What is the grainiest bw film and developer?

[RezaLoghme]

Yes, that has me puzzled too. Never had grain issues or more grain than normal with XP2. I rated it mostly at ISO 200 unless light fell to much and then would move my ASA/ISO dial to 400-800. Of course RezaLoghme uses 35mm and lab development I believe. Still, I wouldn't think grain should be an issue with either.

I also used it with my Hasselblad 500 way back then. Indeed, as 35mm film you can see the difference quite clearly,

 

[Augustus Caesar]

Wouldn't a condenser enlarger make a grainier PRINT than a cold light or color head? It will make the same negative contrasty-er which could emphasize grain in the mid and high tones.

Not if you develop it about 20% less, which is customary for condenser enlarging.

 

[TheGreatGasMaskMan]

I can add xp2 to the Rodinal and fx 39 test list. but... consider this 80s expired xp1 I shot spring/summer 2024 and had processed in c41- this is very fine grained for expired film of this vintage:

 

[Sanug]

No surprise, as XP1 had been advertised by Ilford to be "beating the grain".

 

[John Wiegerink]

No surprise, as XP1 had been advertised by Ilford to be "beating the grain".

Yes, developed in C41 developer there is no grain, just dyes. Even done in Xtol or D76 you won't be seeing a lot of grain. I wonder why Ilford stopped making or sell there XP 1 / 2 developing kits for this film? I still have a developing kit in its box in my basement as a keepsake.

 

[MMfoto]

FX-1 + Tri-X in my experience. Looks great too.

 

[albireo]

I'm experimenting with fresh TriX (in 120) developed in D76 1+1.

I had heard TriX is extremely grainy but I'm surprised at how beautiful and well contained the grain is. I wonder if modern iterations of TriX have been revised resulting in more contained grain.

Gorgeous combo by the way - I can see why it's considered a classic.

 

[TheGreatGasMaskMan]

got several rolls ahead of it, but I did try an assumed 20 years expired Tri-X in 1:25 Rodinal, and lets just say, that's got some good grain; and it convinced me to add fresh TX to the test list.
Also got an 06 expired TX to try as the inaugural roll for FX 39

 

[MattKing]

I wonder if modern iterations of TriX have been revised resulting in more contained grain.

It sometimes seems that there are whole threads of posts where people complain about just that!
Modern Tri-X is less grainy then, as an example, the mid 1970s Tri-X that I used for most of these:

 

[TheGreatGasMaskMan]

Major reason I wasn't originally considering trying Tri-X...

 

[MMfoto]

Major reason I wasn't originally considering trying Tri-X...

Modern Tri-X can be fine grained or as grainy as you like. It's very flexible. I'm sure there are grainier films in general, but Tri-X grain is really pleasing. Most of the grainier films I've used have had sort of lumpy, less attractive grain.