How did you decide which film you'd use?

When I bought the first film camera in ten years, I asked the guy at the camera store who knows my digital work, what I should use. He suggested Delta 100/400. He wasn't wrong.

AnnP said:

When I bought the first film camera in ten years, I asked the guy at the camera store who knows my digital work, what I should use. He suggested Delta 100/400. He wasn't wrong.

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Sound advice for sure.

Have you thought about FP4 for the slower film? Sure it's a different type from Delta but it's great for portraits and arty photos.

Trial and Error, and what my local photography store has...I wish I could shoot more but I have been busy with my last semester of college (Finals week now! soon I can shoot a lot more!).
I am really not too picky which film I use but my current favorites are
B&W:
Ilfordan F+, Delta 100, and occasionally, Fuji Acros
Kodak: Tri-x 400, T-max 400

Color:
Porta 160/400, Ektar
Slide Film: Provia, and occasionally Velvia 50.

Jaf-Photo said:

Sound advice for sure.

Have you thought about FP4 for the slower film? Sure it's a different type from Delta but it's great for portraits and arty photos.

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I've always been a big fan of Delta 400 in dilute Perceptol/Barry Thornton's 2 bath.

Why not go for Ilford films? Great quality, great company and you know that stuff will be around.

The 'fridge and cupboard are stocked with different types of film from: ILFORD (5), KODAK (2), AGFA (1), FUJI (2), ADOX (1), EFKE (1) and FOMA (1). The instinct is to default to FP4 Plus but the choice is based on what will be the subject, the lighting conditions, the effect wanted, colour or monochrome? It's a long list... Another influence is availability. If I find whole plate film in date (or only just out of date) at a price I can afford, I just buy it on a beggars can't be choosers basis!

In addition to all this there may be new films introduced to the market. In such cases, it seems a good idea to buy a box or a few rolls and try them out for real.

RR

Lately mostly films with extended red sensitivity, ie a little bit of IR. Over the last 30 years I've been a sporadic shooter and I always wanted to try HIE but sadly, to late to the dock. So I'm focusing on Rollei IR and Superpan, with one test roll last week of SFX. In the process of getting myself back to regular shooting I want to learn these films and practice using them with the IR as part of the compositional elements. Although Wood Effect for its own sake can be pretty exciting.

Like many I started with Kodak but also used GAF and other films depending on what I could find in my local area. Currently I shoot Foma 200, as I can get it in 35mm, 120, and 4X5, for fast 35mm Tmax 400. I like ILford as well but have not taken a liking to ACROS.

I use a variety of films. When deciding what to put in the camera, the first decision involves what I have in the film refrigerator. Overlaying that is what I want to use the film for. If I find a satisfactory match, it's oldest inventory first. I keep ISO 100 class and ISO 400 class film in stock, usually both black and white and color. As for the original choice of films, I grew up with Kodak, and it was often the only brand available, so that is still what I use. I doesn't make that much sense; Ilford and Fuji are definitely competitive and just about as available these days. Films change over time, and my tastes probably change too. I chose Tri-X as my current ISO 400 black and white film because I liked the look of the results. I like fine grain, so I use TMax 100 for the ISO 100 black and white.

Just by trial and error.

B&W:
General purpose is Tri-x (actually Arista Premium 400) in L110 or D76 1+1.
I also shoot Arista EDU 100 (Foma 100) when I want a retro look.
Ilford films are very good, but can't beat the price of Arista rebrands.

Color Print:
Portra 400 for general use, with occasional Portra 800
I use Superia 400 in my waterproof camera.

Slide film:
Still shooting Elite Chrome from the freezer.

I mainly shoot Rollei RPX films, in all it's variants in 135 and 120 formats. The 100 film is really nice, the 400 is pretty nice (mostly used for handheld shooting) and the 25 film I've only shot a few rolls with this far.

I've tried lots of films the last few years but settled for RPX as a student due to it's combination of price and performance, and I've tried to be a bit consistent with my films up til today. Not sure why I use the 400 film when I like the 100 film so much more...

Since the dark season is approaching I might try some Delta 3200 soon. And if that doesn't work out I'll probably try some Acros due to it's rumored reciprocity features.

So far, the films i tested even not much yet as i just started, i came out to some films i like to use all the time if i need to, and here are my favorite films list:

B&W: Across 100, Pan F+, FP4+, TMAX400, HP5+, Tri-X [in MF and LF formats]
Color neg: Reala 100 [sad it is discontinued], Portra 400/800, Ektar 100
Color slide: Velvia 50/100/100F, Provia 100F, wish if i could use some of Kodak slides that are discontinued so i am sure i will like them too.