"Best" vs. "Favorite" film

Untitled

A
Untitled

  • 0
  • 0
  • 12
Blood Moon Zakynthos

H
Blood Moon Zakynthos

  • 0
  • 0
  • 316
Alexandra

H
Alexandra

  • 1
  • 0
  • 425
Prison

D
Prison

  • 2
  • 1
  • 498

Recent Classifieds

Forum statistics

Threads
199,765
Messages
2,796,312
Members
100,031
Latest member
Arvydas
Recent bookmarks
0

alanrockwood

Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2006
Messages
2,189
Format
Multi Format
I suppose one could make a case that T-Max 100 or perhaps Delta 100 is the "best" film from a technical perspective, but those are not everyone's favorite. Some people love FP4+. Some people swear by Tri-X.

Whad'ya think? Best vs. favorite film?
 
Last edited:

removed account4

Subscriber
Joined
Jun 21, 2003
Messages
29,832
Format
Hybrid
hi alanrockwood for me they are exactly the same film >> expired :smile:
 
Last edited:

Arklatexian

Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2014
Messages
1,777
Location
Shreveport,
Format
Multi Format
I suppose one could make a case that T-Max 100 or perhaps Delta 100 is the "best" film from a technical perspective, but those are not everyone's favorite. Some people live FP4+. Some people swear by Tri-X.

Whad'ya think? Best vs. favorite film?
If I had a (one) favorite film, in my mind, it would also be the best. I can only say that it would definitely be a black & white film. I am still trying to run tests to decide between T-Max 100 and Delta 100 and I have liked FP4+ for a long time but it is in a different category. My point is, there is no BEST film for ALL uses......Regards!
 

Arklatexian

Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2014
Messages
1,777
Location
Shreveport,
Format
Multi Format
I suppose one could make a case that T-Max 100 or perhaps Delta 100 is the "best" film from a technical perspective, but those are not everyone's favorite. Some people live FP4+. Some people swear by Tri-X.

Whad'ya think? Best vs. favorite film?
If I had a (one) favorite film, in my mind, it would also be the best. I can only say that it would definitely be a black & white film. I am still trying to run tests to decide between T-Max 100 and Delta 100 and I have liked FP4+ for a long time but it is in a different category. My point is, there is no BEST film for ALL uses......Regards!
 

Theo Sulphate

Member
Joined
Jul 3, 2014
Messages
6,489
Location
Gig Harbor
Format
Multi Format
Favorite right now is Ektar 100.

Best for me was Tech Pan for B&W and Kodak Pro 100 for color.
 

blockend

Member
Joined
Aug 16, 2010
Messages
5,049
Location
northern eng
Format
35mm
Fuji Pro 400H is great film, but prohibitively expensive in the UK. I have a box of 120 left but it's hard to justify buying more. For slides Velvia, five boxes of that left which will have to be used this year. I like Fomapan 100 for its old fashioned feel, and Agfa Vista (Fujicolor 200) because its cheap.
 

Johnkpap

Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2006
Messages
293
Location
Australia
Format
Medium Format
My current favorite film is Fuji Acros 100 the tones and image quality are second to none, my second choice when, I need to push a film or I am shooting 5x4 sheet film with more than one lens, or just testing a camera, is Ilford FP4 it is very forgiving.and can be pushed over 1000asa and still give a good result.

Johnkpap
 

RalphLambrecht

Subscriber
Joined
Sep 19, 2003
Messages
14,698
Location
K,Germany
Format
Medium Format
I suppose one could make a case that T-Max 100 or perhaps Delta 100 is the "best" film from a technical perspective, but those are not everyone's favorite. Some people love FP4+. Some people swear by Tri-X.

Whad'ya think? Best vs. favorite film?
Good idea; best vs favorite for me is TMax400/FP4+
 

Fritzthecat

Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2018
Messages
99
Location
pa/ny
Format
Large Format
The "best" film is the one you are most familiar with and know how to tweak the outcome to match the situation. You've done the testing, learned its capabilities, and shoot it nearly always (I say "nearly always" because not any one film can do everything). That should make any film your favorite, and the best.
 

guangong

Member
Joined
Sep 10, 2009
Messages
3,589
Format
Medium Format
While the question at first seems like it begs an answer, it is a question with no answer. Does “best” mean fastest, finest grain, greatest congrats, or some other characteristic. For analogy, let’s look at artist paper. Just as with film, many artist papers are no longer manufactured. However, there are still many papers available for drawing, painting with water colors, acrylics, etc., etching and many more. Even narrowing to water color, there are molded, rough surfaced to smooth surfaced and many more, tinted, untainted. Every one of these papers is the best for someone and some are detested by someone.
The best film is the one you like to use for whatever purpose.
 

jim10219

Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2017
Messages
1,632
Location
Oklahoma
Format
4x5 Format
The best films (for me) are TMX, Ektar 100, and Velvia 50. That's why I use them. If I found something better, I'd use that instead.

My favorite film is Aerochrome.
 

bdial

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 2, 2005
Messages
7,482
Location
North East U.S.
Format
Multi Format
Best for what? Low light, grain, resolution, IR capture? For me, "best" is what fits my mood and the anticipated shooting situation.

My favorite used to be Kodak Plus-X, but they stopped making it, I don't really have a new favorite.
 

Lee Rust

Member
Joined
Feb 7, 2010
Messages
513
Location
Rochester NY
Format
Multi Format
My lizard-brain light meter is permanently set to iso 400, so for color...Portra 400, for B&W...Tri-X.

However, if Ektachrome ever re-appears I'll try that in cameras with faster lenses.
 

Dali

Member
Joined
Jun 17, 2009
Messages
1,864
Location
Philadelphia
Format
Multi Format
I don't know what you mean by "best" but my favorite film is Tri-X.
 

E. von Hoegh

Member
Joined
Sep 14, 2011
Messages
6,197
Location
Adirondacks
Format
Multi Format
Best for color, Ektachrome 100 Plus Professional. Favorite for color, Kodachrome 25.
Best for B&W, Panatomic X. Favorite for B&W, Tmax 100 followed very closely by TriX sheet.
 

LeftCoastKid

Member
Joined
Feb 7, 2017
Messages
254
Location
Vancouver, BC
Format
Multi Format
Best for color (for me, this depends upon the subject matter at hand): E100G/VS; Favorite for color (sigh, tears well up...): Kodachrome 25
Best for black and white: Tri-X/HP5+; Favorite for black and white: PanF+ (latent image decay issue is a non-issue for m), FP4+, Tri-X/HP5+.
 

msage

Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2003
Messages
437
Location
Washington State
Format
Large Format
Tri-x, Tmax and HIE. In 120 or 4x5. They alternate between best and favorite!
Yes, I know it is three but I can't choose.
 

Svenedin

Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2016
Messages
1,191
Location
Surrey, United Kingdom
Format
Med. Format RF
Of currently available films I rate Kodak TMax 100 as the best (technically) and Ilford FP4 as my favourite (because I like how it looks). Having said that I usually use 400 speed films due to the unpredictable light in the UK (TMax 400 and HP5).
 

mooseontheloose

Moderator
Joined
Sep 20, 2007
Messages
4,110
Location
Kyoto, Japan
Format
Multi Format
My favourite film is fresh HIE, but since it’s no longer around I would say either HP5+ or Delta 400 or Acros. As for best, well, for me it’s the right film for the right situation.
 
Photrio.com contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
To read our full affiliate disclosure statement please click Here.

PHOTRIO PARTNERS EQUALLY FUNDING OUR COMMUNITY:



Ilford ADOX Freestyle Photographic Stearman Press Weldon Color Lab Blue Moon Camera & Machine
Top Bottom