400-speed 35mm Film Recommendation

[FilmOnly]

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]

I have always liked Fuji Neopan 400

 

[hpulley]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

Jeff

 

[FilmOnly]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[FilmOnly]

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]

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

But T-Max 400 ain't bad stuff.

Peter Gomena

 

[Naples]

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]

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.