Iso 50-125 speed film with a future?

Simonh82 · Jul 11, 2012

What about Orwo films http://www.orwona.com/. Orwo 54 is 100 ISO and I know of someone who has settled on it as his replacement for Plus-x. I've not used it myself, but I do like the look of it http://www.flickr.com/search/?ss=2&w=all&q=orwo+UN54&m=text. it is only available in bulk, but the prices seems reasonable.

Leigh B · Jul 11, 2012

Nicholas Lindan said:
Buying cheap film is the worst sort of economy.

Absolutely true.

Those who insist on cheap are driving the good reputable manufacturers out of business.

Eventually we'll be left with nothing but chinkese crap. Once they get a monopoly they'll raise the prices above what we're now paying for good products, and we'll have no choice but to pay it.

- Leigh

TareqPhoto · Jul 11, 2012

What are cheap films and what are well-valued films? 99% of the films i buy are from those 3 companies: Kodak, Ilford, Fuji, and i started to add few another brands such as: Foma, Arista, Rollei,...etc.

PhotoJim · Jul 11, 2012

The last man standing in black and white is likely to be Ilford. That leads to a recommendation of Pan-F Plus, FP4 Plus and Delta 100. I like all three but use FP4 the most out of the three.

Acros 100 is probably the finest quality black and white film available. I expect Fuji will be in the film business for awhile yet.

As for Kodak, I sure hope they survive but I have my doubts. Now that Plus-X is gone, T-Max 100 is the only film Kodak sells that fits your requirements unless you choose to do pull processing of a faster, grainier emulsion.

Richard S. (rich815) · Jul 11, 2012

Leigh B said:
......Eventually we'll be left with nothing but chinkese crap......- Leigh

Oh no you didn't.

TareqPhoto · Jul 12, 2012

PhotoJim said:
The last man standing in black and white is likely to be Ilford. That leads to a recommendation of Pan-F Plus, FP4 Plus and Delta 100. I like all three but use FP4 the most out of the three.

Acros 100 is probably the finest quality black and white film available. I expect Fuji will be in the film business for awhile yet.

As for Kodak, I sure hope they survive but I have my doubts. Now that Plus-X is gone, T-Max 100 is the only film Kodak sells that fits your requirements unless you choose to do pull processing of a faster, grainier emulsion.

Yesterday i have checked my fridge to see what films are there left waiting, amazed that FP4+ and TMAX100/400 also some Pan F+ are the most B&W films available in my fridge all 120, i have few of Deltas, Acros which is my favorite, HP5+,...etc.

I am planning to increase HP5+ and decreasing Deltas, so i will have 3 films from Ilford and 3 from Kodak and only 1 from Fuji Neopan, i still have 2 Neopan 400 but i will play with that in the future when i have things to shoot very seriously.

Peltigera · Jul 12, 2012

I am a big fan of the Adox CHS films - 25, 50 and 100 ISO are available. They are available from Freestyle in the USA according to Adox's web site.

Thomas Bertilsson · Jul 12, 2012

The recommendations for using a bulk loader and load your own film cassettes is a great recommendation. You can use a film that is a fair bit more expensive at nearly half the price! What's not to like?

I'm definitely going that route once I'm done with my current stash of Tri-X. Bulk loading is a great way to save real dollars in your process. While film isn't the most expensive thing in photography, a hundred rolls at $2.50 versus $5.00 makes a really big difference in my wallet. That's almost two car payments, or groceries for two months.

Hamster said:
I am looking for suggestion for a 35mm film between ISO 50-125 that I can standardise my process on.

I do mostly portraits with this speed and and looking for something that is reasonably cheap, with good shadows and has good USA availability for the foreseeable future.

Previously I standardized on Arista Premium 100, developed in Tanol. However now that kodak no longer manufactures Plus-X it seem this combination is gone.

Before that my winning combination was Lucky SHD 100 NEW with D-76. I had a boatload of the stuff and had a really good run with it. However I don't want to buy it from China.

Ilford FP4 is a film I really like but it is expensive at the time being. I am not a pro and only photograph for my own private enjoyment. I use it in 120 format for special projects.

I tried FOMAPAN and did not like it. I am now looking into Fuji Acros, or one of the ADOX products. Neither is as cheap as I would like but I tend pull process so I need something with good shadow texture.

The two developer I use now is Rodinal (R09) and Moresch Tanol, mostly because of good shelf life. If you guys know a film that will work good with those two it would be ideal.

Newt_on_Swings · Jul 12, 2012

I agree bulk loading is good. Get yourself a couple of bulk loaders and label and mark each with type of film, load date, and rolls loaded from each. You can then switch between a variety of speed films without too much hassle of buying a ton of cassettes.

If you can, and dont mind the monotony, load 100ft at once, label, and bag the cassettes for freezer/fridge storage, and all you need is one bulk loader. This is good if you use film discards from c41 processors such as drug stores.

Newt_on_Swings · Jul 12, 2012

Also acros 100 in 120 format is back in stores. going to drop by adorama and pick up a brick sometime next week after work. $3.20 a roll, not bad at all.

TareqPhoto · Jul 13, 2012

Newt_on_Swings said:
Also acros 100 in 120 format is back in stores. going to drop by adorama and pick up a brick sometime next week after work. $3.20 a roll, not bad at all.

The problem with Acros 100 is that it is back in stock for very short like 1-2 days then back out of stock
For me, i need 1 week when things are in stock to order, because i put money in my card only when i want to order something and that is taking 1 day to have the money in the card, and i see the things in stock late, so many times i come late to order things and suddenly they are out of stock when i am ready, last week Acros was in stock for 1 day and then again ran out.

Leigh B · Jul 13, 2012

B&H is currently showing all roll film sizes of Acros in stock. They usually get a large amount, so it should be there for a while.

www.bhphotovideo.com

- Leigh

Iso 50-125 speed film with a future?

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