What is your favorite B&W film and why?

tjaded · Oct 16, 2006

Kodak Technical Pan.

So, I guess I would say the jury is still out as far as an available film! I do like Fuji Acros 100, but I wouldn't call it my favorite. Not much of an answer. I'm still hoping to be wowed by a NEW film, and I am sure they will still come along. Don't know when, but someday.

Tom Hoskinson · Oct 16, 2006

mikebarger said:
tri-x in 120
HP5 in 4x5 since real tri-x isn't made in this size

Mike

I have Kodak Tri-X Professional 320 TXP in 120 rollfilm, 4x5 sheet, 5x7 sheet and 8x10 sheet film in my freezer. It is readily available in all these sizes from Freestyle and other suppliers.

AFAIK 320 TXP is not available in 35mm ( but the 400 ISO version is).

Wmcgowin · Oct 17, 2006

Ilford Delta 100 and Fuji Arcos 100.

While I am at it, let me ask this: I tried some Efke 100. I read all that about the high silver content, the "old school" type emulsion, etc., etc. Maybe I don't have enough of a discerning eye, but to me, the Ilford and Fuji films are better, plus you don't have all the problems you do with Efke. Let's face it, Efke is a pain-with hardening fixer, curling of the negatives, etc., etc. And I read all about quality control problems.

OK, maybe I should duck now.

Tom Hoskinson · Oct 17, 2006

I use Efke 100 and Efke 25 in 120 Rollfilm, 4x5, 5x7 and 8x10. I develop it in Pyrocat-MC, use a water rinse instead of a stop bath, and fix it in Suzuki's neutral rapid fixer (with no hardener). Great negatives, no curling, no scratches, no QC problems.

Harry Lime · Oct 18, 2006

Give me Tri-X, or give me death.

It does everything and looks great doing so. What more could you ask for?
I develop it in DD-X or Divided D76.

My second favorite film was Agfa APX100 in Rodinal, which simply was magical.

Shot with a Leica 2/50 Summicron DR and printed on AGFA's Classic Glossy Fiber it just glowed. Even laymen noticed that there was something special going on in those prints.

Unfortunately AGFA is no longer with us, and once the remaining stockpiles are depleted, that's it.

Wmcgowin · Oct 18, 2006

I developed two rolls of 120 last night-one Efke 100 and one Ilford Delta 400. The Efke was tougher to work with, curled excessively, etc., etc. The Delta 400 came out flat as a board.

As for hardening fixer, I am just repeating what the Efke directions say to do.

I am not trying to start an argument here-just reporting what I have experienced.

Now, on the other hand, I can see why we should support both companies. Both Ilford and Efke (or whoever makes Efke) are committed to B&W film, so we should support them both. Kodak, on the other hand...

Bromo33333 · Oct 18, 2006

David Lingham said:
I'd like to use FP4 more often, but the amount of light we get here in the UK means I end up using HP5. I also use HIE.

Here in Rochester, NY we have similar "brightness" that makes 400 speed film much more resonable than 100 or 200 on average.

We had a couple of really bright sunny days that were simply amazing, and I was using 1/500 at f16 with 100 speed film which is bright for around here.

Tom Kershaw · Oct 18, 2006

Wmcgowin said:
Now, on the other hand, I can see why we should support both companies. Both Ilford and Efke (or whoever makes Efke) are committed to B&W film, so we should support them both. Kodak, on the other hand...

I get the impression Kodak is committed to film, look at their position in the motion picture field, or the new Portra films.

RalphLambrecht · Oct 18, 2006

j-fr said:
Favorite film: T-MAX 400.

Fast. Fine grain for a 400 film. Long toe curve. Responds to different developers, lots of possibilities.

j-fr

www.j-fr.dk

What do you like about a long toe curve? Wouldn't that mean low shadow separation? (low density increase despite large exp differences)

Black Dog · Oct 18, 2006

Forte is a really bad curler as well-but that's not a problem in sheets of course. Have seen some good pics on EFKE so I'm looking forward to trying it.Anyway if it doesn't work out I'll just stick to Ilford. Like Classic Pan though and I can always do some ebaying for VP/APX (RIP)

TheFlyingCamera · Oct 18, 2006

All time favorite? FP4+. Current first choice, since I'm trying to be parsimonious while still taking good photos, is Arista.EDU Ultra (aka Fomapan Creative 200) in 5x7.

I got some good results out of Tmax 400 when shooting night shots, since it has very good reciprocity characteristics- only 1 stop of comp up to the several minute mark.

Black Dog · Oct 18, 2006

I love a nice set of curves,me!

6x6x9 · Oct 19, 2006

HP5+.
Because every roll I developed, came out of a tank with at least acceptable results. I've tried only few other films, but with each of them, especially eFKe, I had doubts like "What I'm doing wrong". For an unexperienced photographer like me, it is important to eliminate possibilities of mistakes. And Ilford helped me with it, by giving a lot of detailed infos on their web site about HP5+.
Snjesko

Simon R Galley · Oct 19, 2006

Dear All,

I do use FP4+... but I like a more discernable grain so HP5+ sometimes... and at the moment DELTA 3200 its fun, flexible and different, I rate it at 1600
( and as I have said I like grain and punchy negs ) and ideal for an English summer sic........

Since I work for ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology I have to declare that I am somewhat biased in my choice...and in all honesty I do not pay a lot for them!.....but if you were to ask me about films from other mnfcs...well I only use FUJI for colour, and have a huge amount of respect for all their products and I have to say Tri-X is not a bad film ( and yes, that is English understatement....)

Oh and a very big thank you to everyone who has said one of our films is their favourite.......you may think I am a little sentimental...but it actually means a lot to us...thanks

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited :

Aurelien · Oct 19, 2006

Well, I have a few favorite films. First in 135, I love to use FP4+ and HP5+. Very thin grain for the first one, very beautiful grain for the second.
In 120/220, I often work with TXP320, because it's the only B&W film avalaible in 220. And results in Calbe A49 are pretty good. I like too 125PX, because grain is very circular, very smooth. And, because I am french, I love Bergger films.

jproulx · Oct 19, 2006

Ilford Delta 100 has been good to me, especially in 35mm/120. I've taken 35mm enlargements to 16x20 with it happily, as a moderately grain obsessed individual that's alot for me. And in 4x5 it's just wonderous.

I've recently come across a pile of old Ektapan and even 10yrs post date I'm impressed by it's super smooth tonal range. It doesn't hurt that my first tests of it were 8x10, though I do need to figure what to do with the 3.5"x75' rolls...

David H. Bebbington · Oct 19, 2006

Rollfilm and sheet film - HP5 Plus (with sheet film, I would use HP3 if I could still buy it). For "art" images, I use HP5+ in 35 mm too (always developed in D76 1+1). FP4 Plus obviously has less grain, I use this whenever really smooth tonality is important. In 35 mm, if I need minimum grain, I would use Delta 100/400, definite gain if exposed and processed carefully, don't use it all the time because Delta doesn't seem to push or pull in the way that I am used to. Tri-X and Plus-X also fine films, but Kodak stopped making serious efforts to sell to the UK market years ago, so I gave up on them. Also, Ilford quality control is very good - I have never experienced a manufacturing defect with an Ilford film (or paper) product (experienced so many with Agfa b+w paper that I gave up on it too!).

Black Dog · Oct 20, 2006

IIRC there was an article in the BJP by Geoffrey Crawley which stated that Fortepan 400 is based on HP3.

eclarke · Oct 20, 2006

T-max 100 because I have 1000 sheets of it ..EC

RobLewis · Oct 20, 2006

Tri-X 400 because it's all I've ever used. And I've been at this for at least 4 months now.

mawz · Oct 21, 2006

TX400 and Acros, in 120 and 35mm. I'll also usePanF+, APX100 and 400 (or the Silvertone equivalent) and TMZ.

Other than TMZ and Acros, I won't use any modern grain film. Muddy midtones and excessive developer sensitivity cause me nothing but headaches. I will use any cheap classic grain film I get my hands on though.

Alex Bishop-Thorpe · Oct 22, 2006

Ilford HP5+, I'd shoot it exclusively if I could get more of it I think. It just seems to capture everything sharply in in detail, out of everything I've tried so far it's the best.
Apart from that, Agfapan APX400, because I had a 100ft roll for a while there, all gone now.

jgjbowen · Oct 22, 2006

Tri-X for 35mm and 4x5 just because it is the film I started with 25 years ago.

Tmax-400 for 8x10 and 7x17 in pyrocat-hd for contact printing on Azo. Because it has a long straight line and excellent reciprocity characteristics. I came across this combination on the Azo Forum.

I do have a couple rolls of Fuji 1600 film in the freezer for such things as kids school award ceremonies where you are likely sitting near the back of the audience and thus will need a long lens and available light to "capture the moment".....ie when I need more speed than Tri-X can deliver.

John

wojtek · Oct 22, 2006

I love fp4+ it's the most incredible film I've ever used.
For handheld situations - delta 400 in id11 stock. Sometimes hp5+ shot at 250.

Mackinaw · Oct 22, 2006

Efke 25 (in Rodinal) and HP5 (in Xtol) for 35mm. Ilford FP4 (in Xol) for 120.

Jim Bielecki

What is your favorite B&W film and why?

tjaded

Tom Hoskinson

Wmcgowin

Tom Hoskinson

Harry Lime

Wmcgowin

Bromo33333

Tom Kershaw

RalphLambrecht

Black Dog

TheFlyingCamera

Membership Council

Black Dog

6x6x9

Simon R Galley

Aurelien

Advertiser

jproulx

David H. Bebbington

Black Dog

eclarke

RobLewis

mawz

Alex Bishop-Thorpe

jgjbowen

wojtek

Mackinaw

What is your favorite B&W film and why?

Membership Council

Advertiser

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency