What's the best 120 film in your opinion?

[bags27]

Do you use a tripod regularly or not?

This was my first thought, too. Thanks!

Another variable is, what light and in what season? Filters, and, if so, what kind?

 

[xya]

I dont consider hp5 too be the best, but i sure use it the most.

+1. Same for me. I am lazy, so I do semi-stand develloping 1:100 Rodinal for 1h. Very nice results in general. Or Fomapan 400 at 320, same procedure...

 

[drkhalsa]

I like:

1. Kodak 400TX
2. Ilford FP4 Plus
3. Fuji Pro 400H
4. Fuji Provia 100F

 

[Huss]

Shanghai Gp100 120
Lomo Purple
Lomo Metropolis

 

[beemermark]

The film you can afford (if you have to ask)

 

[Neil Poulsen]

Best all depends on what you need in a film. That said, the "best" 120mm that I've encountered is TMax 100 developed in the original TMax developer. Very nice, and very smooth.

In contrast, I now use HP5 developed 1:1 in D76 for its additional speed.

 

[Sirius Glass]

The film you can afford (if you have to ask)

What is in my freezer:

• Discontinued film that I bought up all I could when each film I wanted was discontinued. I keep those from the hoarders.
• Film I buy on sale, not short or out dated, when I see a need to restock.
• Film I buy as a type is beginning to run low.

I use what is in the freezer and I can wait until things settle down before buying more film.

 

[Helge]

On a tripod:
Provia
TMax
Rollei RPX 25

 

[beemermark]

What is in my freezer:

• Discontinued film that I bought up all I could when each film I wanted was discontinued. I keep those from the hoarders.
• Film I buy on sale, not short or out dated, when I see a need to restock.
• Film I buy as a type is beginning to run low.

I use what is in the freezer and I can wait until things settle down before buying more film.

Under the assumption that what goes up will never come down I tend to be buy as much as I can afford at one time from an online store. Film is fresh, good for at least a few years out, and will last a long time in the freezer. I've also managed to buy some short dated 120 film on this forum. Just can't see paying top dollar (and what I consider somewhat ridiculous prices) for film many years out of date and stored who knows how (no matter what the seller may represent).

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Clayton F76+ has working characteristics very similar to D76, if you like Pf4 or HP5 in D76 ought to work just fine. I use F76+ for Kentmeyer 400, both Ultraine Ex 100 and 200, Tax 400 and Foma 200 and 400 with good results.

North Coast Photo Services NCPS in Carlsbad, CA uses Clayton F76 for all their BW development. LTI Lightside in NYC uses Xtol.

 

[Paul Howell]

As I recall the Navy used Clayton chemistry, Clayton was also popular with local high schools, available in large quantities, no need to mix from a powder, and inexpensive when compared to Kodak. There was time Clayton was what I used, developers, stop, fix, the local camera store I shopped at sold it me at the same cost he charged the high schools. I did use Orbit Bath for clearing agent and Kodak Pho Flo. At some point I started to use Edwal, really like FG7.

 

[pbromaghin]

Never tried it. I'm only working with D-23 these days, with FP4+ rated at 200.

Wait. What? What about the loss of speed with D-23 that comes up all the time? I ask because I have just started using D-23 and plan to shoot a lot of FP4+.

 

[W_Taylor76]

Delta 100 for most my work and Bergger 400 (shot at 200 but processed at 400 times)

 

[GregY]

I could happily live with FP4+ in all formats. I process in Pyrocat HD. But I have to say that for 20x20" or 20x24" landscape prints I really like the smoothness of TMax 100.

 

[Alex Benjamin]

Wait. What? What about the loss of speed with D-23 that comes up all the time? I ask because I have just started using D-23 and plan to shoot a lot of FP4+.

Indeed there is—which I don't mind, actually. I like the results, but I'm still trying to figure out the perfect time. At 1:1, I'm starting from D-76 times (15mn), but extending it. Went as far as 19mn for very low contrast scenes.

 

[Glausuche]

This was my first thought, too. Thanks!

Another variable is, what light and in what season? Filters, and, if so, what kind?

I don't use a tripod regularly, but I haven't had a tlr before, so that might change in the future.

I would say that I will be using it mostly for street photography and landscape.

I don't have any filters yet.

 

[Matteo_Csepeli]

1. Ilford PanF 50
2. Kodak Porta 160

 

[grat]

Because the OP is in the US, and Kodak is pretty inexpensive here, I'm gonna go nuts, and suggest Tri-X or T-Max 400 for B&W, depending on which the OP prefers the look of. Both have a pretty consistent spectral response, so filters aren't necessarily a requirement. 400 speed isn't a must for street photography, but it certainly helps, especially without a tripod or practice at slow shutter speeds.

Color options are a bit more limited, but are probably more about personal taste anyway. It's hard to go wrong with Portra 400, and Ektar 100 will make even the corner of Bland and Dull light up.

 

[pbromaghin]

Indeed there is—which I don't mind, actually. I like the results, but I'm still trying to figure out the perfect time. At 1:1, I'm starting from D-76 times (15mn), but extending it. Went as far as 19mn for very low contrast scenes.

I brainfarted on my first original reply, somehow getting it backwards that shooting at ISO 200 was like shooting at 800. Duh. Of course shooting at 200 would make up for the lost speed.

 

[pentaxuser]

Wait. What? What about the loss of speed with D-23 that comes up all the time? I ask because I have just started using D-23 and plan to shoot a lot of FP4+.

As far as I can recall John Finch's video on D23 makes little or no mention of loss of speed. It's worth a look as is his replies to the comments where I recall someone asked this very question and again, if I recall correctly his reply was that the times were similar, he thought to D76

D23 is similar but apparently not identical in characteristics to Perceptol and certainly Ilford's data sheet for FP4 + give times for its box speed

I hope this helps

pentaxuser

 

[NortheastPhotographic]

If you can afford it, TMax 400 is remarkable. I don't often reach for it due to cost.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

If you can afford it, TMax 400 is remarkable. I don't often reach for it due to cost.

I agree. It's remarkable. Not only is it the most expensive film, it's never in stock. I've been using Delta 400 quite a bit lately, and feel it's even better than TMY-2... and so is its price!

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

I agree. It's remarkable. Not only is it the most expensive film, it's never in stock. I've been using Delta 400 quite a bit lately, and feel it's even better than TMY-2... and so is its price!

Think of how much money you can save if it's never in stock.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Think of how much money you can save if it's never in stock.

That's a great way of looking at it

 

[pentaxuser]

I agree. It's remarkable. Not only is it the most expensive film, it's never in stock. I've been using Delta 400 quite a bit lately, and feel it's even better than TMY-2... and so is its price!

Andrew, having expressed the above sentiment, I take it that if you cross the 49th you'll be sensible enough to check if the same blue Buick is still following you for more than 10 blocks. The driver could be any one of several Photrio Kodak "die-harders"

pentaxuser