What is your all-time favorite type of 35mm film to shoot? Why?

FoidPoosening · Jul 27, 2015

There are so many types of 35mm film out there. What's your favorite and why?

As for me, historically my favorite is Fujifilm Velvia 50. The colors are so rich and true, even on expired rolls. If I don't have that on hand I'll usually go for Veliva 100F, but just tried some 64T and am excited to see the results.

Your turn!

mehguy · Jul 27, 2015

I havent really tried many different kinds of films. But most of the time I shoot Kodak Ultramax 400. Its cheap and gets the job done. Well, I really should try some ektar or portra sometime.

Alan9940 · Jul 27, 2015

Hmm, you don't say whether my all-time favorite should still be available, but barring that restriction my all-time favorite would be Kodachrome 25. I wish I could still shoot it, but like so many other films it passed on to that great "film vault in the sky."

If were talking current/available films, my choice generally depends on what I'm trying to accomplish. If I'm doing landscapes or typical outdoor scenes that I shoot and I plan to make larger prints (which, for me, about 8x12 is considered a large print) and I'm working from a tripod, my current fav is Adox CMS 20 II processed in its corresponding developer; very, very fine grain, very high sharpness, reasonable tonality. If I'm working more causally, then I'll typically have Ilford Delta 100 loaded. If I want speed, it's Tri-X all the way.

Best regards,
AlanH

Paul Howell · Jul 27, 2015

Currently Foma 200 in all formats, I like the range, grain, and speed. Of all time was 1970s TriX, has a look that is hard to duplicate.

rthollenbeck · Jul 27, 2015

Tri-X / HP5

but I do miss Tec-Pan

cuthbert · Jul 27, 2015

Colour: Portra 160 or 400 according to available light (or lack of)

B&W C41: the old BW400CN

True B&W: Ilford Delta 100 or 400

DWThomas · Jul 27, 2015

For 35mm B&W I was a Kodak Plus-X fan -- oh well! I have since been pretty happy with 35mm Acros, but honestly don't shoot much 35mm any more. In color I used to shoot Ektar 125. Way back Kodachrome 25 tickled my fancy. Today I would go for Ektar 100 or Fuji Superia in 200 if I were shooting color film, but I almost never do.

Last year I shot some expired in 1988 Panatomic-X in my Argus C3. I used to find that a bit slow for general purpose use, but it was a fantastic B&W film in terms of grain and tone.

Ian Grant · Jul 27, 2015

Agfa APX25 which I mainly used in 120 for 6x9. Then Tmax100 or the stop faster APX100. Now Delta 100 although I am shooting some Pan F

I guess Fuji 50D and 100D and later Velvia for colour, and the Fuji push process P1600 ( think that's what it was called0 for shooting rock concerts.

Ian

Sirius Glass · Jul 27, 2015

Color: For the Colorado Plateau,Kodak Portra Ultra Color 400 which I have a supply stocked in my freezer otherwise Portra 400.
Black & White: Kodak Tri-X and Ilford HP5+

railwayman3 · Jul 27, 2015

Alltime favourite has to be Kodachrome.

Otherwise HP5+ ..... I've always had a liking for 400ASA Ilford. When I first started picture-taking as a schoolboy, I had some hopeless results from some random cheap film (Gratispool?) and would have given up photography as an overated hobby, had my Dad not given me a roll of HP3, saying "try this, you won't go far
wrong".

Gerald C Koch · Jul 27, 2015

My all time favorite is Kodak Pan-X. A truly unique film. Sorry to say there is nothing made today that compares. Ilford Pan-F has its problems and ISO films <= 25 do not have any latitude. Today's film users seem to be fixated on speed over quality.

ic-racer · Jul 27, 2015

I don't see much difference between the major brands. I shoot and process Tri-X, TMY and HP5 interchangeably, in all formats from 16mm to 8x10, depending on availability and pricing.

Nodda Duma · Jul 27, 2015

I miss Tech Pan and Kodachrome

sportster44 · Jul 27, 2015

Ektar. I love the saturation

leicarfcam · Jul 27, 2015

Acros and Ektar are 2 of my favorites as well as FP-4 but when I need speed Tri-X works for me.

trythis · Jul 27, 2015

Lots of people seem to like Acros but its been discontinued. I bought 5 rolls and only one used, no impression yet.

Kentmere 400 bull roll all used up; I will buy again after I use up the arista premium I stocked up on before they sold out.

I really like Portra, wish It was available in bulk still.

I have a few rolls of E100VS slide film which looks fantastic. Hope Ferrania makes something like it. I would start developing E6 at home if they do!

Typos made on a tiny phone...

leicarfcam · Jul 27, 2015

trythis said:
Lots of people seem to like Acros but its been discontinued. I bought 5 rolls and only one used, no impression yet.

Acros has not been discontinued according to Fuji..

trythis · Jul 27, 2015

leicarfcam said:
Acros has not been discontinued according to Fuji..

Oh, I read that it was here recently, happy day!

Typos made on a tiny phone...

leicarfcam · Jul 27, 2015

trythis said:
Oh, I read that it was here recently, happy day!

Typos made on a tiny phone...

I know that Fuji Neopan 400 is gone but the latest on Acros is it is still very much alive and well.. I've been hearing Across is gone since 2013 so I suspect it is a holdover by the dooms dayers..

Pioneer · Jul 28, 2015

I shoot them all if I have the chance.

The only film I can say I was truly addicted to was Efke KB 25. I haven't really found a replacement yet though I am toying with Rollei RPX 25. So far I haven't sorted through the development options enough to say it will or will not work.

Kodak TMAX 100 is another one I really like but I stay pretty close to D76 or HC110 for that one. I am starting to try out some Caffenol to see what it will do.

If I need fast I go right for Delta 3200. A bit expensive but it is worth it in my opinion. When souped in DDX I can make that one work well from EI800 all the way out to EI6400.

BradleyK · Jul 28, 2015

All time favorites? PKM 25 for shooting color, and HP5/Tri-X for black and white.

JW PHOTO · Jul 28, 2015

Simple for me! It's Kodak VerichromePan B&W film. Great tones, easy to expose and not screw up, worked great in all cameras from box to 'blad and it was pretty darn cheap. The only thing it didn't have was speed, but was considered fairly fast back when Kodak first made it. I could live with this film as my only film forever, but alas it's dead and I'm not to far behind. Maybe it will still be in production in my life here after?
Now I like Acros and the Delta's for B&W and Fuji Velvia and Kodak Portra for color, but don't do much color now. John W

Peltigera · Jul 28, 2015

I always liked and used Agfa APX100. Now I am learning to like Fomapan Creative 200 which I find needs to be shot at EI 100

removed account4 · Jul 28, 2015

very long gone polapan and polacolor ..
it was delicate, beautiful, sharp as nails and instant, i liked that.

GarageBoy · Jul 28, 2015

Regretting wasting my late teen years not shooting the last of Kodachrome (I'm 26 now)
Rekindled my love for film because of E100VS and TMAX 3200 (I had dreams of shooting shows, but I never got a chance to and thus still am looking for ways to burn off my last rolls)

Provia 400X is a damn beautiful slide film

What is your all-time favorite type of 35mm film to shoot? Why?

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