Best Bulk Film

fotch · Aug 25, 2006

I just received my bulk loader (purchase from fellow APUGer) and need to buy some bulk B&W film. Call me old fashion but I am thinking Kodak Plus X.

As I read other threads, it seems like some of the other brands talked about here might have quality control problems. I don't like a lot of grain either in 35mm.

But I also like to save money. Are there any recommendations from those who bulk load?

Also note, since I am getting back into the darkroom, I don't want to experiment with just any film until I get my act together so I can get predictable results.

Any advice or comments are appreciated.

Thanks

Jeremy · Aug 25, 2006

I like Ilford FP4? I'm not sure what you're looking here for, the bulk rolled film is the exact same as the commercially loaded film so pick whatever film you are used to shooting (and you said you are getting back into darkroom work in which case pick whatever you used to shoot) and stick 3 or 400' in the freezer, load up 100' in the bulk roller and have a blast!

Petzi · Aug 25, 2006

I would go for Kodak T-Max 100 or Fuji Acros. But everybody else here certainly has a different opinion.

Konical · Aug 25, 2006

Good Afternoon, fotch,

Opinions about favorite films will vary widely. I prefer the T-Max films, especially,T-100. Others wouldn't use those films under threat of death. A search on E-bay will probably turn up some bulk film for sale. Take a chance on some film that's several years outdated if you can get it for a good price; odds are (in B & W at least) that it will be fine.

Konical

erikg · Aug 25, 2006

Well, If you like Plus-X and you like bargains you might like to check this out:
http://www.tapesuperstore.com/5231bw64t.html

The company is Film Emporium and they sell motion picture stock, sometimes in short ends (under 200 feet). The price is pretty good, as you can see. Best to call them first to see what they have in stock before you order on line. Otherwise, just get what you like in factory loads. Being a cheap bas***d myself, I always check out what the photo shops have in outdated bulk rolls. Slow speed b&w can keep a long time. I got through school on 600 feet of Pan-F that I got for 6 bucks can. That is some cheap shootin'!

Neal · Aug 25, 2006

Dear fotch,

While you can't go wrong with Plus-X, buy a few rolls of various products you think you might like first. Then choose which film(s) to bulk load. Buy good cartridges. I like the "Kalt" metal cartridges best, but the plastic ones also work well. Scotch brand Magic Tape works very well for attaching the film to the spool. Buy a nice size changing bag to work in. I hate leaving the last bit exposed at the end of a roll so I load in a changing bag. I can load up more than half a bulk roll during an episode of "The Simpsons" and chat with the Bride the whole time.

Good luck,

Neal Wydra

Mike Kennedy · Aug 25, 2006

TRI-X

Ain't nothing better!

jim appleyard · Aug 25, 2006

Neal has an excellant point about buying several different kinds of film, but I'd like to take it a step further: shoot a lot of one kind in one dev and get to know what it can and cannot do before you switch eith film or dev type. It takes awhile to learn anything well, film, and photography in general is no exception.

Claire Senft · Aug 25, 2006

If you like Plus-X then I guess you need Plus-X. I hate Plus-X. Go to the home page and click on freestyle and then check out their specials. After that you can check out all of their b&w films. They have quit4e a selection.

It is very helpful in making a reccomendation to know more of the conditions and things a photographers photographs.

Max Power · Aug 25, 2006

Personally, I'm very fond of Delta 100. I bought a few 100ft rolls of Delta 100 and Delta 400 from Freestyle. It was labelled DMAX 100 and DMAX 400 respectively. Outstanding film and you can't beat the price. I've also been meaning to try Arista.EDU Ultra in 35mm. In 120 it's great stuff.

Just a couple of ideas,
Kent

df cardwell · Aug 25, 2006

T MAX 400. Finer grained, sharper than Plus - X, longer scale.

All the films today are spectacular, the guys who don't like one or another ---- well, they haven't figured out how to use it.

But T Max 400 can do all that PX does, better, and faster.

.

Michel Hardy-Vallée · Aug 25, 2006

To be honest, my new way of testing film is actually to buy a 100' roll of it, especially when it comes films I can't buy in the standard photo stores like Efke. For the prices of 3-4 rolls at normal price, which would be the necessary amount to have an idea of the film's look and reactions in developers, you get maybe fifteen or more of them. If you like it, perfect it's all yours. If you don't, somebody on APUG already likes it and will take it for a nominal fee. I also tend to buy slightly expired 100' rolls if I am just curious. Bulk loaders are cheap and plenty on the auctions (I got 3 so far, probably getting a fourth one soon), so look for a model you like.

fschifano · Aug 25, 2006

If you like Plus-X, then go for it. I personally like it very much and prefer it over Ilford's FP4+. Use D76 or XTOL or just about any film developer on it and you can get some really stunning images. The short ends of EASTMAN PLUS-X Negative Film 5231 available from The Film Emporium is not the same as the stuff they sell as Plus-X for still cameras. I'm not saying that it won't work, but be advised that while it is a negative film, it is not designed to be printed on photographic paper. It is designed to make positive release copies on film for projection. For starters, the speed and contrast characteristics are different. That's not to say you can't make it work if you put your mind to it, but don't expect the cine film to behave like 125PX for still cameras. Download the tech sheets from Kodak here http://www.kodak.com/US/plugins/acrobat/en/motion/products/bw/h15231.pdf and here http://www.kodak.com/global/en/professional/support/techPubs/f4018/f4018.pdf and compare them for yourself.

srs5694 · Aug 25, 2006

For fine grain, I'd go with T-Max 100, Ilford Pan F+ 50, or Efke KB25. (I've not tried Fuji Acros 100 or Ilford Delta 100, but my understanding is that they're both T-grain ISO 100 films, and so should be quite fine-grained, too.) Of course, fine grain isn't everything, and in some situations bigger grain is good. For grain that's visible but looks good, I like Foma products, but of course others might have other opinions. Note that Fomapan 100 is nowhere near as fine-grained as T-Max 100 or the other films I've mentioned; it's just got grain that I like, as opposed to grain that I dislike (such as T-Max 400 grain, which I consider ugly).

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