400-speed 35mm Film Recommendation

FilmOnly · Feb 24, 2011

I have finally, after several years and numerous photos, figured out that 400 speed film is best for my b&w shots. I have tried Delta 400, and like it. I have also used Kodak 400CN and Kodak Tri-X. I gather the Tri-X has the most grain (and is least sharp?), but it has a nice "look" to it. I would like to stay with traditional b&w film (as opposed to CN), but I will consider any recommendations. The price of a roll of Arista 400 is extremely attractive, but since I am more critical now, and like a sharper film, I gather I might not be completely satisfied with the results (as it is a re-boxed Tri-X). I welcome any relevant comments or suggestions.

ags · Feb 24, 2011

I have always liked Fuji Neopan 400

hpulley · Feb 24, 2011

If you like Delta 400 then I say use it though you might also try HP5+ and T-Max 400 to make sure you aren't missing out on another film.

jp498 · Feb 24, 2011

With different developer and exposure choices, Tmax400 will do anything you want in terms of contrast, tones, curves, etc.... Different developers and dilutions will provide a different "look" depending on what you're after. And it's quality control and sharpness is really good. Tri-x has similarly good versatility and quality, but I don't care for the bigger grain.

tmax400 is all I put in my medium format camera now, and I use it about 80% of the time in 4x5. I haven't shot 35mm film for 6+ months now, but tmax400 is the only 35mm stuff in my fridge.

Try a few rolls and if you learn to like it, get a 100 foot roll to keep costs down.

Colin Corneau · Feb 24, 2011

jp498 said:
With different developer and exposure choices, Tmax400 will do anything you want in terms of contrast, tones, curves, etc.... Different developers and dilutions will provide a different "look" depending on what you're after. And it's quality control and sharpness is really good. Tri-x has similarly good versatility and quality, but I don't care for the bigger grain.

tmax400 is all I put in my medium format camera now, and I use it about 80% of the time in 4x5. I haven't shot 35mm film for 6+ months now, but tmax400 is the only 35mm stuff in my fridge.

Try a few rolls and if you learn to like it, get a 100 foot roll to keep costs down.

+1. I've been experimenting with a few choices in this, also..but I've always gotten superb results from TMY.

I can say that I'm a big fan of Fuji's Neopan 400...but that's a personal preference re: grain and its particular look, not any objective quality.

Christopher Walrath · Feb 24, 2011

Given the rate of things, I see TMY-2, Ektar and the new Portra being the entire line for the Great Yellow Father in just a few years.

I personally am looking forward to tearing into some much anticipated HP5+ I have on the way.

MattKing · Feb 24, 2011

Modern Tri-X is very sharp - just slightly more grainy than TMY-2.

Apparent sharpness is more a measurement of contrast and acutance than it is of resolution, and grain has more effect on resolution than the other factors.

If you like the look of Tri-X, take it out for a "run" (e.g. a large enlargement of a well exposed and well focused negative), and see if you really need to change.

Tim Gray · Feb 24, 2011

Personally I find HP5+ and Tri-X more alike than different, so if Tri-X doesn't fit the bill...

Delta 400 might be the film you end up with, but I would definitely try out the new T-Max 400 before you make your final decision. Very fine grained, great speed, very sharp, and very controllable. I see you are in the US; it's quite likely that T-Max 400 is a good deal cheaper than Ilford products (check B&H or Freestyle).

I find T-Max to have noticeably higher resolution, though for certain prints and features, Tri-X might appear sharper.

jordanstarr · Feb 24, 2011

I like Tri-x and HP5 personally for my 400 work. It's a matter of preference really. Lots of great films out there that produce lots of great results. You could do a zone test and print from various types of 400 film to see what you like best.

Jeff Kubach · Feb 25, 2011

T-max and Tri-X and HP5 are good choices!

Jeff

FilmOnly · Feb 25, 2011

Thanks!

What great suugestions--I offer my thanks to all! In fact, there are so many reasonable suggestions here, that I may end up buying a good deal more film than I had expected (and I may end up doing more experimentation, too). I had been preparing to make an order of my usual Portra 400NC for color (five rolls), and an additional five rolls of "the right" 400-speed b&w film. Hmm...

Before I forget: are there any who consider HP5+ superior to Delta 400? I ask becuase Delta 400 would seem to be the top of Ilford's 400-speed b&w line.

Naples · Feb 25, 2011

I send out my 35mm B&W 400 to two or three pro labs for processing.

For some reason, Tri-X comes back better - more "black and white" and at least as sharp if not more sharp - than TMY.

I don't know why; maybe it's in my head.

Whatever the reason, I've basically abandoned TMY for Tri-X.

Tim Gray · Feb 25, 2011

There are many who consider HP5+ superior to Delta 400 (and Tri-X superior to T-Max 400).

From a technical standpoint, I'd have to say T-Max 400 is the best 400 speed B&W film out there. Subjectively, that's a completely different question. I shoot mostly Tri-X

BetterSense · Feb 25, 2011

As far as I'm concerned, the correct answer to any "best B&W film" question, from 1/2 frame 35mm up to 4x5, is "TMY-2". It is literally the best film for any purpose.

It's too bad you can't get it in 8x10 anymore.

Tim Gray · Feb 25, 2011

BetterSense said:
It's too bad you can't get it in 8x10 anymore.

You probably know this, but Canham Camera is doing special order group buys of this. I think they just did an 8x10 order for TMY-2. It looks like they have several other group buys open for other formats.

http://www.canhamcameras.com/kodakfilm.html

jp498 · Feb 25, 2011

I'm sure you could have a standing order for TMY2 8x10 with Canham, and you'll get it next time they do a big order, or if some of the pre-order buyers disappear before their current pending order is ready. I ordered the last few boxes of 8x10 TMY2 from B&H and placed an order with Canham before the coupon deadline.

FilmOnly · Feb 25, 2011

Naples: I, too, send out my film to a pro lab. I wonder if our opinions of Tri-X have anything to do with this fact?

Tim Gray · Feb 25, 2011

I would think that if you send out your B&W for development, you are at their mercy. They might just develop Tri-X better (more appropriately) than TMY. Or you might just like Tri-X more. It is said that TMY requires more precise development.

As far as it being sharper, I find TMY to have noticeably better resolution. However, sharpness isn't all about resolution, and for larger features, Tri-X sometimes looks sharper, especially on smaller prints.

jp498 · Feb 25, 2011

I think the wording is something like tmy2 is "more responsive to changes in development", which means it's easier to screw up if you're just winging it, or easier to push/pull or easier to adjust. Great for home development, bad for machines that do everything the same and are tuned for something else, or students who can't follow directions.

Tim Gray · Feb 25, 2011

Yes, that is a better way to phrase it. Thanks!

FilmOnly · Feb 25, 2011

I just put in my order to Freestyle. I ordered both Tri-X (in the form of Arista Premium) and the new version T-max 400. I will work carefully (I usually do anyway), and observe the results.

pgomena · Feb 25, 2011

There is only one 400 ISO 35mm film. It is Tri-X.

But T-Max 400 ain't bad stuff.

Peter Gomena

Naples · Feb 26, 2011

FilmOnly said:
Naples: I, too, send out my film to a pro lab. I wonder if our opinions of Tri-X have anything to do with this fact?

That's been my thought. Either pro labs are more experienced at developing Tri-X over TMY, are "set up" more for Tri-X than TMY (chemicals?), I don't know. I don't develop so I don't pretend to know why. All I know is that I get better results from pro labs when I send them Tri-X than when I send them TMY.

Harry Lime · Feb 26, 2011

The current incarnation of Tri-X has very fine grain and delivers beautiful tonality. You can develop it to be very grainy, but that is not it's natural state. As an all around film Tri-X is very hard to beat. It's been the benchmark against which all other BW films have been judged for several decades.

TMY-2 400 has finer grain. Basically it delivers the grain of a traditional 100asa film. It's a little trickier to develop and not as forgiving as Tri-X, but once you get it under control it is very impressive. I have a love hate relationship with TMY-2. I love the fineness of the grain, but under certain circumstances I do not like it's spectral response.

400-speed 35mm Film Recommendation

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