Arista Buld load film - which to choose?

There are many good film out there just don't know which to choose. I normally like shooting ISO 100 for fine grain. But since Bulk load film is LOTS of film so I need to choose the one that can push as 400 ISO. I heard Legacy Pro 100 is Acros while it works while at night but not on daylight. I had use Foma Pan 100 and 400 I'm seen to be please so far.

So I should choose Arista EDU Ultra, Legacy Pro, or more expansive one like Arista Premium?

I propably will developer with D-76, Xtol, maybe Rodinal. OR some homebrew.

What your recommendation.

I have been having great results with Arista EDU Ultra 100 & D-76, it's a great combination. At the prices of a bulk roll, I don't bother with choosing between one or the other, I use them all. I like having a bunch of different film on hand, it gives me a warm feeling inside
Hopefully after going through my current inventory, I will have a good idea matching conditions to a particular film/dev combo. In the mean time, I'm just having fun.

Cheers
Steven

Dear c.louis,

A bulk roll is only 18 rolls of 36 frames. When I purchase a bulk roll I load the whole thing working inside a changing bag so I can watch TV while I do it. Trust me, if I can do it, anybody can.

Neal Wydra

I buy cases of legacy pro and arista premium (acros and tri-x respectively).... I couldn't be more happy with it ... I also only load 15 frames... That way I can waste less film because some days I just can't get through 24 or 36 exposures..

No 100-ish film pushed to 400 will come close to the quality of a true ISO 400 film, so I'd suggest that you buy a bulk roll of the speed you'll use the most, and a few rolls of the speed you will use less often. Either that, or buy rolls of each and buy your bulk film when your budget permits.

Using ISO 100 film at EI 400 is sort of like using a Honda Accord to haul a mattress instead of a truck. Sure, you can do it, but it's nowhere nearly the easiest way to do it.

Neal said:

Dear c.louis,

A bulk roll is only 18 rolls of 36 frames. When I purchase a bulk roll I load the whole thing working inside a changing bag so I can watch TV while I do it. Trust me, if I can do it, anybody can.

Neal Wydra

Click to expand...

And if you don't have enough cassettes to do that, let me know. I've stopped bulk loading because I like buying fresh film when I need it (translation: I now feel like I can afford to let someone else spool my film) and as I use and develop my re-spooled film I'm retiring the re-usable cassettes. Right now I'm just throwing them into a box. Most of them I bought with film in them (mostly HP-5, but also odd assortments including some interesting Freestyle re-spools from long, long ago) and someone ought to get some use out of them. I don't have hundreds, but yours and mine would definitely add up to more than 18.

Ulysses

Slightly off, but Freestyle is selling the Legacy Pro factory spooled with a jan/Feb 2011 date at a GOOD price now. They even have a deal with half and half 400 and 100. (10 and 10rolls) The cassettes are not reusable on the factory spooled film. Of course they also have the bulk on sale. with the same dates.

If you are only using ONE speed, I would suggest sticking with the 400 these days the grain is ALMOST as good as the 100 in most lines.

There isn't any single 100 speed film that, when pushed two stops, will look as good as a 400 speed film. You should disabuse yourself of the notion that you can get away with only one film. But if you are buying from Freestyle, you're in luck. Arista.EDU Ultra is re-badged Foma 100 and a very nice film that works well in D-76, XTOL, and even Rodinal. It is also very inexpensive. Legacy Pro 100 is rebadged Fuji Acros 100, another very good film and also very attractively priced. Another option is Arista Premium 100, which is re-badged Plus-X. Can't go wrong there. None of these films look particularly good when pushed two stops to an EI of 400.

Choices are more limited for an economical 400 speed film. Arista Premium 400 is rebadged Tri-X selling for about 2/3 the price of the Kodak branded product. Arista.EDU Ultra 400 is rebadged Foma 400. It's inexpensive and a very nice film, but good only when rated at EI 250.