High Contrast Black and Wgite Film

What is a high contrast black adn white film still readily avaliable (from B&H etc.) in 120

format?

 

Thanks!

Pan F+ is supposed to be somewhat high contrast, but EFKE (from www.JandCphoto.com) is the one for true high contrast. Both come in 120 format and are always in stock.

 

There are ways to increase the contrast of a shot, like printing on a harder grade paper, or altering exposure/development as well that you might want to consider if you are looking for high contrast.

 

- Randy

Dear Max,

 

There is an article in the January/February issue of Photo Techniques magazine discussing "Photography Myths". In this article they adressed the question: "Are Some Films Inherently Flat or Contrasty?". Essentially, negative contrast is controlled by development. Back issues are available from phototechmag.com.

If you underexpose and overdevelop any film, you'll get some contrasty results.

 

allan

Adox micro film is even more contrasty than Efke. It is really recut Kodak copy film, I think. You can get it from J+C too.

You can still get Kodak Tech Pan from B&H, but its a bit pricy. Also, As far as contrast goes, it depends on what exactly you are looking for. Efke 25 is great, but even more readily avalible is Fuji Neopan 1600 and Kodak Tmax 3200, these are contrasty and grainy.

I miss Kodalith Ortho. The litho films had about no mid-tones, no matter what you did to them.

High Contrast-

 

my own imperfect method-

 

for medium high contrast,I shoot any slow(medium speed)-let's face the 50-125 films are the slow films now),at half the box speed ,and develop in dektol 1:3 for about 1:50-2:10 min.-

 

for higher contrast,I shoot at the box speed and develop in dektol for about 3:00- 3:20 min.

 

it's not perfect,but it's better than nothing.

> "Are Some Films Inherently Flat or Contrasty?". Essentially, negative contrast is controlled by development. Back issues are available from phototechmag.com

 

this is true. but if you only follow the directions on the back of the box, some films are flatter than others at the recommended development. this can of course be modified.

 

anyways. i've started using tmax 3200. the development on the back of the box is actually pushing it about two stops, so it's quite contrasty if you're the type who likes to follow directions.

Slow films tend to have inherently higher contrast than faster emulsions, but even so, Ilford Pan F Plus has a fairly moderate contrast. For an unusual tonality and contrast, try Maco ORT 25, develop this in LP-Docufine HC for maximum contrast or LP-Docufine LC for normal pictorial contrast.