Finest grain film on HC 110

MFstooges

Member
Joined
Feb 10, 2010
Messages
955
Format
35mm
Sorry if this had been asked before. Which film will give finest grain with HC-110/L110?

Other developer is not an option.
 

Paul Howell

Subscriber
Joined
Dec 23, 2004
Messages
9,769
Location
Scottsdale Az
Format
Multi Format
Other than ortho and microfiche film Tmax 100 has the finest grain and highest resolution.
 
OP
OP

MFstooges

Member
Joined
Feb 10, 2010
Messages
955
Format
35mm
koraks said:
That's an interesting, seemingly backwards way of approaching it! Sorry to sound critical, but it seems kind of odd to me. What's the application @MFstooges ?
Click to expand...

Outdoor in 35mm. I got OK grain with Ilford FP on my 24mm X 24mm frame printed to 8" X 8" so now I am trying to see what film allows me to print on 10" X 10" or even 12" X 12" with less grain on the same developer.
I was thinking about Tmax or Delta but from replies above maybe I will get finer grain with Rollei Ortho 25 or Ilford Pan 50?
 
Last edited:

Alex Benjamin

Subscriber
Joined
Aug 8, 2018
Messages
2,585
Location
Montreal
Format
Multi Format

Not sure you'll see much of a difference in grain between T-Max 100 and Ilford Pan F, but you'll certain have one in terms of contrast.
 

xkaes

Subscriber
Joined
Mar 25, 2006
Messages
4,798
Location
Colorado
Format
Multi Format
The differences in contrast can be controlled by changing the ISO and the development time.
 

grain elevator

Member
Joined
Jan 31, 2020
Messages
1,297
Location
Germany
Format
Multi Format
I'd try Delta 100 first. More affordable than T-max 100 and easier to handle and faster than the alternatives like microfilms or Pan-F. If it gives you what you want, no need to look further.
 

cptrios

Member
Joined
Oct 26, 2020
Messages
418
Location
Boston
Format
Hybrid
I've found both Delta 100 and TMax 100 to be pretty equally low-grain with HC-110. The lowest (bar super-low ISO stuff), though, would be Copex Rapid. Not as nice to work with, and HC-110 isn't the best developer for it, but it works really well and resolves a ton of detail.
 

Milpool

Member
Joined
Jul 9, 2023
Messages
776
Location
n/a
Format
4x5 Format

TMax 100 and Fuji Acros will be the finest grained general purpose films. Delta 100 is slightly grainier - about the same as Pan F+.
 

xkaes

Subscriber
Joined
Mar 25, 2006
Messages
4,798
Location
Colorado
Format
Multi Format
Chuck1 said:
What's the ideal developer for copex rapid (or pan f)?
Click to expand...

As with normal film, there's isn't a perfect developer for low ISO film -- which are typically high contrast. Micro-films are very high contract, but like "normal" films, the contrast can be controlled by adjusting the ISO and the developer time. You can do that with HC-110. There are other methods too, such as wash-method developer.

When mixing your own developer (most developers) you can explore other methods of contrast reduction, such as split-development,

The point is that microfilm can produce acceptable C.I.s with a little testing -- usually very low ISO and very long development.
 

dourbalistar

Member
Joined
Jun 9, 2016
Messages
503
Location
Bay Area, CA
Format
Analog
If you're willing to experiment, here's a less conventional suggestion: Ilford XP2 Super, cross-processed. Check out @drmoss_ca's results on this thread:

Ilford XP2 Super in B&W chemicals

I don't think it will be any surprise to anyone here that Ilford XP2 Super, a chromogenic film normally processed in C-41 chemicals, can be developed in ordinary black and white chemicals too. If you don't do your own processing, this wouldn't make a lot of sense, but if you do, it saves money...
www.photrio.com

I have limited personal experience with this combination (and I used 6x7 in 120 format so definitely not an apples to apples comparison with 35mm), but I got some impressively grain-free results using LegacyPro L110. YMMV, so take the suggestion with an appropriately sized grain of salt.


2021.03.06 Roll #272-05989-Pano-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…