and friends inevitably ask a number of general questions regarding film and developer combinations. The following are my answers to these questions. Keep in mind that these are very subjective responses based upon years of testing and working with these products. Other photographers may have different preferences that are appropriate for their work.
Q: What film/developer combination gives the finest grain with good shadow detail and the best overall contrast?
A: Kodak T-Max 100 in HC-110 (B).
Q: What film/developer combination gives the fastest speed with the least grain?
A: Ilford Delta 400 in XTOL
Q: Which developers give the finest grain with good shadow detail and the best overall contrast with the films you have tested?
A: See chart below.
FILM RECOMMENDED DEVELOPER
Kodak P3200 Ilfotech 1:31 from concentrate @ 68 degrees
Delta 3200 HC-110 (B)
Kodak 400TX Ilfotech 1:31 from concentrate @ 68 degrees
Kodak 400Tmax Edwal FG-7 with sodium sulfite
Ilford Delta 400 XTol 1:1
Ilford HP-5 + Edwal FG-7 with sodium sulfite
Kodak 125PX XTol 1:1
Kodak T-Max 100 HC-110 (B)
Ilford FP-4+ Edwal FG-7 with sodium sulfite
Ilford Delta 100 Edwal FG-7 with sodium sulfite
Ilford Pan-F + XTol 1:1
Kodak T-Max Developer
