Canon AE-1 with Ilford Delta 3200

Over the past couple of years, I had shot 2 rolls of ISO 3200 film. I have no particular interest shooting at this speed, but I had gotten a couple rolls of Kodak TMax P3200 from the Casual Photophile Film Club. Shortly before I left the film club, I had received a roll of Ilford Delta 3200 so I was compelled to try again.

I wasn’t all that happy with my results from the TMax 3200. Night pictures still came out dark and most of the pictures were unpleasantly grainy. I’ve seen other people’s photos with that film that didn’t have these issues, at least not at the same level as mine. User inexperience was certainly a factor.

I loaded the Ilford Delta 3200 into my always reliable Canon AE-1 hoping for better results.

With the exception of 1 indoor picture, I shot the roll outside during the day. I think I had approached the TMax with the idea that it would be particularly good at night. This time, I just used it as I would any other roll of film.

The pictures generally came out better. Some aren’t exposed correctly, but that’s my fault not the film’s.

One day, Holly and I went for a walk to Philadelphia’s City Hall to check out their Christmas decorations. I had brought along my Flexaret Automat VII, which I already posted about, as well as my Canon AE-1 using my Canon FD 28mm f/2.8 lens.

I took some pictures on the way to City Hall.

And then photos at and around City Hall.

The following picture isn’t all the great, but I’m glad it came out at all. There are walkways that cut through City Hall that have some interesting architectural details, but the walkways are very dark and shadowy. I had always wanted to take pictures of these details as was finally able to with the 3200 speed film. I’m sure I would have reasonable success if I tried with my digital camera, but it was somewhat satisfying to get a picture on film.

On that day, we also walked over to see a new mural, Point of Triangulation: Intersection of Identity by Michelle Jones and Deborah Willis. The mural consists of two parts (Resilience and Stigma Wall) one on each side of a street under an overpass. One of my pictures turned out OK…

…but one looks a little washed out.

I took a few more photos on our walk home.

Some of the other photos that turned out OK were ones I had taken on a couple of walks in our neighborhood, including the first shot of the roll.

I also went out one day looking for Christmas decorations. For that walk, I switched to my Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 lens.

Although I was more pleased with the results of the Ilford Delta 3200 than I was with the Kodak TMax P3200, too many of my shots from that roll turned out subpar, either too dark or too washed out, lacking contrast.

As I mentioned, I’ve seen other people have success with 3200 speed film, but, for some reason, I struggle with getting good images with it. Now that I’m not longer a member of the film club, I don’t need to worry about having another roll sent to me. I can continue shooting with films I’m more comfortable with.