Monochrome Choices

Had a fun time this week end shooting my Nikon F 2 alongside D 750, F 3 available and a new / used F 4 on the way. The only film I have on hand, other than an long expired bulk roll of TX, half a dozen rolls of XP 2. I don't want to get into C 41 at this point, and have the chemicals and equipment to develop "Regular" monochrome, so I'm wondering what to try. Virtually all of my B&W film experience is with Kodak products As with wine, my plan would be to order a dozen total broken into three roll samples by type - "tryers".

Here is what I found at a major supplier that I have often used. Would appreciate some input on choices.

Ilford HP 5

Arista Edu 400

Kentmere 400

BerggerPanchro

Rollei RPX 400

Rollei Retro 400

Agfa APX 400

Note: I have HC 110 and Microdil and Acufine on hand -- not averse to trying an additional developer.

Any input appreciated, esp in regard to anything with standout or unusual characteristics.

Sandy, the best advice I got when I dove back into this was to spend at least a year on a developer before trying something else. Most of these developers require some finesse before getting the most out of them.

 

I would suggest the same for developer / film combinations. I would stick with the expired TriX and use it until it's done. That would get you to a proficiency where you could give a better assessment to another brand of film.

 

Either way, welcome back!

Thanks, Peter. I probably can count 40 years of darkroom work (with a hiatus of a dozen years or so) photography since I was a young Teen nearly 60 years ago. Looking for some new films to try. Majority of the time when I snap the shutter the image is at least decent. Developer, whichever it is, just a question of following directions carefully. Opened the option of a new developer, since one might be necessary for one or more of the films. So the question stands, still open, unanswered as written. :D

Petapixel just published "An Ultimate Guide to Every B&W ISO 400 35mm Film on the Market" The author ran tests on all 13 B&W 35mm ISO 400 films now available in the U.S. and rated them according to photographic characteristics, scanability and price per frame. He provides an Excel spreadsheet for his own results and a template if you want to do something similar. For the tests, he used HC-110. There is text and a long video.

An Ultimate Guide to Every B&W ISO 400 35mm Film on the Market

 

"An Ultimate Guide to Every B&W ISO 400 35mm Film on the Market"

Thank you, Sir! Speed reading thru -- seems just "what the Doctor ordered!" :)

Edited August 29, 2017 by Sandy Vongries

Hello everyone. As some might know, I have been using the Ultrafine Xtreme emulsions over the last few years with excellent results. Both emulsions that they offer (100 & 400) have proven to be for all purposes, rebadged Kentmere produts. One super nice advantage of the UFX films is that both emulsions are available in 35mm & 120 rolls. Life is a bit saner with all the cameras "synced". Rating the 100 @ 80asa & the 400 @ 250asa allows a base time of 16 minutes (68f) for developing any mixture of the films in my Obsidian Aqua mix.

For those interested in "test driving" these materials, Ultrafine offers a "sampler" of 3 rolls of each kind, plus they have a film they term "cubic grained" (400asa) also in the sampler (3rolls). I have fussed with this "Max" film for over a year & still can not make sense of it's characteristics, but it seems to be falling into about 125 asa. It does have a bunch of emulsion defects at time. Take a look. It is on Ebay. Bill

Thanks, Bill.

HP5 at IS400 in HC110 dil. H (11 min. 20°C/68F) makes me very happy, very often. But, so happy that so far I haven't bothered trying Kentmere/Rollei/Berrger, so I'd probably do better reading that test on petapixel and buy a bit more diverse products next time :-)

I'd probably do better reading that test on petapixel

Well worth the read, I think, Something to be said for a practice you're happy with though.