Slow, Fine Grained B&W Recommendation

D1v1d · Jul 15, 2013

Hello APUGers - i've had some very nice results with ADOX CHS25 in 120 but the film is no longer available. Would be grateful for recommendations of similar. For my Mamiya C330 intended for environmental portraits - deliberate composition, on tripod, etc. Thinking of Ilford Pan F @ 25 but appreciate other recommendations as well. Thanks!

damonff · Jul 15, 2013

If you can find them: EFKE 25; Kodak Technical Pan. I just shot my last 100 ft roll of 25 but I still have one of the 50. So sad that it's gone. You can still definitely get Rollei 80S from Maco Direct in Germany. I get mine there all the time. Cheap.

Kevin Kehler · Jul 15, 2013

Pan F+ is your best bet, developed in Perceptol (or similar) is very smooth, grain free images. I find I need to rate it at 25 when developed in Perceptol to get the look I want. You could pull FP4+ to 50 (which is less contrasty than Pan F) but I don't like it as much, it seems too compressed for my liking, by which I mean, I don't get the tonal range I want.

Rolfe Tessem · Jul 15, 2013

I would go with TMAX 100, Delta 100, or Acros. I'm sure you realize that a 25 speed film for environmental portraits is going to present a serious lighting challenge? Grain in TMAX 400 in medium format is so fine, and also allows you to mix existing lighting with some supplemental...it just allows many more options IMHO.

Gerald C Koch · Jul 15, 2013

Ilford Pan F is very nice rated at an EI of 25 to 32 and developed in D-23 1+1.

StoneNYC · Jul 15, 2013

Another vote for Ilford PanF+

~Stone | Sent w/ iPhone using Tapatalk

Hexavalent · Jul 15, 2013

PanF + Perceptol = cream!

ROL · Jul 15, 2013

Believe me, I feel your pain. I suggest experimenting with 120 Pan F+ and developers to see what floats your boat. Presently, I use PMK Pyro with Pan F to achieve as fine a grain a result, and as nice tonalities as any. I've made passable 24"x40" fine art print enlargements from some negatives. I cannot, at this juncture (for reasons mentioned in link), put any more resources or effort into Efke, Maco (Rollei), or Tech Pan. I also prefer not to use tabular grain films.

TheFlyingCamera · Jul 15, 2013

I just posted some examples in another thread of PanF shot at EI 12, developed in Pyrocat HD, developed semi-stand 1:1:200, 45 minutes at 75F (the reason for the high temp? that's the coolest I can get out of my tap in the summer). You can't get finer grain or smoother tonality than that...

here's another...

Richard S. (rich815) · Jul 15, 2013

Pan F. Or digital.

mesantacruz · Jul 15, 2013

Pan F+ as well. bulk roll of 35m/100ft is about $55 including shipping in CONUS i believe from B&H... for those in US.

Jeff Kubach · Jul 15, 2013

I like T-max 100 also.

Jeff

StoneNYC · Jul 15, 2013

Guys remember the OP wants to work in the 25ASA range so tmax may be too fast a film even if rated at 25 might not be good for his system. Just wanted to say that, OP I could be wrong would you like to clarify?

~Stone | Sent w/ iPhone using Tapatalk

mesantacruz · Jul 16, 2013

oh, you know the rollei 80s mentioned has a good reputation for portraits, as it goes into the ir spectrum (i think just a tad) and so renders wonderful skin tones... just a thought to look into... i think it will be my next bulk roll in 35mm.

also it's supposed to be very fine grained as well.

Europan · Jul 16, 2013

wrong post

to be deleted

Ghostman · Jul 16, 2013

What about Adox CMS 20?

Touted as

The sharpest, most fine grained and highest resolving image recording system in the world.

You will need to use Adotech developer.

Etr420 · Jul 16, 2013

I can also recommend Pan F+ developed in D23. I rate the film at 50 and expose for the shadows with a spot meter. I suspect this might be similar to rating at 25 using an in-camera or incident meter.

I develop in D23 full strength (replenished) and use the developing times recommended by Ilford for full strength Perceptol. 30 seconds inversion at the start, then two inversions every minute. I believe Perceptol and D23 are very similar, the former having some salt added to it.

In other words if it looks good in D23 it probably looks just as good in Perceptol.

Ed

bvy · Jul 16, 2013

Hexavalent said:
PanF + Perceptol = cream!

I'm happy to read this. I'm into my second roll and the Perceptol just arrived.

darkosaric · Jul 16, 2013

Ghostman said:
What about Adox CMS 20?

Touted as

You will need to use Adotech developer.

It is great film - I used it on 35mm format - grainless with adotech developer. And it is available in 120 format as well.

ntenny · Jul 16, 2013

To my taste, one of the great virtues of Efke 25/CHS 25 was its "orthopanchromatic" response, with reduced red sensitivity compared to a true pan film. It gives portraiture a little bit of the "grit" of ortho film, but it's moderated by the extremely fine grain and a general smooth-and-creamy look, and when the stars are right that combination can really make the subject pop in an environmental portrait.

The other nice thing is that it doesn't build contrast particularly fast. Ortho films like the Maco/Rollei ORT25 tend to, and of course CMS 20 actually requires a special developer to keep the contrast under control. I have the idea that Pan F+ tends to high contrast, right? Do people have tricks for reining it in in that respect?

Thanks

-NT

ntenny · Jul 16, 2013

StoneNYC · Jul 16, 2013

Doesn't Ilford make a 25asa ortho film?

~Stone | Sent w/ iPhone using Tapatalk

mesantacruz · Jul 16, 2013

For me, pan f+ does indeed develop a lot of contrast... personally it's what i like, maybe not the best for portraits.... What i do see is that shooting at 25, or exposing for shadows, helps with this 'situation'... I would also like to know.

Perhaps others can chime in on lessening pan f+ contrast for (greater tonality ?) with pan f + for portraits?

250swb · Jul 16, 2013

I recommend Pan F as by far the nearest equivalent to the Adox, but because of its inherent contrast process it in a Pyro or catechol developer and enjoy a massive tonal range and the ability to really push the shadow exposure without blowing the highlights with a semi-stand regime. I suggest 510 Pyro for really fine grain, but others are available or easy to mix yourself.

Steve

cliveh · Jul 16, 2013

Pan F and D76 at 1:1

Slow, Fine Grained B&W Recommendation

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