difference between FP4 and PlusX

[sergey_v]

Is there any significant difference betwee Kodak PlusX and Ilford FP4, I mean in a sharpness and grain department. Which one is better.

 

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thank you

Sergey

[david_oconnor1]

I don't know Sergey, but before the flamethrowers arrive you may want

to indicate subject matter, degree of enlargement if any, same

developer for each? (or different developers optimized to each film,

etc.) The term "which is better" will set you up like a bowling pin.

Remember, opinions are like apertures...

[xosni]

Ilford products are much better than Kodak's in general.

[cesar_barreto]

Sergey,

Films, usually, don't show fixed qualities, rather what we make them

to look like. It's much easier to destroy potential habilities than

taking the most of any emulsion. So, both films will work fine on

capable hands or, in the other side, be grainy, contrasty, etc. It

takes some time to master a film, to predict it's responses to

different exposition and development variables. It seems wise to

forget this "better" film condition and try to be a better

photographer.

Good work.

 

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Cesar B.

[steve_wiley]

I teach a photography class in NYC and recently had students shoot an

assignment on both Plus-X and FP4 Plus and developed in D76 1:1.

Everybody agreed that the FP4 Plus was sharper and had a longer tonal

range.

[brian_hinther]

I disagree that Ilford products are generally better than Kodak's. I

think you have to judge each on its own merit for the job you need.

For instance, Kodak's Verichrome Pan film for 120 is wonderful,

and Polymax papers are very good, too. Having said that, however, I

think Ilford's FP4+ just kicks the everloving crap out of Plus X.

The Ilford product is sharper, much less grainy, and has a better

tonal scale.

[john_fleetwood]

Plus-X in Diafine at EI 400 prints easily and looks fantastic.

Exposure latitude is wide, a plus if you work without a meter. FP4 in

Diafine at EI 250 is a little flatter, and has a narrow latitude, in

my experience (yours may be different). As a big fan of Diafine, I

prefer Plus-X. I also love Pan F.

 

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It's great to have so many films and developers to choose from.

Try them for yourself, Sergey.

[pete_andrews]

Plus-X is a dinosaur from the days when Ilford was making FP3. FP4

versus Plus-X was a no-contest, and FP4plus turns the win by a head

into a full length.

[floren_pge]

Having used Plus-X only once in 35mm and 120 format, I found it was a

nice film with moderate grain and a pleasing tonal scale. Having said

that, I exlusively use FP4+ for 35mm, 120, and 4x5". The grain is

very tight compared to Plus-X and the tonal scale is longer than Plus-

X. It's the tonal range of FP4+ that impresses me the most. FP4+ is

my main film, along with HP5+. There really is no "better film", it

depends on what you want. However, I wish Kodak would update this

film.

 

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Cheerio

[duane_kucheran]

Plus X is indeed from the Jurassic. Fred Flinstone probably used it.

It is a grainy film and not up to the sharpness of FP4+. I'd bet

though that if Kodak were to cancel it, there'd be howling from it's

users! (Like RG 25 and now KR 25.) Somebody must be using it or it

would be history.

 

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FWIW, about 5 years ago I read a book about a turnaround at Kodak B&W

imaging where they were touting the Tmax film series. If memory

serves me, it's a separate group that doesn't talk all that much with

the color film group. The B&W imaging group I believe is also

responsible for Xray film and the like. Also, I recall that B&W film

sales were like 5% of Kodak's total at the time the book was

written. Can anyone confirm my memory? Anyway, Ilford is a much

smaller company and it's business plan and management motivations are

different from Kodak's.

 

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Cheers,

 

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Duane

 

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Cheers,

 

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Duane

[dan_smith]

Sorry to burst a bubble, but archaelogical digs show that Fred

Flintstone photographed with TriX.

[matteo_persivale1]

I don't know about Fred Flintstone, but Patrick Demarchelier shoots

Plus-X for most of his B/W studio work