What's the best 120 film in your opinion?

[grat]

I really like Foma 400 (well, Arista EDU Ultra 400) in 4x5 sheet form. Haven't used the 120 version, but the sheet film is fantastic value, and as a rank amateur, has produced some very nice photos.

 

[calico]

Now that the OP has made up his mind, I dare to mention the least likely candidate ... Fomapan 400.

Last weekend I used it for the first time on an indoor portrait/boudoir shoot. Rated at 200 ASA and developed in FX 55 (Gainer variant) I got excellent sharpness with deep blacks and crisp highlights, great tonality and absolutely drop dead gorgeous skin tones. Really, really nice.

From a technical point of view most certainly not the best 120 film, but from an artistic or creative point of view it blew me away on this occassion.

I have seen scans of Fomapan on internet which looked really nice. I read, though, that the negs are extremely curly which make them more difficult to deal with when scanning. Was your film especially curly?

 

[FotoD]

From a technical point of view most certainly not the best 120 film, but from an artistic or creative point of view it blew me away on this occassion.

I can't speak to the technical quality since I'm not sure what that means. But I've never had any problems with this film.

I agree it is a wonderful film for portraits. Beautiful tonality in cold light e.g. from a north facing window. Just remember to rate it at EI 200, not 400, for good shadow detail.

 

[removedacct3]

Was your film especially curly?

No, not at all. I'm taking about recent or fresh 120 film as I bought a few weeks ago from the Foma web shop.

 

[mshchem]

TMX-100
Ektachrome, Ektar-100

Good suggestions. Add Portra-160

 

[calico]

No, not at all. I'm taking about recent or fresh 120 film as I bought a few weeks ago from the Foma web shop.

Thanks.

 

[Chuck1]

I liked arcos ii before it was $12.99 a roll

 

[brian steinberger]

HP5. It’s all I shoot.

 

[Pieter12]

The one that's in the camera.

 

[Rayt]

1) TMY for fine grain and HP5+ for un-fine grain
2) Portra 400 - all purpose. Haven’t tried the new Gold 120
3) XP2 for shooting in harsh midday light

 

[alanrockwood]

The question kind of reminds me of an old joke:

Q. What's the best word processor?

A. The one you know how to use.

The same comment might apply to film, but not as a joke but as a reality.

 

[skahde]

1. Delta 400 for B&W, we're an old couple.
2. Portra 160 for People, as intended buy its creators.
3, Have to give Ektar another try, the last roll was decades ago.

 

[Jim Peterson]

1. Acros 100 and Tmax 100 for landscapes, XP2 for walk around handheld, Tmax 400 for the Holga.
2. Velvia 50 under the right conditions and Portra 400 for an occasional portrait.
3. I have a few rolls of Agfapan APX 25 and Efke Ir 820 stashed away. I'm mostly too scared to shoot them and just like looking at them and
recounting how many I have left.

 

[markjwyatt]

With ADOX CHS 100 II back in play for 120, we might get a few new opinions... I have some, but have not shot it yet. Looking forward to it, but still catching up on uploading vacation photos and some 35mm I just shot (ADOX CHS 100 II also).

 

[retina_restoration]

With ADOX CHS 100 II back in play for 120, we might get a few new opinions... I have some, but have not shot it yet. Looking forward to it, but still catching up on uploading vacation photos and some 35mm I just shot (ADOX CHS 100 II also).

I've used two rolls of it in 120 roll size, exposed at 40 ASA and developed in Thornton 2-Bath (another example here) purchased direct from Fotoimpex. Excellent results, but as with the sheet film sizes, it must be exposed at 40 ASA or lower to retain good shadow information. The tone separation throughout the scale is really wonderful, and it displays excellent acutance. The Thornton 2-Bath tends to encourage sharpness, but the grain tends to become more conspicuous, which I don't have a problem with. But bear in mind this is a "classic grain" type film, and so the grain is larger than we've come to expect from some of the modern "t grain" films. But if you're a fan of the Tri-X look, with great separation of tones and deep shadows, then you're going to be a fan of CHS 100 II, I suspect.

 

[markjwyatt]

I've used two rolls of it in 120 roll size, exposed at 40 ASA and developed in Thornton 2-Bath (another example here) purchased direct from Fotoimpex. Excellent results, but as with the sheet film sizes, it must be exposed at 40 ASA or lower to retain good shadow information. The tone separation throughout the scale is really wonderful, and it displays excellent acutance. The Thornton 2-Bath tends to encourage sharpness, but the grain tends to become more conspicuous, which I don't have a problem with. But bear in mind this is a "classic grain" type film, and so the grain is larger than we've come to expect from some of the modern "t grain" films. But if you're a fan of the Tri-X look, with great separation of tones and deep shadows, then you're going to be a fan of CHS 100 II, I suspect.

I have shot a lot of ADOX CHS 100 II in 35mm at ISO 100, and develop mainly in ADOX FX-39 II nowadays ("semi-stand", basically agitate every one minute instead of my normal 30 seconds). , and don't feel I am losing a lot of shadow detail. I love the tonality in the shot you shared and look forward to trying the 120. I will probably shoot the first roll at ISO 100 and develop the same as 35mm.

 

[campy51]

I found a roll of XP2 that expired in 2000 and looks like it was not properly stored judging the condition of the box. I would like to try it but not sure what iso I should shoot it at. I have read for every decade halve the rated speed.

 

[Ai Print]

Best? It's too subjective to suggest one based on that. My personal faves are Acros and TMY2.

 

[wiltw]

Best color reproduction accuracy: Kodak EPN (no longer made)
Best saturated color: Fuji Velvia 50
Best color neg: Fuji NPH 400 (no longer made)
Best color neg for portraiture: Fuji NPS 160 (no longer made)
Best B&W: Kodak Plus-X (no longer available)


,,,why I grieve film shooting.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Best color saturation for a color negative film: Kodak UltraColor 400 [no longer made]

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I'm adding P30 in 120 to the list.

 

[Philippe-Georges]

For long time it was AGFAPAN, but now it is Hp5+ and FP4+, all 120 film
But between the AGFA and Ilford films it was Tri-X but this one became a little to expensive, compared to the Hp5+ the Tri-X isn't worth the higher price (=very personal opinion)...
No more colour film.

 

[grain elevator]

now it is Hp5+ and FP4+

Same here, I use FP4+ for tripod work and HP5+ mostly for hand-held medium format work.
But as to the thread title, I don't choose these films because I think they're "the best". They just work for me. Part of the thread title is, however, very true for me, and that is that I only really like these two films in 120. In 135, FP4+ especially to me is neither fish nor fowl in therms of speed and granularity. In 120 it's smooth with juuust the right little bit of grit at my usual magnifications.

 

[chuckroast]

For the longest time, 90% of what I shot was on Agfapan APX 100. When they stopped making it, I stocked up and froze multiple bricks of the stuff in 120 and many boxes of 4x5.

The replacement was going to be FP4+ until I tried Double X. I find Double X does everything Plus X, FP4+, and Agfapan do/did as well or even better, and it does it at ASA 250.

Tragically, it isn't available in 4x5 or 2x3 sheet film...

Here are scans of a silver prints shot on 35mm Double X, semistand processed in Pyrocat-HD (I don't have any 120 results handy) ...

https://www.tundraware.com/Photography/Gallery/Silver/media/large/20230825-1-18-Machinehead.jpg

https://www.tundraware.com/Photography/Gallery/Silver/media/large/20230825-1-23-Edgelord.jpg

 

[Steven Lee]

So many wrong answers in this thread...
I was shocked to learn than less than 10% of Photrio users know which 120 film is the best.