I really miss ______ film

Ko.Fe. · Mar 3, 2016

I'm not expert on film. Happy with Ilford films and not into color film anymore.
I'm missing Svema and Shostka bw films. It is pity I never tried it while it was available. I would say availble as the only film.

Thomas Bertilsson · Mar 3, 2016

I don't miss any film. I often find that too much importance is ascribed to choice of film. Nowadays I just put HP5+, (and sometimes Tri-X or TMax 400), in the camera and roll with it, knowing it's going to be of consistent good quality, and I can focus on making good photographs. The way I see it there is no film better than what I'm using, only films that are different.

ColColt · Mar 3, 2016

I don't know how people miss something they've never tried...mystery to me.

Marvin · Mar 3, 2016

Ektachrome

winger · Mar 3, 2016

I never got to use HIE in sheets, but I know I would have loved it. I miss it in 35mm.

r.reeder · Mar 3, 2016

I miss the vast array of films available 50 years ago. I miss Panatomic-X. I miss good Infra Red films. To paraphrase Gen. Patton: "God, how I hate the 21st century."

Roger Cole · Mar 4, 2016

ColColt said:
I don't know how people miss something they've never tried...mystery to me.

Just quirky wording. It would refer to something that they never got to use but from reputation or type of film or whatever wish they had. I'd put 4x5 Polaroid/Fuji in that group, along with all HIE. I have a frozen stock of Efke IR820 I bought up when that was discontinued which is probably the next closest thing, but would love to have used real HIE.

Films I have used and miss, in no particular order:

Black and White:

APX 100
Plus-X

Color Neg:

Afga Portrait 160
Agfa Ultra 50

Color Reversal:

Kodachrome 64 (25 was great but too slow most of the time, the 200 was grainier than similar speed E6 films by too much.)
Fuji Astia
Kodak E100G
Kodak E200
Fujo Provia

Instant:

FP-3000b
Soon - FP-100c.

Films that I know were great and there's a need for but didn't personally use because they were too slow for my needs most of the time:

Panatomic-X
APX 25

BradleyK · Mar 5, 2016

M.A.Longmore said:
.
Kodachrome 25, And The Delicate Fragrance When The Canister Was Opened !

Ron

And the wonderful scent of KR/PKR 64 as well!

What I really missed out on, though, was the opportunity to shoot Kodachrome in 120 format with my Hasselblads: A die-hard 35mm shooter for many years, I only ever had the opportunity to shoot 120 Kodachrome with a borrowed Rolleiflex, back in 1989, or so. I deferred my entry into medium format with the purchase of my first 500c/m in 2000. Given the results I've gotten to date with E100G/VS and Velvia 50... [heavy sigh].

paul ron · Mar 5, 2016

agfa papers and panatomic x film.

Harry Lime · Mar 5, 2016

APX100
Plus-X

Kodachrome
Agfa Color films

ColColt · Mar 5, 2016

When we lost the film/paper mogul Kodak much was lost and we all suffer to one degree irreparable harm mentally. I'm thankful Ilford has still carried the ball and provided us with HP-5, FP-4, Delta 400 and PanF...films I've used and continue to do so. About all the Kodak film I'm interested in anymore is Tri-X-always was, always will be a favorite. Did I say I still miss Agfapan 400 terribly? I suppose if it were still around I'd need no Tri-X or HP-5 as to me it was the best 400 speed film around. If I had that and FP-4 and a bottle of Rodinal that's all I would need.

benjiboy · Mar 6, 2016

I don't miss any films, I consider that the biggest leaps forward in film photography since I started shooting more than sixty years ago haven't been in the cameras but in the films, and there are still many superb films to choose from today.

David Brown · Mar 6, 2016

Thomas Bertilsson said:
I don't miss any film. I often find that too much importance is ascribed to choice of film. ... there is no film better than what I'm using, only films that are different.

benjiboy said:
I don't miss any films, I consider that the biggest leaps forward in film photography since I started shooting more than sixty years ago haven't been in the cameras but in the films, and there are still many superb films to choose from today.

Ditto!

Sirius Glass · Mar 6, 2016

HIE
Ultra Color
Vivid Color
Panatomic X
Plus X
Tri-X 320 in 135 and 120
Tri-X 400 in 4"x5"
Ektachromes even though I no longer shoot slides
IR Ektachome
Velvia

... I am sure I missed a few.

Colin DeWolfe · Mar 6, 2016

Agfa APX25, 100 and Ultra 50. And Plus-X

ambaker · Mar 6, 2016

I miss walking into shops and seeing that big wall of film, behind the counter, in all types, sizes and formats.

ME Super · Mar 6, 2016

Ektachrome 200 and 400. I'm looking forward to Ferrania's E-6 films though. Reportedly they're looking at releasing ISO 64, 100, 200, and 400 in daylight balance, and 640 and 800/3200 in tungsten balance.

As for current films I love, that would be HP5+, Rollei IR400S, Velvia 50 and Provia 100F. Ektar 100 and Portra 400 are also good films for prints. Portra 400 is usable at 3200, although you lose shadow detail.

I'd like Delta 3200 better if I had a camera with adjustable aperture and shutter speed in 120; but it isn't horrible in 35mm, it's just a bit grainier than I prefer.

Darko Pozar · Mar 6, 2016

Kodak VPS. I started photography with this and learned colour printing.
For prosperity, I have a stash of frozen 120 and 4x5 waiting to be exposed

Black Dog · Mar 6, 2016

Nice picture Darko-thanks for posting it!

scheimfluger_77 · Mar 7, 2016

Roger Cole, I agree with you on the Agfa Portrait 160, particularly if exposed at 125. The other film i wish I had used more was the original Ektar 125. I only exposed a few rolls of 35mm but wow what flesh tones and fine grain.

spijker · Mar 7, 2016

Thomas Bertilsson said:
I don't miss any film. I often find that too much importance is ascribed to choice of film. Nowadays I just put HP5+, (and sometimes Tri-X or TMax 400), in the camera and roll with it, knowing it's going to be of consistent good quality, and I can focus on making good photographs. The way I see it there is no film better than what I'm using, only films that are different.

David Brown said:
Ditto!

Same here. I use the Ilford Delta 100/400 films in 120. I can buy them locally and in other places/countries off the shelf at a reasonable price.

railwayman3 · Mar 7, 2016

ColColt said:
I don't know how people miss something they've never tried...mystery to me.

My point was that I wish I'd made time to try the many films when I intended to, while they were available. Guess my old Grandad was right when he said "never put off until tomorrow what you can do today" !

Tis Himself · Mar 7, 2016

Verichrome Pan

miha · Mar 7, 2016

APX 400, Agfa Portrait 160, Fuji Reala 100, Kodak Ektapress PJ800, Fuji NHG II 800.

Roger Cole · Mar 7, 2016

scheimfluger_77 said:
Roger Cole, I agree with you on the Agfa Portrait 160, particularly if exposed at 125. The other film i wish I had used more was the original Ektar 125. I only exposed a few rolls of 35mm but wow what flesh tones and fine grain.

There is really nothing like it today. There are neutral saturation films and highly saturated films (Ektar 100) and very highly saturated film in E6 (Velvia) but there isn't anything with subdued saturation where a more pastel-like rendering might be preferred.

Of course there's really nothing quite like Ultra 50 either!

Those who scan color negs can slide the saturation up or down to suit before printing of course. I wonder if there might be a way to modify RA4 developer to get a more muted (but not overly so) rendering. PE has posted about reducing contrast in RA4 developer and that might be a start.

I really miss ______ film

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