Your fave 5 x 4 (specifically) B+W film?

sperera · Mar 13, 2009

....apologies as this is a similar thread to 'whats your fave b+w film' but i just want to know specifically for 5 x 4 format what your fave films are as I'm going to order my first ever sheets of B+W film for 5 x 4 format....

I can buy the following easily so this is my shortlist....if anyone can add notes to how they 'look' I'd appreciate it....5 x 4 format only please.....

I'm after a film that has character and is great for portraits. Ideally a film that does not look like a colour film turned into black n white in Photoshop. I have to add that I will be scanning the films as well as hopefully hand-printing them.....

ideally you could add which developer is best for each film.....NOT ASKING FOR MUCH AM I!!!!!????? sorry, over here in Gibraltar I'm isolated for first-hand practical knowledge!!!!

T-Max 100
T-Max 400
Fuji Acros
Kodax Tri-X 320
Ilford Delta 100
Ilford FP4
Ilford HP5
Rollei R3

PHOTOTONE · Mar 13, 2009

I think Rollei R3 is discontinued.

My favorite 4x5 b/w films are discontinued, in order they were Kodak Plus-X, Fortepan 200. I develop all b/w sheet film in various dilutions of HC-110.

Ole · Mar 13, 2009

Ilford FP4+, no doubt about it. In any format!

sperera · Mar 13, 2009

I'm after acutance most of all followed by tonality.....

36cm2 · Mar 13, 2009

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8330/4.3.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

I just spread firefly guts on some paper like that guy Caravaggio.

Acros. You'll get as many answers as there are (or have been) films. Happy shooting.

Roger Bulcock · Mar 13, 2009

Fuji Acros 100 in Quickload (you will need a holder) or FP4+. In Pyro or ID11

Roger

keithwms · Mar 13, 2009

Type 55!

Panatomic x.

By far my favourite(s).

:rolleyes: Yeah okay, okay, I like fp4+. ID-11 1+1.

If you want acutance then just use an acutance developer with acros.

David A. Goldfarb · Mar 13, 2009

trexx · Mar 13, 2009

TXP
TMX

Pyrocat HD & MC

Anton Lukoszevieze · Mar 13, 2009

Fomapan 100. Love it.

Neal · Mar 13, 2009

Dear sperera,

All the films on your list can be used to make great photographs. The difficulty does not lie there. Developer? Choosing one developer over another won't turn a bad photo into a good one, use what you have in the cupboard. If it helps you decide, I chose APX100 for my first 4x5 film purchase because there were boxes of it in the clearance bin and they were cheap! :>) As there are plenty of places to screw up while exposing and developing your first sheets of film, economy is as good a reason to choose one as any.

Neal Wydra

matthewbetcher · Mar 13, 2009

fuji acros stand development in pyrocat HD

_ and don't get me started about the availability (or lack thereof) of the individual sheets - i.e. not quickload. I still don't get it why they do not or take so long to bring it to market in the states...

ChrisC · Mar 13, 2009

I've only ever used FP4+ in 4x5, but I've got no reasons to change from it. Last night I tried is in ID-11 for the very first time, and I'm in love with it all over again.

I really wish Ilford produced Pan F in 4x5 though. I'd probably only buy that if it was available. Does anyone know why they don't, and would they be willing to make some next time they do their special requests?

eclarke · Mar 13, 2009

The whole thing is a system and you can't make a judgment only on the film and developer because it is relative to the print and it's developer and how you want it to look. My current setup is HP5 in Germain Finegrain and Ilford WT FB in Ansco 130 cooltone, selenium toned 1+9 for 7 minutes...Evan Clarke

mjs · Mar 13, 2009

100 TMX in D-76, straight or 1:1 depending on the needs of the negative.

But I believe in my heart that if all film but one disappeared from the world, I could make that film, whatever it is, work. Use what you can get easily (film and developer,) and spend some time getting to know them. Ignore the siren call of yet another magic bullet until you've got a reason to look elsewhere. You become a better photographer by taking more photographs, not by joining the 'film/developer of the month club'.

Mike

Thomas Bertilsson · Mar 13, 2009

If I had to pick one or two... Ilford FP4+ and HP5+, especially HP5+...

- Thomas

Ian Grant · Mar 13, 2009

My favourite was APX100 and I shot a lot of it, one of the few films to give it's true box speed, I used it in 35mm 120 as well. Tmax 100 was my alternative film & I found it to be virtually interchangeable but needing an extra stop exposure to get similar results.

Now I shoot Delta 100 which is equally as good, but I have a few boxes of EFKE 25 & Fomapan 100 to use up.

Ian

Bruce Watson · Mar 13, 2009

My only camera is a 5x4. The only B&W film I use any more is TMY-2. I spent decades with Tri-X, and I've been kicking myself for it. TMY-2 is a better film in a lot of ways. It's sharper, less grainy, more linear (at least it places the tones where I think they should be better), and it's got much better reciprocity characteristics than Tri-X (but not as good as TMX, which again isn't as good as Acros).

I soup it in XTOL 1:3 using a Jobo 3010 tank. I'm really happy with the results. Happy enough that I'm willing to take the time and write about it whenever threads like this come up. What can I say?

Venchka · Mar 13, 2009

I have been paying close attention to what Bruce says.

My favorite 4x5 film: Cheap.
My first cheap 4x5 film: HP5+
Current: Delta 100 & Arista.EDU Ultra 200

Xtol 1:3 in a Jobo 3010 or 2553 for all.

I like them all. If pressed, I would probably settle on HP5+ for the extra stop or two. That feature is very handy when the wind blows or the light dwindles.

However, I will give TMY-2 a chance, per what Bruce said above. I haven't found any TMY-2 cheap. Yet.

Barry S · Mar 13, 2009

TMAX 100 in Pyrocat HD always looks great--beautiful smooth tonality.

sperera · Mar 13, 2009

Bruce Watson said:
and it's got much better reciprocity characteristics than Tri-X (but not as good as TMX, which again isn't as good as Acros).

so you're saying Fuji Acros 100 is THE film then???? im confused.....heh heh

David A. Goldfarb · Mar 13, 2009

You've just got to try things and see what you like. I like TXP, because of the way it looks. You might not like the way it looks.

jd callow · Mar 13, 2009

B&W is TXP for me too and in colour I like almost everything, but 160nc is probably my favourite

Martin Aislabie · Mar 13, 2009

My favorite film is FP4 - in any format

However, I have stepped up to HP5 in 5x4 for an extra couple of stops of speed - to overcome the lack of light in the UK Winter

But, I am considering going back to FP4 and just put up with the longer shutter speeds - I am always using a Tripod in any case

My standard developer is ID11 (1+1)

As the others have said, there are no bad films out there, just pick one and try it.

If you are starting in LF, pick something reasonably cheap that is easily available and stick to it while you learn the ropes - there is so much to learn when you step up to LF its almost like starting over again and you don't need another variable in there adding to the confusion.

Good luck

Martin

brchambe · Mar 13, 2009

Tri-X 320 or Efke PL 25. Both in HC-110 or Pyro.

Each rated based on testing.

B

Your fave 5 x 4 (specifically) B+W film?

sperera

PHOTOTONE

Ole

Moderator

sperera

36cm2

Roger Bulcock

keithwms

David A. Goldfarb

Moderator

trexx

Anton Lukoszevieze

Neal

matthewbetcher

ChrisC

eclarke

mjs

Thomas Bertilsson

Ian Grant

Bruce Watson

Venchka

Barry S

sperera

David A. Goldfarb

Moderator

jd callow

Moderator

Martin Aislabie

brchambe

Your fave 5 x 4 (specifically) B+W film?

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Moderator

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