What b&w film?

[Brad Bireley]

I have not shot a roll of b&w film in almost 20 years! I'm using 35mm & 120 cameras. What would be a good all around film to use. I plan on photographing landscapes with the medium format(645) & street shooting with the 35mm. I know there must be a great # of choices but, I need help!
Thanks in advance for any help,
Brad

 

[Amund]

A: Try T-Max 100&400, Agfa APX 100&400, hunt down some APX25, Neopan 400&1600, Acros 100, Ilford Fp4+&HP5+&Delta3200&PanF+, JandC Pro 100&Classic 400; Rollei R3,Lucky 100 and Tri-X.

B: Buy some Tri-x and never look back...

I`m finally on B......

 

[Andy K]

Ilford FP4+ (ISO 125) or Ilford HP5+ (ISO 400) are good. Given the time of year I would go for an ISO 400 film due to the poor light conditions.

 

[m_liddell]

For street tri-x is awesome, I love it. It just is *the* street/doc film.

For landscapes almost any iso 100 would be good. I like acros.

 

[Phillip P. Dimor]

I swear by Tri-X. Ilford HP5 is great, Delta 400 is great, etc.
I'd try a few and just settle on the one that you like the best.

I like Tri-X because it is versatile (for me..)
Pushed to 1000 and developed in Acufine, looks great (I love the grain with 120)
Rodinal for that crisp/stark look.
D76 for some smoothness.
Microdol-X for some excellent gradation.

 

[eddym]

Ilford HP5 gets my vote. Great film and great company who supports film photography.

--Eddy

 

[Flotsam]

I like the Efke/Adox films, R50 is my my choice for 120 studio stuff.

But Tri-X is the all time winner. The tone, speed and grain are superb and it responds to expansion and compression development like a dream. Many times I've strayed but I've always come back to it.

 

[Brad Bireley]

Thanks for the advice everyone.

 

[rbarker]

Everyone has their favorite B&W films, so recommendations will be all over the map, and may not relate directly to what you are looking for in terms of film characteristics, Brad.

In general, you'll now find B&W films fall into two categories: "traditional" emulsions similar to those you might be familiar with, and newer "T-grained" emulsions, like T-Max, the Ilford Delta films, and Fuji Acros. The T-grained films will usually be finer-grained, but will have a crisp, sort of "technical" apearance. Traditional emulsions will often have a softer look that is sometimes described as "creamy".

Although my personal approach is to select film (and developer) based on the nature of the subject, my personal "standard" film is Ilford FP4+ (ISO 125), or Ilford HP5+ (ISO 400) when I need the extra speed.

Here's an example of Ilford FP4+ in near-sunset contrasty lighting, followed by an example in more subdued, early-morning misty lighting:

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[Stephanie Brim]

I use both Tri-X and HP5, but I'm leaning towards Tri-X for everyday film. I like the look in Rodinal. My slower film is TMX (ISO 100), though I'm planning to try Plus-X and FP4 shortly as well to make sure I want to stick with TMX. Pan-F is my slow, fine grained film and I don't use it very often.

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

You know, I think I used every film there is, looking for a magic thing to happen. I found out that all films are good, but it's a matter of taste which one you like.
I go for Tri-X and FP4. Sometimes I endulge in a roll of Efke 25 when I have lots of time on my hands. That's about it. I just settled on those because they are both great films, they are readily available, and respond well to contrast shifts through development.

My two cents,

- Thom

 

[firecracker]

I've been using Fuji Neopan 400 for some time now, and I'm usually happy with the results I get from it.

 

[Gerald Koch]

IMHO, forget the suggestion to use Agfa APX films. Agfa is out of business and there is no point in becoming familiar with products that are in diminishing supply.

 

[Phillip P. Dimor]

I think that Plus-X is a great film, try it in Microdol-X for portraits or still lifes if you want that 'creamy' look.. One of my most liked combinations.