Quick answer
Develop black and white film with Ilford Microphen by mixing the powder to make 1L of working solution, using it at 20°C (68°F), and following the recommended development times for your film stock. Microphen is especially useful for push processing fast films like HP5 Plus or Delta 3200 while retaining fine grain.
Why choose Ilford Microphen for film development
Ilford Microphen is a fine grain film developer that gives an effective increase in film speed while retaining much of the grain characteristics associated with fine grain developers. This makes it a solid choice when you need extra speed without sacrificing too much image quality.
Microphen is particularly useful when using extended development times to push process fast films such as HP5 Plus, Delta 400 Professional, Delta 3200 Professional, and SFX200. If you regularly shoot in low light or need to push film, Microphen offers a practical balance between speed and fine grain.
Important trade-offs to consider
Because Microphen is a powder developer that makes 1L of working solution, you must mix it completely before use. Unlike liquid concentrates, powder developers require full dissolution and careful temperature control. Once mixed, the working solution has a limited shelf life, so plan your development sessions accordingly.
If you are looking for an even finer grain developer with less speed increase, Ilford Perceptol may be a better fit. Microphen prioritizes speed retention and push processing capability over ultimate fine grain.
Step-by-step development with Ilford Microphen
- Mix the developer powder: Empty the entire Ilford Microphen powder pack into a clean container and add water at 20°C (68°F) to make 1L of working solution. Stir until fully dissolved. Use distilled or deionized water for best results. Common mistake: not dissolving all powder can lead to uneven development and streaks on negatives.
- Pre-wet the film and set temperature: Load your film onto a developing reel and place it in the tank. Pre-wet with water at 20°C for 1 minute. Ensure the developer solution is also at exactly 20°C before pouring in. Temperature drift during development affects contrast and grain. Keep the tank in a water bath to maintain 20°C.
- Pour in developer and agitate: Pour the Microphen developer into the tank and start timing immediately. Agitate continuously for the first 30 seconds, then for 10 seconds every minute. Follow Ilford's recommended times for your specific film stock. Over-agitation can increase contrast and grain; under-agitation causes uneven development. Stick to the standard agitation pattern.
- Stop, fix, and wash: After the development time, pour out the developer and add stop bath for 30 seconds with agitation. Then fix according to your fixer's instructions. Wash the film thoroughly with running water or a final rinse agent. Skipping stop bath can neutralize the developer unevenly, leading to staining or density variations.
- Dry and inspect negatives: Hang the film in a dust-free area to dry. Use film clips and a weighted bottom to prevent curling. Once dry, inspect negatives for even development, proper density, and grain structure. Dust and water spots are common if you don't use a wetting agent or dry in a clean space.
Product used in this guide
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Ilford Microphen - Fine Grain Film Developer - 1L: Ilford Microphen is a fine grain film developer which gives an effective increase in film speed whilst retaining much of the grain characteristics associated with fine grain developers. This means you can push process high-speed films like HP5 Plus or Delta 3200 and still get fine grain results, making it a versatile choice for low-light or action photography.
Ilford Microphen - Fine Grain Film Developer - 1L
