Cheap B/W 120 Film

Marcelo Paniagua · Mar 14, 2017

After doing only 35mm and digital for about 10 years or so, getting back to medium format. Film availibility has sure changed on those years, so what would be a cheap 120 b/w film? I intend to use D-76 and Caffenol so need to make a few test rolls. Before, I was used to HP5+ and Plus-X. Is Rollei RPX any good? suggestion?

Regards.

Marcelo

R.Gould · Mar 14, 2017

Try Fomapan , available in 100,200,and 400, reasonably priced

Ian Grant · Mar 14, 2017

I'll agree with Richard, Fomapan is an excellent film. You need to nail EI and dev times to get the best from it and when you do the results are superb.

Ian

mgb74 · Mar 14, 2017

Much depends on what you can have shipped to you at reasonable cost. But: Arista EDU (which is widely reported to be Fomapan) or Fomapan, both from Freestyle. Or Ultrafine.

Moopheus · Mar 14, 2017

At least at B&H and Freestyle, Fomapan doesn't seem to be very much cheaper than HP5.

Harry Stevens · Mar 14, 2017

If only GP3 120 was still available you and me would both be laughing.............

Bucko9 · Mar 14, 2017

Ultrafine xtreme 100 or 400 has been my go to cheap film for a while now. 10 rolls for less than $40US

Thomas Bertilsson · Mar 14, 2017

This is the best deal in town. It behaves just like Ilford HP5+, so it isn't cheap at all, just inexpensive. Picture below is from a recent trip to Iceland using this film. It works really well.

http://www.ultrafineonline.com/ulxtblwhfiis8.html

Mainecoonmaniac · Mar 14, 2017

Here's Foma rebranded.
http://www.freestylephoto.biz/190120-Arista-EDU-Ultra-100-ISO-120-size

Marcelo Paniagua · Mar 14, 2017

So either Fomapan, Ultrafine and Arista. I've heard lots of things about Foma, but not Ultrafine. How does it compare to Trix? Plusx? something similar?

Thanks

Marcelo

P.D. By the way I live on Mexico, next to the border from USA, so I get my film from the USA.

Thomas Bertilsson · Mar 14, 2017

Marcelo Paniagua said:
So either Fomapan, Ultrafine and Arista. I've heard lots of things about Foma, but not Ultrafine. How does it compare to Trix? Plusx? something similar?

Thanks

Marcelo

P.D. By the way I live on Mexico, next to the border from USA, so I get my film from the USA.

Ultrafine Extreme 400 is very similar to Ilford HP5+. I treat them the same, and prints look consistent.

Marcelo Paniagua · Mar 14, 2017

Thanks Thomas. Given the prices, I willgo the Ultrafine route for the time being. Onces I become comfortable with Medium format again, will go the Ilford route (my usual favorites for 35mm are Ilform HP5+ and FP4+).

Regards.

Marcelo

Mainecoonmaniac · Mar 14, 2017

I've bought some expired 120 film on Ebay for a good price.

Thomas Bertilsson · Mar 14, 2017

Marcelo Paniagua said:
Thanks Thomas. Given the prices, I willgo the Ultrafine route for the time being. Onces I become comfortable with Medium format again, will go the Ilford route (my usual favorites for 35mm are Ilform HP5+ and FP4+).

Sure. That works. Or, continue to use the Ultrafine stuff. It's not worse than Hp5+ in any way, and it's made by the same people (Harman/Ilford).

John Wiegerink · Mar 14, 2017

Ultrafine Xtreme 100 in 120 is the cats meow also. I like both the ISO 100 and the ISO 400 Ultrafine films. Like Thomas says, these are not second class films in any way, shape or form.

RolleiPollei · Mar 14, 2017

I've had great results with Arista EDU Ultra films in 35mm . I like both 100 and 400 speeds.

darkroommike · Mar 14, 2017

I have some Ultrafine Extreme 400, made in England, (wink, nudge), packaging and font on the box looks VERY similar to another well know 400 speed film made in England (wink, nudge, wink, nudge, know what I mean, know what I mean, Bob's your uncle). Trying it out this week, I'm on vacation.

Cholentpot · Mar 14, 2017

Harry Stevens said:
If only GP3 120 was still available you and me would both be laughing.............

Ahh those were the days...They're making LF sheets these days and rumor leaks out every once in a blue moon about the reintroduction of 120 and crumbs of info about a possible 220 run.

I cut my 120 teeth on that stuff...

RichardJack · Mar 16, 2017

WHY? It makes no sense to shoot on crap. You never know what subject will show up, unless your running tests it only makes sense to use the best film, chemistry and equipment at hand. Or....if cost matters, shoot digital. You get what you pay for. For testing cameras I buy outdated film on EBay.

Thomas Bertilsson · Mar 16, 2017

RichardJack said:
WHY? It makes no sense to shoot on crap. You never know what subject will show up, unless your running tests it only makes sense to use the best film, chemistry and equipment at hand. Or....if cost matters, shoot digital. You get what you pay for. For testing cameras I buy outdated film on EBay.

Actually, the Ultrafine Xtreme is really good film. There is nothing second rate about it. Then again, there are outlets that sell HP5+ for about 4 US bucks per roll, and that's very inexpensive too.
When you buy 100 rolls at a time, though, 50 cents per roll results in 50 dollars net gain, which is nothing to sneeze at.

Marcelo Paniagua · Mar 16, 2017

RichardJack said:
WHY? It makes no sense to shoot on crap. You never know what subject will show up, unless your running tests it only makes sense to use the best film, chemistry and equipment at hand. Or....if cost matters, shoot digital. You get what you pay for. For testing cameras I buy outdated film on EBay.

Actually yeah Im running test, not really on the equipment or film but on composition mostly. Like I said, its been a while since I did medium format, so I want to get used to the 6x6 format. About expired film, not really my cup of coffee, too unpredictable for my taste. Thanks for the comment though, really appreciate.

About subject, I will run test on known subjects, so nothing to waste in there too.

Regards.

Marcelo

Cholentpot · Mar 16, 2017

RichardJack said:
WHY? It makes no sense to shoot on crap. You never know what subject will show up, unless your running tests it only makes sense to use the best film, chemistry and equipment at hand. Or....if cost matters, shoot digital. You get what you pay for. For testing cameras I buy outdated film on EBay.

Some people enjoy that kind of thing. Or even better, shooting a roll and then tossing it into the back of the freezer for 5 years then developing. Oooh the excitement!

mynewcolour · Mar 16, 2017

RichardJack said:
WHY? It makes no sense to shoot on crap. You never know what subject will show up, unless your running tests it only makes sense to use the best film, chemistry and equipment at hand. Or....if cost matters, shoot digital. You get what you pay for. For testing cameras I buy outdated film on EBay.

I'm the complete opposite. For testing I use consistent performing film that I'm familiar with. Otherwise I like to try different film and processes. I'm not sure there is a film that is always 'best'.

Prest_400 · Mar 16, 2017

Cholentpot said:
Ahh those were the days...They're making LF sheets these days and rumor leaks out every once in a blue moon about the reintroduction of 120 and crumbs of info about a possible 220 run.

I cut my 120 teeth on that stuff...

Indeed, 220 B&W would be killer... And if it were cheap that would be double deal, and no backing paper problems with that.

There is regional variation, in Europe it's possible to get Fomapan 100 at 3.2€ and I was thinking that to kick off a bit of reckless shooting on 6x9 a brick of Fomapan 200 may be well fine.

Thomas Bertilsson · Mar 16, 2017

Prest_400 said:
Indeed, 220 B&W would be killer... And if it were cheap that would be double deal, and no backing paper problems with that.

There is regional variation, in Europe it's possible to get Fomapan 100 at 3.2€ and I was thinking that to kick off a bit of reckless shooting on 6x9 a brick of Fomapan 200 may be well fine.

Fomapan 200 is an amazing film. I use it regularly alongside my standard Ilford 400 film (usually HP5, but sometimes Delta 400).

Cheap B/W 120 Film

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