| Ilford Delta 100 (100 ISO) | FX-39 II |
| Format: | 120 |
| Exposed at: | 100 ISO |
| Developer dilution: | 1+19 |
| Development time: | 15 minutes |
| Temperature: | 20°C |
| Agitation: | 8 inversions initially, then 4 inversions every minute |
Subtle grain that barely shows
I underexposed the film by about one and a half stops, yet the results remain very good. This also helped preserve detail in the sky.
The tonal rendering is soft. The sense of sharpness is not always present, but the developer is not to blame here — the issue comes from motion blur.
It is worth noting that a high-acutance developer such as FX-39 II tends to make motion blur more visible.
The grain is practically unnoticeable.
More satisfying tonal rendering
The 1+19 dilution worked as expected: details are preserved in both bright and shadowed areas.
However, unlike Delta 400 — where I regretted the lack of separation in the midtones — tonal rendering is much more satisfying here.
The negatives are also fairly easy to edit and print from.
Towpath. Orléans. April 2025. © Rayhan RAHIM KHAN
An excellent developer choice
FX-39 II once again confirms its affinity for films rated below 200 ISO.
Grain remains well controlled, while details in both highlights and shadows are preserved.
The sense of acutance is also clearly present.
However, care must be taken to avoid motion blur, as this type of developer tends to emphasize it.
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