What is your favorite B&W film and why?

arigram · Oct 22, 2006

Pan F+ 120 in Ilfosol-S.
I love everything about it. No grain, great sharpness and tonallity, easy to expose, easy to develop, no worrying about further difficulties such as light streaking or scratches.
In 120 I can enlarge the photo as much as I can, 50x60cm and have no loss of detail or ugly grain.
I usually use it for studio or landscape work.

Second favorites are FP4+ and HP5+ which have similiar characteristics but they are a lot more versatile because of their ISO, so they are my street films. Even though I can hand hold a Hasselblad with PanF+ during summer in Greece, I can use FP4+ in almost any weather. HP5+ gives me a bit more comfort in more difficult lighting situations and moving subjects and I love the fact that I can enlarge it to 50x60cm and hardly see any grain in 120.

Not to mention that I can buy them in great prices: 2 euros a 120 roll.
Plus, even though PanF+ is not available in Greece, I can get the other two even at my local Cretan distributor which is a tad important...

Now, if the rumor for a new Ilfosol-S is true, then I am a very happy photographer.

filmnut · Oct 22, 2006

A film that many of us still cry about losing, Agfapan 25. I had an occasion earlier in the year to reprint some shots for a customer that were done on this film in the mid-ninties, and I was astounded (again) by the grain, sharpness, and tonality of these 35mm negs. At the time I was using a Spotmatic with a 50mm f1.4, a beautiful sharp lens.
For films that we can still buy, in order of most used, I like Fuji Acros 100, Ilford Pan F, or HP5+ if I need some extra speed.
Usually processed in Rodinal or Xtol.
I have some of the new Rolleipan 25 to try out, so maybe I'll find another 25 speed film that I really like! A bit expensive, as I couldn't find anyone in Canada that stocks it and had to have it imported from the US. As good as it might be, because of this it will NOT likely be a film that I will shoot much of.

htmlguru4242 · Oct 23, 2006

Even though it was before my time, Panatomic X. After using 4 rolls of it, i LOVE the film. My last roll is sitting in my freezer, being carefully saved.
Very fine grain, beautiful tonality, wide enough exposure latitude for when you need it, prints great.

But, for current films, Tri-X 400. Wonderful stuff. The grain could be a bit finer, but I like is texture; better than the pebbly crap that you get with TMax; it also has great tonality. It'll develop in anything from coffee to to Microphen, and at any speed between EI 200 and EI 6400. I regularly expose it at 1600 with no issue. When I need simple snapshots, it can handle it. If I'm doing something very prescise, it does just as well.

Steve Smith · Oct 23, 2006

arigram said:
Now, if the rumor for a new Ilfosol-S is true, then I am a very happy photographer.

It must be true. There is a safety data sheet for it here: http://www.ilfordphoto.com/Webfiles/2006589163564.pdf

Steve.

Bromo33333 · Oct 23, 2006

filmnut said:
A film that many of us still cry about losing, Agfapan 25. I had an occasion earlier in the year to reprint some shots for a customer that were done on this film in the mid-ninties, and I was astounded (again) by the grain, sharpness, and tonality of these 35mm negs. [snip]

I heard good things about Efke ISO25 film - though I haven't tried it.

Doug Smith · Nov 12, 2006

Plus-X in Xtol. FP4 a second choice. Tri-X when I need the speed. However for my Holga it's APX400, a perfect combo with that plastic lens.

jim appleyard · Nov 12, 2006

My favorite b/w films are no longer made. Of the current crop, it's FP-4.

roteague · Nov 12, 2006

Ilford. Mostly because I have shot Ilford films for 30+ years, and because of what they are doing for traditional photography. I have shot other types of film, however. Most recently, I used Efke PL100 in Australia (see attachment) - mainly because someone else offered to process it for me. My primary film remains Fuji Velvia.

CraigK · Nov 12, 2006

35 mm: XP2, Delta 3200

Medium format: HP5, Acros

Large Format: FP4 TriX320, Polaroid Type 55

rossb · Nov 13, 2006

T-max 100 for fine grain and overall flexibility. FP4+ for pyro

copake_ham · Nov 13, 2006

I'm not sure yet. I've been trying a variety of B&W's - including the "real" ones like T-Max 400 and 100 as well as the chromogenics (K's TCN400 and I's XP-2)

Still need to try the "real" Ilford HP5 - not to mention the Fuji Pans etc.

But I'm still trying to define my "mind's eye" for B&W - so different from color....

mario Ag+ · Nov 13, 2006

HP 5. I fell in love with it the first time I used it. I love it's tones and grain. It has so much character.

EdR · Nov 13, 2006

filmnut said:
A film that many of us still cry about losing, Agfapan 25.

I have some of the new Rolleipan 25 to try out, so maybe I'll find another 25 speed film that I really like! A bit expensive, as I couldn't find anyone in Canada that stocks it and had to have it imported from the US. As good as it might be, because of this it will NOT likely be a film that I will shoot much of.

I too mourn the loss of Agfapan 25, and, in the search for a successor, have had my first batch of negs back of the new Rollei 25. Just had a contact print made from 120 them and I have to say they look very promising. Grain, or lack of, impressive as is sharpness. There is an attractive luminous quality too. Here's hoping...

Cheers,
Ed

Leon · Nov 13, 2006

another vote for ilford films here. fp4+, hp5+ for 120, delta 400 for 35mm and the occasional roll of delta 3200.

ANelles · Nov 13, 2006

I'm a supporter of Tri-X 400. 35mm and 120.

I love the grain and the contrast, and it looks good all the way up to 1600.

pentaxuser · Nov 13, 2006

Maybe it's more of a question of favourite film/developer combination. In my very early days, as opposed to now which is still early days, I tended to use a large variety of films, starting with HP5+, then Pan F, Fuji Acros, Deltas 100,400 and 3200, Ilford SFX and more recently FP4.

Until recently I was using ID11 and all the above films seemed to be much of a muchness. I had expected great things of Acros and Delta 100 compared with the traditional grain films but was disappointed that their usage hadn't take me a great leap forward. The only combination that was a step backwards was Rodinal with D400 and SFX but at least I then realised I wasn't a "grainy" person.

Then I went back to HP5+ at EI250 and tried Percerptol at stock and then 1+3. The first combination was good and the second even better.

That isn't to say that other films already tried might not be even better with the right developer. I just don't know but I do know that HP5+ and Perceptol works very well.

So HP5+ wins so far.

pentaxuser

Mark_S · Nov 13, 2006

I shoot mostly sheet film.

I used to shoot exclusively plus-X and Tri-X. I loved Plus-X because of the very soft shoulder - I live in Maine, and most of my landscapes in the winter time have snow in them - nothing held detail in the highlights like Plus-X. Then Kodak discontinued Plus-X (in 4x5). I considered stapling together pieces of 120 to get more for my LF camera, but it seemed to be more trouble than it was worth.

For me, I do a lot of testing on the films to get an idea of how they work, so changing from Plus-X was a big deal for me. I ended up doing my testing on FP4+ and tested HP5 and Acros as well.

I Liked Acros a lot, and love the ready load packets, but it is hard to purchase locally, whereas the Ilford stuff is readily available.

Today, I shoot almost exclusively HP5, which I develop in HC-110 at a variety of different dilutions. Tri-X is a fine film, but discontinuing Plus-X left such a bitter taste in my mouth that I try not to buy the yellow boxes anymore. HP5 seems to do what I want, and I am learning to get more versatility out of it by adjusting development. If Ilford (or some third party) were to offer HP5 in readyload/quickload type packaging, then it would be even more versatile!

Curt · Nov 14, 2006

Panatomic X in all sizes. It had the "look" that no other fine grain film had/has.

livemoa · Nov 14, 2006

Dr Strangelove or: how I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb

Proves what a great actor Sellers was, what? oh, oopps, you mean that sort of film. hmmm fp4 and hp5. Have used it for ever, know it, why change.

Dave Wooten · Nov 14, 2006

Yes it's Ilford

I use Ilford films....

Delta 3200 is a real joy for street shooting and am working with it in 35 mm and 120.

For 35 mm and medium format the 100 and FP 4 is really lovely.

In my large format cameras I am using FP 4 and HP 5. Therefore Ilford is pretty much my film....I am experimenting with J and C products for my 14 x 17 projects....still learning on these, and looking forward with hopeful anticipation for more news on the new ventures announced by J and C ....I am having good results with the films distributed by J and C and the prices currently are good.

All said, my first choice in any case is and has been for many years, Ilford films. The new direction and impetus of the Ilford company in Mobberly is certainly exciting and a breath of fresh air and worthy of support. In reviewing photos I have taken in the past 30 yrs or so, I more and more am drawn to those on Ilford film and Ilford paper. My favorite paper still is Ilfobrom Gallerie number 3.

Scandium · Nov 14, 2006

Fuji NeoPan 400

Fuji NeoPan 400 in D-23 1+1.

Harry Lime · Nov 14, 2006

Give me Tri-X or give me death.

Does pretty much everything you could ask from a film,
with a minimum of fuss and it looks great.

IMO still the b/w film to beat.

HL

Mark Fisher · Nov 14, 2006

Little late to the party, but FP4 in xtol is a wonderful thing. It has a long, straight curve that goes on forever, little grain, and nice tonality.

Second favorite is Tri-X (TX) developed in anything. Beautiful grain and tonality. Nice, gritty look when pushed.

Weldon · Nov 15, 2006

T-Max 100 in Rodinal.
Why? Because I love the "look" and I can make it work!

karavelov · Nov 16, 2006

I like the old style emulsions for their flexibility in processing. Lately my favorites are Fortepan 200 and an old stock of NP15 and NP22 (I have to try the new Adox films that run now on the nearly the same production lines). I soup them now in Pyrocat-HD and sometimes in R09 (prewar Rodinal).

What is your favorite B&W film and why?

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