Sheet Film: Favorite Film & Developer Combinations?

[SPS731]

I'd like to know what the forum member's favorite B&W sheet film and developer combinations are? And why?

 

[Ole]

There are at least as many answers as there are LF photographers...

9x12cm: APX100 in Ilfotec-HC
Slavich plates in Pextral 2-bath
4x5": FP4+ and HP5+ in Ilfotec-HC
MACO IR 820c in Pyrocat-HD
5x7", 18x24cm and 8x10": FP4+ again
Other sizes - Europan 100 in Ilfotec-HC

Lots of Ilfotec-HC: I got a huge lot of this very cheap, and it's a very nice, predictable yet flexible, and clean-working developer. Nothing "magic", it just works.

 

[boyooso]

Yes, As much as anything 'IT' is being familiar with what you work with as "it" is ""WHAT"" you work with

Corey

 

[Vaughn]

8x10...Ilford FP4+ in Ilford PQ Developer. Seems to do a nice job, easy to mix (liquid). I like the prints (pt/pd and carbon) I get from the combination.

I'm just about at the end of my supply...we'll see if I stick with it...depends on how easy it is to find some more. I'm washing some new negs right now...

Vaughn

PS...back in the good old days, I liked to develop my 120 Kodak Pan-X in Microdol-X, diluted 1:3.

 

[payral]

TXP - ABC Pyro size 8x10" & 5x7"
Nothing else and just contact print (palladium for the most)

 

[GeorgesGiralt]

Hi !
I mostly use 400 iso film.
As these are scarse in 4x5, I use HP5+ and Tmax-400 and HC110 (dil H).
I also like Fortepan 200, and Efke 100, all souped in HC110 or Rodinal.

 

[haryanto]

I use Delta 100, FP4, Tmax and TMY with Pyrocat MC (4x5), homebrew

 

[Mick Fagan]

FP4+, HP5+ and TMAX100 all in D76 1+1.

The reasoning is simple, I mix my own developer(s) from scratch, after about 10 or so years of trying all sorts of developers, I switched back to D76 1+1 and haven't really found any other general purpose developer that was more than marginally better.

I've been using this developer at this dilution, or neat for pushing, for the last 20 odd years. The only other developer which I think is marginally better is Xtol.

When TMAX came out I used TMAX developer for a while, but went back to D76 after the few bottles I bought ran out. There is/was a difference, but realistically you had to split hairs to notice them.

Mick.

 

[Maine-iac]

I'd like to know what the forum member's favorite B&W sheet film and developer combinations are? And why?

Delta 400 (before production of sheet film stopped), HP5+, FP4+ in PCM (Phenidone, Metaborate, Ascorbic Acid) homebrew.

 

[JohnArs]

Delta 100 and TMax 400 all in XTOL!
Armin

 

[Erik Hartmann]

DinaFine and Tetenal SuperFix plus for my B&W sheet film.....
But from time to time Adox APH 09 for 120/135 films......
And only use Foma sheet film
and the cheapest place to by it is: http://www.wephota.de/

 

[Monophoto]

I have an issue with the question. When you ask for our "favorite film developer combination?, there is an implication that you expect that we have tested multiple combinations in order to choose a favorite.

For me, photography is making pictures. I do test my materials to the degree that is necessary to determine a personal film speed and developing time, but I would rather devote my time to real photography than continuous testing.

Rant aside, I am currently using Efke 100, rated at EI 50, and processed in HC-110 dilution H in a slosher.

 

[Ian Grant]

In 5x4
APX100 + Rodinal 1:50
Tmax 100 + Pyrocat HD
Efke PL 25 + Pyrocat HD

In 10x8
Efke PL 25 + Pyrocat HD

Occassionally processed in Xtol. All three films give excellent quality, sharpness, fine grain and tonality.

Also used for 10x8
Forte 200 + Pyrocat HD this combination is good but I prefer the EFKE PL 25

To test initially in 5x4/9x12
Fomapan 100
Fomapan 200

 

[matt miller]

5x7 TMY in Pyrocat HD.

I use TMY for it's speed, reciprocity characteristics, straight line, and ability to expand & contract. I use P-HD for it's price, ease of use, and the beautiful, easy to print negs it gives me.

 

[argus]

4x5" all go in Rodinal 1+150 for stand development.

Anything bigger (currently my stock of Fortepan 8x1" and 7x17") are souped in Moersch Tanol 1+1+100, for contact printing.

G

 

[BradS]

Kodak 320TXP in a homebrew D-23 derivative (5g Metol, 80g Sulfite, 5g Borax).

 

[eddie gunks]

foma100 hc110 dil g (1:119) 18 min 20C. i primarily use a pinhole camera so i am using high dil. to try and get a bit more speed and sharpness. i have begun to use tmax100 as its reciprocity numbers are much better than fomas. i use dil h for tmax100. i am still dialing it in.

i have some pyro HD coming this week. any starting times and temps? foma100, tmax100, hp5 and fp4. thanks

eddie

 

[Ian Grant]

eddie, there are a lot of variables when processing, depends on how you process too, ie tray, daylight tank, tube etc, also dilution, stand development, all very different options

The best place to get starting times is Unblinkingeye

Ian

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

For almost all formats I shoot (4x5, 5x7, WP, 5x12, 8x10, 11x14) - three films, one developer.

FP4+, TMY400, Fomapan 200, and on rare occasions, HP5+. Developer: Pyrocat HD. I have used Rodinal 1:50 in the past, and may again as circumstances require. 90%+ of my development is rotary, with perhaps 5% deep tank if I have volumes of 8x10 to soup. The remaining 5% is trays/manual tanks for the really odd instances of shooting 2 1/4 rollfilm.

 

[Richard Wasserman]

This is an easy question, FP-4+ in Pyrocat. Why? Because it gives me prints I like, high acutance and beautiful tonality.

Richard Wasserman

 

[Neanderman]

100TMax in XTol, all formats. I like the results (and people who have seen my recent prints seem to agree) and both are readily available.

Other's I've tried are FP-4+ in HC-110 and, when you could get it, Plus-X in HC-110. I liked the latter, but it ain't an option anymore. I still have some FP-4+ 4x5 frozen that I want to do some tests with, I just haven't had the time. I'd like to try some glycin formulas and might give good old D-76 a shot.

 

[eddie gunks]

eddie, there are a lot of variables when processing, depends on how you process too, ie tray, daylight tank, tube etc, also dilution, stand development, all very different options

The best place to get starting times is Unblinkingeye

Ian

thanks for the article ian,
i plan to use trays and daylight tanks. i prefer high dilutions with minimal agitation. i primarily shoot pinhole images so the extra "sharpness" is helpful at time.

thanks

eddie

 

[PepMiro]

My favourite combination: HP5+ in PMK
I like also TMAX 100 in XTOL and FP4+ in Rodinal

 

[Scott Peters]

Pyrocat MC with EFKE, TMAX 400. Even used it to great success with inexpensive chinese films....can't say that I have tried a bunch of other developers though....

 

[MikeM1977]

HP5 and PC-TEA

Foolproof