How many film do you shoot?

ericdan · Oct 28, 2015

I shoot throughout the year and print in the winter.
Last year I just noticed how nice it was when I printed several frames of the same type of film in the same lighting.

For example, Superia in bright daylight on Fuji paper I can print successfully with very few attempts.
That really made me think I should try to settle on one film or maybe two at the most. At least for C-41.

Furthermore, I guess it would help maintain some kind of conformity when putting photo sets or albums together.
Maybe all these films being discontinued isn't such a bad thing.

I shoot:

B/W: Neopan until it's gone and Tri-X
Slide: Provia
C-41: too many

How many different films do you guys shoot?

mooseontheloose · Oct 28, 2015

For slides, Provia
For B&W, Acros and either Tri-X or HP5+. I'd prefer to stick with one, but sometimes I just have to go with what's available. I have a variety of infrared films in the freezer (HIE, Konica, Maco, Efke, SFX, Rollei) but that's obviously a limited supply.
For C-41, well, I can't even remember when was the last time I shot it. Seven years ago maybe. That said, I hope to try some Portra and/or Ektar this fall when the leaves start to turn.

I've been shooting primarily these four films for years, and using the same developers, but realised I was shooting the same films and using the same developers. So I've decided to try a few alternatives for both film and developers just to see how I like them. For example, the idea of being able to shoot normally and infrared on the same roll of film (Rollei Retro) is very appealing, and means one less camera to carry around. So I'll see how that goes.

R.Gould · Oct 28, 2015

I shoot black and white only, and primarily use Fomapan, either 200 or 400, very rarely I also shoot HP5, and develop in either D76 or, for the most part, Rodinal/ro9

Slixtiesix · Oct 28, 2015

Slides: I used to shoot Astia 100F a lot but now that it´s gone I use Provia 400X and Velvia 100
BW: FP4+ mostly, and HP5+, but from time to time I try other films as well (Acros, Tri X, Panf+, Rollei RPX 25)
I don´t shoot C41

BradleyK · Oct 28, 2015

35mm: Slides: E100G/VS (121 rolls combined, deep-frozen still waiting to be shot)
B&W: Tri-X, HP5+, Delta 3200
C-41: Rarely, but Ektar or Portra if I do...

120: Slides: E100G (91 rolls deep-frozen, still waiting to be shot), Velvia 50
B&W: PanF+, FP4+, TMax100
C-41: Never

Kyle M. · Oct 28, 2015

I shoot Kodak T-Max 100 and 400, Tri-X, and the odd roll of Plus-X when I find it, Ilford HP5+, FP4+, and PanF+, Arista EDU Ultra 100 and 400, and Fuji Neopan Acros. I shoot 99% B&W with the odd roll of Color or C41 thrown in, my absolute favorite film is T-Max 100, though I've really been liking the results I'm getting with HP5+ lately.

Jager · Oct 28, 2015

For black and white... Tmax 100 and the occasional roll of Acros (very similar emulsions) are my usual go-to's. PanF+, and Tri-X when I want to go slower or faster. The very occasional roll of Delta 3200 when I really need speed.

I went years without shooting any C-41, but, having stepped back into that arena, am very much enjoying the palette's that Ektar 100 and Portra 160 bring.

The irony is slide film. I shot it almost exclusively for more years than I can count. Alas. With Kodachrome gone and E6 processing increasingly hard to obtain, I now shoot transparencies only very rarely.

MattKrull · Oct 28, 2015

How many different films do you guys shoot?

As many as possible.
I shoot film for fun, and to me, part of that fun is experimenting with different cameras, lenses, and yes, film.In my freezer I currently have:
B&W: Rollei Retro 80S, Rollei IR, HP5+, Delta 100, 400, and 3200, Tmax 400, Kentmere 100 and 400, Plus-X 125
C41: Ektar, Porta 160 and 400, Fuji 160 and 400, Fuji Superia 800
E-6: Velvia, Provia, Rollei CR200
Add in x-ray sheets for 8x10 and three different brands of B&W paper.
Maybe later I'll simplify and stick to just one or two films - it's certainly an appealing idea, but for now I'm enjoying playing too much.

DannL. · Oct 28, 2015

I use one sheet film, one 120 film, and one 35mm film. I like using dry plates, X-ray film, and paper negatives in the plate cameras. Most of my cameras are plate cameras. I only use two cameras that handle modern roll-films.

Hatchetman · Oct 28, 2015

Probably 80% TMax 100, but dabble in pretty much anything available on the market.

pdeeh · Oct 28, 2015

Whatever I've got, really. I don't particularly care what film is in the camera apart from the speed.

If I had a sensible income, I might only use Acros, it pushes to 200 beautifully and that's my personal "sweet spot" for speed all year round in small formats.

As it is, I use whatever I've been able to pick up inexpensively. At the moment that means Delta 100 in 135. I still have quite a lot of acros in 120. I've got a bit of Ektar that I hardly ever shoot in both formats. And some AgfaVistaPlus 200 that I hardly ever shoot either. Got some FP4 in 5x4 and foma 100 in 8x10. and a mixed bagful of other stuff in 120 - tmax, hp5, foma200. Oh and a couple of boxes of ilford & kentmere glssy rcvc that I use as paper negatives as well as printing on sometimes. and forgot about a couple of rolls of triX and quite a few of neopan1600 both in 135.

Sold all my slide films at a profit ages ago. Fun and pretty to look at but I'll never project them (especially in 120) and there's no cibachrome any more.

I can't in all truth pick much difference between b&w films of similar speeds once they're printed. Or even in negative scans at the semi-mythical "100%".

georg16nik · Oct 28, 2015

MF format: Adox CMS 20, Fomapan 100, 400; Rolei Retro 80S, Rolei Superpan 200, Kodak tmax 400, Efke IR820 Aura.
135 format: Agfa Copex-Rapid, Adox CMS 20, Rollei ATP, Rolei Retro 80S, Rolei Superpan 200, Polypan F, Fomapan 100, 200, 400.

The above mix of films are developed for long scale in vast array of developers, sometimes stock; sometimes custom MQ flavors.
Target is mostly fixed grade FB paper, hybrid light source enlarger - opal lamp tru condenser.

removed account4 · Oct 28, 2015

i have a handful of different films, they are all expired.
some european films, some american, some japanese some english
a variety of iso's from 25 to 3200, some c41 as well as e6, all formats from 110-8x10
i don't meter read but just expose everything the same long exposure
and process what i have in coffee and dektol
( the color emulsions too )
and i contact print the negatives if i can some of the film i don't develop at all, but put ia camera for a 6 hour exposure on B.
other films i use the dreaded electric beam. most of the films seem the same to me
if i meter read and used fresh film i would just use iso 125 and 400 b/w nothing else.

macfred · Oct 28, 2015

b/w : Tri-X 400
C41 : Portra 160 + 400, Superia 400, Pro 160N + 400H, Ilford XP-2

Oxleyroad · Oct 28, 2015

I am in a league of my own. I really need to settle on a film and a processing method which I have yet to do.

B&W:-
Ilford FP4, HP5, Pan F, Delta 400 and Delta 3200. All developed as negative and positive but for the 3200 developed as negative only. Various sizes up to 5x4
Foma 100 and 400 and R100. All developed as negative and positive. In sizes up to 5x7 but for R100 only in 16 and 35mm.
Kodak Double-X and Tri-X, Tmax 100 and 400. All developed as negative and positive. Sizes 16mm up to 120 but the Tmax only in 35 and 120.
Fuji Acros in 120 only developed as negative only.

Colour Reversal:-
Fuji Velvia and Provia. 35mm, mostly 120 and small amounts of 5x4. All developed in E6 Chems.

Colour Negative:-
A real missmatch of films Kodak, Fuji and rebrands. All expired and what ever I come across. Processed as C41, x-processed E6 and B&W negative. Sizes of 35 and 120
Both Kodak and Fuji cine film stock. Processed ECN2, C41, B&W negative and reversal and a hybrid colour reversal using B&W developer and C41.

Sirius Glass · Oct 28, 2015

Kodak Ultra Color 400
Kodak Vivid Color 160
Kodak Normal Color 160
Kodak Normal Color 400
Kodak Portra 160
Kodak Portra 400
Kodak Portra 800
Kodak Tri-X 400
Kodak Tri-X 320
Kodak Gold 200
Kodak Gold 400
Kodak Plus-X
Ilford FP-4
Ilford HP-5+

swittmann · Oct 28, 2015

There are only few films that I have been using over the years:

35 mm: APX 100/Rollei Retro 100 and TriX
120: Acros and TriX
Both take their beauty baths in Spur HRX

4x5: FP4+ or CHS 100 ii
They swim in XTOL

While I am almost monogamous when it comes to film and film developer (as I want to have consistent, predictable and reliable results), it's in the darkroom where I start playing, with many different papers and paper developers and toners. Yes, I love paper and can spend hours drooling over the beauty of a paper, its surface structure, its haptic etc. I even love the smell of it (especially Polywarmton and Fortezo). I love watching a print in a toner, changing its color and creating another mood, like an actor switching from one role to another; or when the result of the toning matches what I intended, it's as if the print becomes alive. I guess this is one of the reasons why I love analog photography so much: it is something that I can experience with almost all of my senses.

jonasfj · Oct 29, 2015

I think that is a wise thing to do. My strategy is to have one color and one b/w for ISO 100 and 400. Right now, I settled on the following (but I must admit it is evolving):

Ilford FP4+
Kodak TMAX 400

Kodak Ektar
Kodak Portra 400

However, for special occasions I would use whatever suits best, for example Velvia for sunsets, Tri-X for pushing etc.

Cheers,

Jonas

gzinsel · Oct 29, 2015

one, agfa aviphot

Laurent · Oct 29, 2015

Almost only HP5, both in 35mm and 120.

trondsi · Nov 12, 2015

Mainly Provia 100f, and Ektar 100
Sometimes Velvia 100

mweintraub · Nov 13, 2015

I went nuts with buying expired film on ebay and trying them all out with total disapointment with the unknown/unexpected results. I now try to keep to the following:

B&W: Tri-X 400 & T-Max 100
C-41: Portra 160/400 (and what's left of my 400H)
Slide: Been years since I've shot any, but I have Asita, Provia, and Velvia still in the fridge.

LeftCoastKid · Jun 25, 2017

For slides: (Currently) E100G/VS in 35mm; E100G in 120 ***Awaiting on the New Ektachrome form Kodak (I can hold out a bit; I still have a decent stash of deep-frozen Ektachrome at my disposal), and to see what Ferrania brings to market (I'll be first in line for anything in ISO 400 and faster).

For black and white: Tri-X/HP5+ in 35mm; PanF+, FP4+, Tri-X in 120

RattyMouse · Jun 25, 2017

My go to film is Fuji Neopan Acros 100. I shoot 10 rolls of this for every other roll of film.

My second go to film used to be TMAX 400, but due to the paper fiasco, I no longer can trust that film. I havent found a suitable replacement yet, but did take possession of 25 boxes of Neopan 400. That should keep me going for quite some time.

For color my go to film is 400H. Portra 400 used to be my primary choice but again, was badly burned by poor quality film/paper.

For 35mm I shoot mainly Kentmere 100 and Fuji 400H.

Sirius Glass · Jun 25, 2017

I shoot mostly Portra 400 and Tri-X 400 for 135 and 120. For more color saturation I have a dwindling supply of Ultra Color and Vivid Color. For 4"x5" I use Ilford HP5+.

How many film do you shoot?

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency