TRI-X / FP4+ / DELTA 100 / APX 100

[John McCallum]

(Or any others) .... just wondering which is everyone's favourite and why?

 

[modafoto]

Ilford Pan F+ and Delta 100 for portraiture and landscape is quite my taste.
I'm not really crazy about T-Max except for the TMZ 3200.

Pan F+ @ iso 12 developed in Rodinal 1:100 for 6 minutes makes nice negs.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I like Tri-X for its tonality, long density scale, strong sense of line, and even traditional grain pattern. It's a flexible film available in most of the formats I shoot. I process it in PMK for enlargement, ABC pyro for contact prints, and Acufine when I need the extra speed.

The others you mention are all very capable films. Try them all, pick the one that you have the strongest affinity for, and use it exclusively for a year or so to see what it can and can't do.

 

[skahde]

Delta 100 (120) developed in Pryocat-HD for highlight-control, fine detail and grainless rendition. APX100 (35mm) in Barry-Thornton's Metol 2-Bath for foolproof 35mm photography with in-camera metering. APX100 and FP4+ are to close together for my taste to use them both side by side. I do not use Tri-X.

Stefan

 

[Eric Rose]

I am glad to hear that APX 100 and FP4 are close together since I can't buy APX 100 in 4x5 anymore. I have just bought 100 sheets of FP4 so will see how it works for me.

 

[KenM]

Tri-X 90%, HP5+ and FP4. about 10%.

I've also got a box of Delta 100 that I'm going to experiement with.

 

[skahde]

I am glad to hear that APX 100 and FP4 are close together since I can't buy APX 100 in 4x5 anymore. I have just bought 100 sheets of FP4 so will see how it works for me.

The look may be more different than my above comment implied. Sharpness, grain and speed are not to far apart, the rest is a matter of taste and specific application IMHO.

Stefan

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I think of FP4 as having a more neutral tonality than APX 100. Efke PL100 has more of a tonal affinity with APX to my eye.

 

[John_Brewer]

Pan F @ ISO 32 in Rodinol 4 3/4 mins 1:25 is my fave for 35mm landscapes.

Medium format Tri-X in Rodinol, lovely skin tones.

Just starting to play with Delta 100 for 5"x4" in Rodinol. I have just developed some studio shots of some Cala lilies which look promising.

 

[Flotsam]

GO TRI X and PAN F !!!!

I like Efke 50 in roll film too.

 

[david b]

APX 100 and Tri-X. Both in XTOL. Yummy.

 

[Annemarieke]

FP4 and Tri-X are my favourites (in D76 or DD-X), and I quite like Technical Pan too (in Technidol).

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

My current formats are 5x7 and 4x5 sheet, 120 roll.

My favorites are Efke 100, J&C Classic 400 and Efke 25.

I develop all of these films in Pyrocat-HD. I mostly use semi-stand agitation.

 

[Leon]

FP4, HP5, Pan F - I love 'em. although I am trying out some efke 100 and 50 at the moment, maybe I will stray from Ilford???

 

[Jorge Oliveira]

My main films are all Kodak - easy to get where I live (and cheaper...)
PX @200 and TX @500 in ascorbate dev (Yes, I've done Zone 1 tests; this is OK for my lighmeters/cameras combo).
TX @1250 in Diafine clone for available darkness shots.

In the past, I've used mostly FP-4.

Jorge O

 

[skahde]

I've never met a film I didn't like.

Yup, big problem. They are all that good after some getting used to that decisions are hard to make.

Stefan

 

[mobtown_4x5]

Tri-X ! Tri-X ! Tri-X !

Hey- that avatar looks familiar!

 

[k_jupiter]

Tri-X in Diafine for fast 35mm street shooting, PanF in Rodinal for 120, and APX100 in W2D2+ for 4x5.

Of course I shoot lots of other stuff too. And with me down to my last 500 sheets of APX100, what's a guy to do?


tim in san jose

 

[Flotsam]

I don't ever remember being particularly enamored with Panatomic X back when it was available. Finer grain than Plus X was about all that recomended it. I always used Ilford Pan F as my slow, fine B&W film. I don't know whether it is the reformulations over the years but I am even more impressed with it's grain and tone now. I rate it at 50 which is fine for general use in most outdoor situations, even hand held.

 

[John McCallum]

Been using FP4+ and HP5 myself which I really enjoy. PanF also when I was shooting more 35mm. The reason I asked is that I've never tried Tri-X (I know!!!) and several people have recommended getting a box so was interested to see who really favours it.
mobtown you'll notice I've changed my avatar - didn't want to tread on your turf and get caught out down town! (thinking about trying your film though).

 

[mobtown_4x5]

I've definately made my best negs with Tri-X, it's unbelievably forgiving and has great tone.

It appears I've lost my avatar, I'll have to take a look and see if Bogie is still among the choices.

By the way, "Mobtown" is an old nickname for Baltimore, fair city of my birth-one of Baltimore's several nicknames, which refers to a time of rivalry between various political gangs in the early to mid 19th century. More recently, "Charm City" is popular, so no need to fear a visit to my turf...any APUGers are always welcome!

 

[matt.s.]

The films I have tried which I find have the most satisfying tonality are usually the European films.

:Apx 100 & 400 processed either in rodinal or calbe A49
( I wish that Apx 400 was available in 8x10 )

Fortepan 200 and Efke 100 processed in PyrocatHD

Efke 25 processed in Rodinal is also uniquely beautiful.

I like TXP but I have not yet tried the new version in 8x10. I wonder how well it stains compared to Forte/Classicpan 200.

 

[Jimbob]

FP4 for most situations. Lately I've been fascinated with AGFA APX100 in roll film. I find the results using Barry Thorntons 2-bath developer to be wonderful. Great success with Pyrocat HD as well; 1:1:100.

 

[argentic]

HP5+ in Perceptol or Rodinal for 120 and 4x5 inch zonesystem work. Delta 100 in my homebrew metol 2-bath for 35 mm snapshots.

 

[Tom Stanworth]

APX100 is a gret loss in 5x4. I love the 120 simply because of wonderful tonality. I have used Efke PL100 in 5x4 and it is quite grainy, but truly beautiful. I am going 10x8 and will use this exclusively probably. FP4 is a super alrounder, but I will try Delta 100 having been disappointed with TMAX100 in 5x4. Only trouble is only TMAX100 and Acros are available in quickload and acros is ridiculously expensive.