Almost out of film!

Markok765 · Feb 1, 2008

I have 3 rolls of tri-x and 2 rolls of Kodachrome left. I buy my film in 100'

Should I stick with Tri-x or do the APUGers have any suggestions for a different film?

David A. Goldfarb · Feb 1, 2008

A couple of weeks ago I bought 100 feet of Tri-X at B&H, and when it came up from the stock room I said, "That's the stuff" just to acknowledge that they'd sent the right item, but the guy behind the counter gave me a knowing look as if to say, "Yeah, that's the stuff."

jordanstarr · Feb 1, 2008

i've been using tri-x for about half my photographic life and don't plan on switching...i've tried just about every 400iso film out there and i like tri-x the best...if i want less grainy shots i go with tmax film, but that's usually never the case.

Uhner · Feb 1, 2008

Nah, I find no reason for you to change to other films.

Bob F. · Feb 1, 2008

If you like it, stick with it. If you want to experiment, get three rolls of another film you want to try and give it a go - then decide if you want to buy 100' of it. I mainly use 400 Delta for fast speed (mainly in 120 & 4x5) but that is no reason why you should... Suck it and see.

Bob.

TheFlyingCamera · Feb 1, 2008

Until you've come to a solid understanding of one film and found its limitations, I'd stick with it. Is there anything about Tri-X that you don't like? Is it too grainy? is it too fast? too slow? Are you not getting the prints you want from the film you're shooting? If the answer to at least one of these questions is yes, then I'd look at switching film. But first, I'd look at improving your development and printing techniques before switching films. We are truly blessed in this day and age to have essentially no BAD film available. There are some better than others, and some that are special-purpose that don't work well outside of their intended goal, but really no BAD film.

BobNewYork · Feb 1, 2008

Like a fool I keep trying other 400 films - and I keep coming back to Tri-X. It's a bunch of films in one. At 400 in Xtol - wonderful. At 1600 dilute Xtol - great and at 400 in Rodinal 1+100 - exquisite! Don't like it much - do I?

Lee Shively · Feb 1, 2008

I like HP5+ but I've shot several miles of Tri-X and would be perfectly happy if it was all there was available. Stick with it. Good stuff.

Didn't I read a while back that Kodak was discontinuing Tri-X in bulk rolls?

Markok765 · Feb 1, 2008

They are still selling them and I can order them in from my local Henrys. I was just wondering what other films I should try?

Snapshot · Feb 1, 2008

Lee Shively said:
I like HP5+ but I've shot several miles of Tri-X and would be perfectly happy if it was all there was available. Stick with it. Good stuff.

Didn't I read a while back that Kodak was discontinuing Tri-X in bulk rolls?

Say this isn't so. If that is the case, I'm stocking up.

Chris Breitenstein · Feb 1, 2008

Stick with what works for you, If you are pleased with the results you are getting by no means change.

Yours;

Robert Hall · Feb 1, 2008

Used Tri-X for 40 years. Our family has used it since '54.

It's the $#!t.

pschauss · Feb 1, 2008

The only film I like better than Tri-x is Plus-X which is two stops slower. When I travel, I usually carry both. If I have enough light, I will shoot Plus-X, otherwise Tri-X.

jim appleyard · Feb 1, 2008

Lee Shively;581657 Didn't I read a while back that Kodak was discontinuing Tri-X in bulk rolls?[/QUOTE said:
Don't even think it!

jim appleyard · Feb 1, 2008

Bob F. said:
If you like it, stick with it. If you want to experiment, get three rolls of another film you want to try and give it a go - then decide if you want to buy 100' of it. I mainly use 400 Delta for fast speed (mainly in 120 & 4x5) but that is no reason why you should... Suck it and see.

Bob.

Bob has a great thought here, but I beg to differ slightly; I would get 10, or even 20 rolls of another kind of film (if you actually do switch) and soup them in the dev you're using for Tri-X. I can take awhile to learn what a film/dev combo can and cannot do. Different EI's, agitation routines, dev times, amount you dilute a dev, temperature, etc., all make a difference.

singram · Feb 1, 2008

I am also a big believer in Tri-x. I like it better than almost all other black and white film.

I did, however, start shooting the Arista.edu Ultra 200 recently, and love it. It also helps that the bulk 100 foot rolls are 1/2 the cost of Tri-x. I was very skeptical at first, but I've shot about 20 rolls or so of the Arista.edu ultra film and have no complaints.

steve

Alden · Feb 1, 2008

I switched to HP-5 for it's ability to handle the highlights a little better, and am now after four years of it with both pyro and D76, trying out Fuji Neopan 400, which seems to have both highlights under control like HP-5 and tighter grain than either. That said there is a Tri-X "look" that time and again I see from others work that makes me jump up and pay attention, but I don't go in for mystification. It's mainly a little grit and shouldered highlights.

Murray@uptowngallery · Feb 1, 2008

Notwithstanding the warnings (that make sense) about sticking to something consistent, it is hard to pass up a bargain from someone who is unloading film they didn't care for.

Most of my film shooting doesn't need control, repeatability, etc (not yet), so I'm happy to be able to try different types for just the initial impression, to be explored in greater detail later.

Lee Shively · Feb 1, 2008

Concerning the discontinuance of bulk Tri-X. I did read this on RFF recently. Turned out to be a rumor that was later discredited by Kodak.

jim appleyard · Feb 1, 2008

Lee Shively said:
Concerning the discontinuance of bulk Tri-X. I did read this on RFF recently. Turned out to be a rumor that was later discredited by Kodak.

That certainly is good news. I would think that 100' rolls of Tri-X would be one of Kodak's better selling itmes. To discontinue it would be like my local grocery store discontinuing milk...

Bob F. · Feb 1, 2008

jim appleyard said:
Bob has a great thought here, but I beg to differ slightly; I would get 10, or even 20 rolls of another kind of film (if you actually do switch) and soup them in the dev you're using for Tri-X. I can take awhile to learn what a film/dev combo can and cannot do. Different EI's, agitation routines, dev times, amount you dilute a dev, temperature, etc., all make a difference.

Absolutely true of course: the more rolls the better idea you get. My thoughts were that as Marko is still at school, he'd want to keep his experimenting costs down. If he's gonna buy 10 or 20 rolls he may as well just go out and buy a 100' bulk roll (as he does for Tri-X) for about the same price .

Addendum to original post. If you do want to try others Marco, I suspect Delta 400 or Tmax 400 would be the best choices as they both have a very different look to Tri-X, being "newer technology" films with a different grain structure. Arguably, Delta is more forgiving of exposure and development inaccuracies than Tmax according to my reading (I never did get on with Tmax 100 and that sort of put me off Tmax 400 - I don't think I've ever used it)...

One option to add another string to your bow would be Delta 3200 or Tmax 3200. I keep meaning to try them but Tmax 3200 seems to be only available in 35mm and neither are in 4x5". I don't know the bulk-roll supply situation with either.

Have fun, Bob.

Anscojohn · Feb 1, 2008

I would venture to say that, since 1954, more really good 35mm photographs have been made on Tri-x than all other 400 speed b/w films combined.

John, Mount Vernon, VA USA

jim appleyard · Feb 2, 2008

Bob F. said:
Absolutely true of course: the more rolls the better idea you get. My thoughts were that as Marko is still at school, he'd want to keep his experimenting costs down. If he's gonna buy 10 or 20 rolls he may as well just go out and buy a 100' bulk roll (as he does for Tri-X) for about the same price .

Have fun, Bob.

Ah yes, forgot about that student thing going on!

jim appleyard · Feb 2, 2008

Marko, here's the link to Freestyle & their Arista brands. The prices are attractive. http://www.freestylephoto.biz/sc_search.php?rfnc=402

Freestyle is in LA and you're in Toronto??? Check you shipping costs!

Like Flying Camera says, no bad films out there.

fschifano · Feb 2, 2008

Lee Shively said:
Didn't I read a while back that Kodak was discontinuing Tri-X in bulk rolls?

I was told that by the clerk at Adorama. Didn't believe him, and he was wrong. I wrote to Kodak for the straight scoop. Tri-X continues to be sold in 100 ft. rolls.

Almost out of film!

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