Top Quality Film

[dancqu]

I'm not refering to grain or resolution or speed.
I've in mind those qualities which make for a well
made film. There are likely a few qualities of which
I'm not aware. Most comments of film quality speak
of a few most obvious defects; curly base,
emulsion pinholes.

What are or would be the qualities of an ideal
roll film? Consistancy and handleing are two. Are
there any 120 films on the market that come
close to the ideal?

Of course money may or may not buy the best. I've
likely deeper pockets then some when buying film.
I think I can afford the best when 120 roll film
is to be purchased. Dan

 

[jd callow]

42

I've
likely deeper pockets then some when buying film.
I think I can afford the best when 120 roll film
is to be purchased. Dan

hmmm. Will you pay for the correct answer?

 

[jd callow]

I assume you mean b&w. trX is a favorite of mine because it is hard to screw it up, is really easy to develop and has lovely tonal range.

 

[jim appleyard]

I've never had a problem with Agfa; been using it for years.

 

[Woolliscroft]

HP5 in 220 format. Too bad they don't make it any more and I'm down to my last 30 rolls. By the way Jay, Ilford are European: they're British. The factory is two miles from where I write.

David.

 

[Gim]

I have been shooting Tri-X and APX100 120. Develope and hang to dry next to each other and I see no difference when dry.

 

[Chazzy]

HP5 in 220 format. Too bad they don't make it any more and I'm down to my last 30 rolls. By the way Jay, Ilford are European: they're British. The factory is two miles from where I write.

David.

Depends on whether one considers the UK "european." What was that famous headline--"fog in channel cuts off continent"?

 

[collect888]

Kodak Fuji Polaroid Agfa Ilford Konica are the big six.

The rest small ones are in the second tier.

 

[VoidoidRamone]

Its base isn't thin and curly?

My rolls of APX100 are usually the flatest out of the majority of my films. I mainly shoot APX100 nowadays, and after I develop I hang the rolls from my ceiling in my bathroom- every roll has been perfectly flat.

In my opinion, the tones you get with APX100 and Rodinal are second to none (although I obviously haven't tried everything). I love this film.
-Grant

 

[Dean Williams]

Certainly Agfa films should be in the top tier. QC and handling are top notch. The "look" is in the eye of the beholder, of course. I like 'em. Dries flat as a sheet of glass.

 

[jim appleyard]

Its base isn't thin and curly?

APX 25 is/was quite thin, (it used to be quite thick!) but 100 & 400 are "normal". No, I have had no trouble with curling. In fact, it was Ilford FP-4 and HP-5 that would curl on me; but it was not enough of a problem to make me stop using thier films.

 

[Woolliscroft]

I've always understood that the Brits like to distinguish themselves from the continentals. Maybe you Brits are embracing this European Union thing more than I imagined.

Jay

Oh we're not continentals, but we're still European (but are we old Europe or new Europe Mr President ).

I find most film stays flat if you use weighted film clips when it's drying, even films like Tech Pan that are famous for curling. If all else fails hang another clip or a few coins from the bottom clip (don't over do it obviously).

David.

 

[gchpaco]

I've used Fuji, Kodak, Ilford, Agfa and Konica films (although I've never used the latter in B&W) and never had problems with the coating, film curling, whatever. I have found sometimes that some of my clothespins (for weighting the film down) can't get purchase on some films, but other clothespins work fine so I really can't be bothered to care.

I have had a recent problem with my Neopan 400 reticulating; I think I've traced it to not waiting long enough out of the freezer. No other problems that I can think of, and freezing to 21C is a bit of a temperature jump.

 

[modafoto]

Its base isn't thin and curly?

It is when i use it...but I found that it may be because I use heat when drying. Ilford and Kodak films do not curl when heat dried by me...So IMHO Agfa should stick to making the Holy Water...

 

[dancqu]

I wonder if 120 would survive a blotter drying using
my corrugated board stack dryer? I've a strip of four on
Efke which I cleaned with soapy water and soft brush.
Did they curl! The half cylinder is tough to like.

I may face the blotters with lint free tissue and
give my stack a go at it. Dan

 

[lee]

not to add to this but I was wondering what ever happened to your camea and the mirror being stuck in the up position? is it fixed and if so what did you do to fix it?

thanks,

lee\c

 

[Nicole]

I love working with TriX, Agfa APX and Neopan

 

[c6h6o3]

Kodak 400TMax. There is no substitute.

 

[modafoto]

Delta 100

I find Delta 100 to be the best 100 ISO film. It can be developed to give you exactly the contrast and detail you want. I use it for portraits with delicate details in the highlights and for my forest shots with lots of contrast.
I find it easy to use (matching exposure and developing). As always with this film I use...you know what!

Can't be any better.

 

[Lee Shively]

Any film made by any of the major film manufacturers anywhere will be consistent and of top quality. All you have to do is find one you like.

 

[Dave Parker]

I have had occasion to shoot both great quality films and real dogs from everyone of the major manufactures in the current market, I think in the current crop of films, anyone of the major players make top quality films, QC problems for the most part are pretty rare in the large companies now adays, the secret is finding the one that works for the application you intend to use it for, properly handled, I have not had problems with the thinner base films curling.

Dave

 

[dancqu]

I loaded a first film last night and will put the
camera and 127mm through it's paces.
This first roll may be all mirror-up.
Still stuck.

Whatever, I intend to have the RZ cleaned
and serviced. Dan

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

What are or would be the qualities of an ideal
roll film? Consistancy and handleing are two. Are
there any 120 films on the market that come
close to the ideal?

Of course money may or may not buy the best. I've
likely deeper pockets then some when buying film.
I think I can afford the best when 120 roll film
is to be purchased. Dan

I have found that Kodak, Fuji, Agfa, Ilford, and Konica are all incredibly consistent. My choice is Agfa, but for other reasons than just being well manufactured, it's also gorgeous film, especially the APX100 b&w stuff.
Kodak feel really solid to me too, and I use some of their transparency film, always without problems. The only problem I ever had with a Kodak roll was a Tmax100 120 that had a problem with the paper backing. To Kodak's credit, the roll was really old, about 10 years (I shot it because I wanted to see how it came out).
In my opinion, you can't go wrong with either of the aforementioned brands.

- Thom

 

[Craig]

I assume you mean b&w. trX is a favorite of mine because it is hard to screw it up, is really easy to develop and has lovely tonal range.

My experience is the opposite of yours, Tri X is the only film I've had screw up. One time I processed two rolls together in the tank, Tri X and HP5. When I poured out the developer (D76) there was this lump of black goo that came out with it. That was the emulsion washing off the Tri X, after fixing I opened the tank and there was a clear film base left on the reel, no emulsion at all. The HP5 on the adjecent reel was just fine.

Astonished, I shot another roll, developed it and had the same thing happen.

I gave up on Tri X for a while, then after hearing all the people in love with Tri X I gave it another shot. This time I was really careful to stick exactly to Kodaks recomendations, and kept all the temperatures within spec. This roll reticulated, but didn't wash off the film base.

I've given up, I'll never use Kodak B&W film again, since I've never yet had an Ilford film misbehave like the Kodak.

 

[apratsunrthd]

Depends on whether one considers the UK "european." What was that famous headline--"fog in channel cuts off continent"?

I think the point was to separate the UK from the US and Asia