What's the best 120 film in your opinion?

[Glausuche]

Since i have only been shooting with medium format for a short time, and have mostly just used a Holga, i haven't had the chance to really investigate the finer points of 120 film.
Now that I'm investing in a TLR, then inquiring minds need to know.
1. B&W
2. Color
3. other odd film

 

[Bronson Dugnutt]

1. XP2 Super
2. Ektar (or Ektachrome if you're bold)
3. Ortho Plus (safelite compatible), Delta 3200 (better for small aperture & fast shutter in decent lighting than lowlight usage IMHO)

The 'best' option of course depends on subject, lighting, desired vibe, etc. XP2 is very forgiving regarding exposure (especially processed C-41) and produces lovely tones. If you know you're going to nail the exposure and want maximum quality, try a TMax, Delta, or Acros stock.

120 photogs are spoiled for choice these days.

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

TMX-100
Ektachrome, Ektar-100

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

1. HP5. Delta 400. Pan F 50. Fuji Acros
2. No clue as I do not use colour films.
3. Rollei IR, Ilford SFX

 

[Sirius Glass]

Kodak Porxtra 160 and 400
Kodak Tri-400
Ilford FP4+ and HP5+
Rollei IR 400

 

[Alex Benjamin]

You do realize that the combination of "What's the best 120 film" with "in your opinion" will lead to this thread listing every single 120 film in current production and a few discontinued with at least one person saying "define best" and another "depends on the developer" leading you to start another thread titled "What's the best 120 film/developer combination" that you'll combine with "in your opinion" leading you to, well, you know, right?

So I'll play anyway:
1. Strictly working with FP4+ these days, but have tried, and liked, Tri-X, Foma 100 and 400, Delta 100 and 400, T-Max 100 and 400... depending on the developer I used (sorry...)
2. Really like Kodak Ektar 100, hate the washed-out, overexposed Portra look that everybody seems to be going after these days.
3. Every film is odd.

 

[Glausuche]

You do realize that the combination of "What's the best 120 film" with "in your opinion" will lead to this thread listing every single 120 film in current production and a few discontinued with at least one person saying "define best" and another "depends on the developer" leading you to start another thread titled "What's the best 120 film/developer combination" that you'll combine with "in your opinion" leading you to, well, you know, right?

So I'll play anyway:
1. Strictly working with FP4+ these days, but have tried, and liked, Tri-X, Foma 100 and 400, Delta 100 and 400, T-Max 100 and 400... depending on the developer I used (sorry...)
2. Really like Kodak Ektar 100, hate the washed-out, overexposed Portra look that everybody seems to be going after these days.
3. Every film is odd.

Fair enough.
I know I'm taking that chance, but figured if enough people are repeating a few. I can at least start with those.
Also, at this point I'm not developing my own, so can't speak to that, and don't know how that would affect things on going.

 

[Alex Benjamin]

Fair enough.
I know I'm taking that chance, but figured if enough people are repeating a few. I can at least start with those.
Also, at this point I'm not developing my own, so can't speak to that, and don't know how that would affect things on going.

If you're not developing your own but already know at which lab you'll send your film, ask them what developer they are using. If it's an "all-purpose" developer like D-76 or Xtol, you'll get good results, and they'll tell you most of what you want to know about the film.

 

[flavio81]

Since i have only been shooting with medium format for a short time, and have mostly just used a Holga, i haven't had the chance to really investigate the finer points of 120 film.
Now that I'm investing in a TLR, then inquiring minds need to know.
1. B&W
2. Color
3. other odd film

Best film is the film that you have in your camera when a good scene appears before your eyes!!

That being said...

1. Acros 100 or Delta 100 or Tmax 400

2. Any Kodak film

3. Fomapan 400... it's an odd film, but great.

 

[Craig]

Whenever I hear the "whats the best XXX?", my thought is best for what?

I liken it to asking "what's the best vehicle to drive?" The answer changes dramatically if your're looking for a commuter car that is cheap to run and easy to park, or if you're a road construction contractor and need to haul gravel. "Best" could be a bicycle or a Kenworth.

Without a context, it's impossible to say what is best. Favourites? Sure, we all have those! It will end up being a list of every film in production!

 

[abruzzi]

1-acros ii or TMax 100, 2-ektachrome or provia, 3-Bergger Pancro

 

[Sirius Glass]

Kodak Porxtra 160 and 400
Kodak Tri-400
Ilford FP4+ and HP5+
Rollei IR 400

Also Delta 100, 400 and 3200.

 

[GregY]

in 4x5 & 5x7 I could very easily get by with just FP4+
In medium format I use that and TMax 100, occasionally TMY-2
In 35mm. I prefer TMax 100 & TMY2..... & my few remaining rolls of the stellar original Agfapan 25.

 

[McDiesel]

1. HP5+ or FP4+
2. Portra 160
3. I have a strange addiction to Fuji 400H Pro

But honestly, it's much easier to list the worst films - everything Fomapan. Yeah, yeah, it has an unusual spectral sensitivity and unique look. But their quality control makes it useless if you respect your time & effort.

 

[macfred]

1. Ilford XP2 Super (C-41 dev.), Ilford FP4+ and Kodak TriX
2. Kodak Ektachrome for slides, Ektar or Porta 400 for negatives (I rarely use color but if I do I prefer Kodak)
3. ?

 

[markjwyatt]

1. FP4+/HP5+ (or Tri-X)
2. Last color 120 I used is VPS III (maybe Porta)
3. Rollei IR400; Lomo Potsdam, Berlin (Orwo films); SuperXX (cine film)

 

[foc]

XP2 super
Delta 100 & 400
and discontinued Fuji Reala. ( I am allowed to be nostalgic )

 

[Don_ih]

The best film is hp5 - because I have a lot of it.
When that runs out, whatever film I get in large quantity will be best.
You adapt to the material or you fail.

 

[wjlapier]

Best for me based on what’s in my freezer:

1 Kodak Trix400
2 Kodak Ektar
3 Fujifilm NPH400/Agfa Optima ( these two have fantastic color, mostly 220 though )

Some other stuff in the freezer like Lomo 400 and Agfa Aviphot 200 in 70mm I plan to slit to 120, but the above three are my usual go to films. Running low on the Agfa Optima though. The NPH should outlast me at the rate I’m shooting.

 

[Tel]

The best film is hp5 - because I have a lot of it.
When that runs out, whatever film I get in large quantity will be best.
You adapt to the material or you fail.

+1: the best film is Tri-X because I just loaded a roll. Yesterday it was Portra 160. Tomorrow maybe it'll be HP5....

 

[Warm Winter]

From what I have used:

1: ilford delta 100. It sits at a nice balance point for me in terms of everything
2: velvia 50. I almost never shoot color on film and I just love this one the very rare times I used a roll
3: no clue. maybe one of those weird ones from film washi? They look intriguing

it's camera food though so what I have on hand is best. I personally like slow films.

 

[Colin Corneau]

What's the best colour?

What's the best food?

What's the best animal with between 1 and 100 legs?

Come on, man.

 

[Pieter12]

The one that's in my camera(s).

 

[gone]

The best film is hp5 - because I have a lot of it.

That's cheating. We'll never get this thread to go for another year or two w/ answers like that. Logic and common sense should be banned here.

 

[Paul Howell]

For travel I like Tmax 400, in 6X9 almost invisible grain, great latitude, can be shot at 800 without changing developing time. For my walk around film I use Foma 400 shot at 320, I have not had any of the QC problems that others report. If it ever returns PhotoWearhouse Ultrfine EX 400. Last color I shot was with Porta 160.