What is your favorite B&W film and why?

[Keith Tapscott.]

Ilford FP4+ & HP5+ both processed with Kodak D-76 developer diluted 1:1 and enlarged on Ilford Multigrade IV papers, both RC & FB.

 

[Ektagraphic]

. Also anxious to try some Adox. (soon)

They are awesome films. They look like they were shot 50 years ago

 

[Paul Green]

I mainly use Fuji Acros and neopan 400. But when im in the studio I enjoy using Pan 50 every so often. When I know im probably going to have to push a film I normally bring a long a few rolls of HP5. All deved in DDX, D76, or ID11.

 

[funkpilz]

Ilford XP2 for snapshots, and Pan F for serious photography. Sometimes HP5+, but not too often.

 

[Henry Alive]

TX400, EI200, HC110 1:47, 6 minutes.

 

[Mike Crawford]

I think it has to be 'The Third Man.' Orson Welles has never been better!

 

[2F/2F]

My favorites are HP5 and Delta 1000 (PLEASE change the name of this product, Simon)! I develop them both in Ilfotec HC, and sometimes in Kodak D-19. Is there an Ilford version of D-19? If so, I would use it instead.

They give me fast shutter speeds and deep depth of field in good light. I sometimes shoot while moving, or from a car, and I often zone focus, infinity focus, or guess focus. These films help a lot. I don't know how people did it in the days when a 100 speed film was blazingly fast. We are living in the lap of luxury with HP5 and Delta 1000! Between the two of them, I can work in almost any lighting condition hand held. I love their tonality and their maleability (but that is high speed films in general). I just love the flexibility and versatility of high-speed films, not to mention their look. Delta 3200 is also a great film for taming high contrast. I love its "washed-over"-looking grain pattern for a lot of things, as opposed to the gnarly, clumpy grain you get from a random grain film. Oh, yeah. Let's not forget the fact that I routinely use this film with two and three stop pushes, and it looks great. That is without even breaking out the D-19. My usual development (I won't use the word "normal" to avoid confusion with zone system applications )for this film is 15 minutes in HC 1:31 (what Kodak calls HC-110 dil. B) at 68F, and I use time-temp chart to adjust.

I used to use Kodak everything. Tri-X 320 was my favorite in medium in large formats, and 400 in 35mm. I never liked T-Max 3200, though. I just used pushed Fujicolor 800 and 1600 for really high speed shooting. I used D-76, HC-110, and D-19. Now I support Ilford because they have come out and blatantly stated what they are trying to do for film photography. I haven't heard shit from Kodak. Just the introduction of stupid and unnecessary new films while they constantly axe the old favorites that I loved, and on which I often relied. Once I made the switch, I realized that I like Ilford's overall line of products better than Kodak's. Their chemicals are convenient to use. I love syrupy concentrates so I don't have to monkey with powders. I love that their fixers are non hardening off the shelf in liquid form. I just wish they were not English, but United Statesian. p) Well, at least I am helping to give some English bloke a factory job, plus all the people responsible for getting the stuff across the pond to Freestyle and Samy's. I go to Kodak for C-41 chemicals, their wonderful Endura enlarging paper, which I like way better than Fuji's, even though they have discontinued all but Supra, and very occasionally some color film in small or medium format, but I mostly use Fuji. I do use their 400NC in 4x5, however, as it is the world's only color 400 sheet film as far as I know. There are a few things I dislike about Ilford. I do not like their bottles, as the factory seal never comes off cleanly, thus the lid never forms a tight seal once you have removed the factory seal. I love Kodak bottles, and never throw them away. The seals come off no problem. I have them many years old and just keep reusing them. I also find Kodak's data sheets incredibly more informative. I wish Ilford would publish some more detailed data sheets. Take a hint from Kodak's, for instance, with detailed curves for various developers, times, and developing methods. More information!!! Hell, why not write textbooks and market them to schools, along with a complete analog photo solution? Chemicals, paper, film, textbooks (from basic to very technical), partner with equipment makers to help set up state of the art school darkrooms.......now I am rambling.

 

[RobertV]

I have more then one specific favorite film. Especially in my Leica R.F. camera.

B&W:
Slow speed: Rollei Pan 25 (developed in Rodinal or AM50).
Regular medium speed: Fuji Acros 100.
High speed: Fuji Neopan 1600, E.I. 640-1000 in AM74/RHS.

For higher speeds I am using the Diafine 2-bath developer:
Acros E.I. 160 5+5 Minutes.
Neopan 1600 E.I. 1600 3+3 Minutes.

Color C-41:
Pro 160 C/S
Pro 400 H
Occasionally: Pro 800 Z

 

[Screwdriver]

Tech-Pan....

If I could have sex with film......well.

I used to break into old buildings and Tech-Pan was my tool....amazing....

 

[keithwms]

Panatomic x.

 

[ozphoto]

I love Agfa APX 100 and have stocked up on both 120 and 35mm. Develop it in Atomal FF - wonderful results!!
Have been using Fomapan 100 and it is a rather nice film, but I'm still learning its characteristics and limitations.
I'd like to give Adox and Efke a try as well - looks like I'll be making a visit to my local store in a couple of weeks to buy a roll or two of each of these.

 

[Jim Chinn]

I have rediscovered Tri-X in the guise of Arista Premium 400 for 35mm. To get the tonality and flexability of Tri-X with a $1.50 a roll discount over "official" Tri-X it is pretty irresistable. I only wish Freestyle could get it in 120 format. I would easily take on some debt and buy a hundred rolls for an outstanding film at that kind of discount.

 

[EASmithV]

Tri-X, because it is reliable, forgiving, and can do almost anything. If it's 320, even better.

 

[Dennis S]

I am becoming very partial to arista.edu ultra (Foma) in 120.

I have been experimenting with all theses as well 100,200. & 400 . For 35 mm its Premium Dev in Ilfosol 3

 

[2F/2F]

Having tried Arista Premium 400 recently, I can say that I have definitely "fallen" for it/Tri-X 400! I have not used it in 35mm in quite some time. It is really gorgeous, and I think I may use it instead of HP5 for as long as it is available.

 

[Mark Antony]

It changes depending on subject and format but..

I have always had a soft spot for APX 100 although I'm down to my last 15 rolls in 120 so I'm saving it my 100 speed film will end up using Foma or Plus-x.
I love HP5 and Tri-x for portraits in MF but outdoors and for certain subjects I also use Neopan which has fine grain for the speed.
Fast film for me it has to be Delta 3200EI which I love in 120. Slower films I used to love APX 25 in acuspecial now probably Pan F for landscapes and TMX rated at 50 EI for people although I really like the Adox CHS 25/50 emulsions.
So just about all available emulsions then.....

 

[Harry Lime]

I agree about Delta3200. It really is the best ultra-highspeed film out there. In my experience it is superior to Neopan 1600 (too much contrast) and Kodak 3200P (larger grain, worse tonality).

 

[psvensson]

Delta 400, probably. Compared to Tri-X, it's quite resistant to changes in the characteristics of the developer, maintaining very good sharpness even in highly solvent solutions. In a non-solvent, low-ph developer like MC-TEA, it yields fine grain and great sharpness, making for high-magnification prints with unobtrusive grain. A straight curve gives a very clean, literal look - not as poetic or characteristic as Tri-X, but easy to print and natural.

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

Without a question, Kodak Tmax 400. Its grain is what I'd expect from Plus-X, it's very sharp, responds to processing alterations really well, will build contrast beautifully with extended development. The quality control is amazing (no duds yet), the film base is nice and thick so it lays flat in the negative carrier. It's also pretty expensive. But I love the stuff. Both for 35mm and 120. If I ever get into shooting sheets again, I can have the same film in all formats.
It's beautiful stuff.

 

[VaryaV]

Depends on what I am shooting and the look and feel I want - my first favorite is D3200 fluctuating second with HP5+. For me it's all about grain and mood.

 

[dpurdy]

This thread was started 3 years ago. I wonder how many people have the same favorite film now that they did 3 years ago. For me I have to say it is Acros since my freezer is full of it. In 8x10 I would say TMY-1.
Dennis

 

[Ektagraphic]

I am quite partial to the ADOX films as they have strong blacks and have a look as if they were shot years ago. I do enjoy shooting the KODAK films also.

 

[VaryaV]

I am quite partial to the ADOX films as they have strong blacks and have a look as if they were shot years ago. I do enjoy shooting the KODAK films also.

I have a freezer full of ADOX CHS that I haven't used yet. I am waiting for my C3300 bellows to be replaced. I have designated that camera to be 'the one.' I can't wait to try it for the very reason you stated.

 

[nocrop]

My experience and feelings match 2F/2F's: just bought my 2nd bulk roll of Arista Premium 400 and 20 rolls of HP5+ in 120. Those films in those formats please me.

 

[Harry Lime]

This thread was started 3 years ago. I wonder how many people have the same favorite film now that they did 3 years ago. For me I have to say it is Acros since my freezer is full of it. In 8x10 I would say TMY-1.
Dennis

Still shooting Tri-X. I think it's been my main film for about 10-12 years now...

In the beginning I also shot a lot of Agfa APX400. Great tonality, I really liked it. From what I remember it had a ton of silver in it. The negative looked really fat, like an etching.

Dabbled with the new TMY-2 400 and will use it when I need moderate speed, less grain and a more linear tonal range. A really nice film.

Delta3200 still is my pick for a high speed film. I had a quick two brick fling with Kodak TMY3200P over the winter, but went back to Delta3200 in the end.