Pushing b/w sheet film

[eric_pederson]

Like many, I would love a faster b/w sheet film for windy/human/animal subjects.

 

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I currently use TMY with an (N) EI 320 using BTZS tubes and Xtol dev. If I push this by a stop, I am at the absolute limit in terms of useable contrast. EI 500 is what I use for approximately N+2. (I have a densitometer.)

I'm not complaining about the contrast control of TMY, just that it doesn't seem a very good film for push processing.

 

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I don't have much experience with HP5+ or the Fortepan 400, and I wonder whether they may push with a more gentle increase in contrast. I'm open to other developers though I am happy with Xtol with my most used film (TMX, EI 100 for N) and it is nice to minimize the number of alternate chemicals aging in the darkroom. Also, the tube development doesn't work as well with dilute developers because of the small volume of developer the caps hold (60ml).

 

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Any suggestions? I would love something not too contrasty at 800. I promise not to complain about grain. :-)

 

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(TMZ in readyloads anyone?)

[ed b.]

I can get an EI of 640 out of TMY with PMK+.

[ted_kaufman]

Based on my experience with both films, I'd say you'll pick up 1/3 to

2/3 stop using HP5+ instead of TMY. TMY is slightly finer grained,

but other than that, I find HP5+ superior overall.

 

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If Ilford ever comes out with Delta 400 in 4x5, I think that would be

an even choice. For now, though, I don't know anything better in

4x5, speed wise, than HP5+.

[william_marderness1]

I have gotten a true speed of 500 from HP-5+ in XTOL.

[pete_andrews]

Errrm! Dare I suggest going to medium format for this type of

work?<br>This'll gain you two stops in terms of depth-of-field or

useable aperture. The grain/format tradeoff stays about equal, giving

you more-or-less the same sharpness and granularity as pushing sheet

film, but with two stops more shutter speed to play with. Plus, you

still hold on to some <i>genuine</i> shadow detail.<br>Plus,

plus, you've a wider range of materials to choose from.<br>Sorry to

burst some bubbles here guys, but LF isn't a panacea for every

photographic problem.

[william_marderness1]

If you develop HP-5+ to normal contrast for pt/pd (N+2 for silver),

you can get true EI of 800. I love how pt/pd allows higher film

speeds.

[eric_pederson]

Thanks for all the replies (the server seems down a lot these days).

At a minimum, I'll run some tests on HP5+. N+2 at 800 sounds

appealing.

 

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Pete: I agree that medium format would work better for many

exposures I make, but in my case, I'm usually making about 6

exposures in a day outing and about 2 of them need more speed (for

my f32 and red filter or whatever). I'm already carrying a 35mm

camera as a light meter and for incidental shots. Adding a medium

format to this assemblage seems crazy, although I suppose I could

get rid of the 35mm camera as partial compensation. I'd have to buy

a medium format camera and a couple lenses too -- or a roll back and

a separate light meter would work, I suppose.

[eric_pederson]

Here's a follow-up:

I finally made some test sheets with the following results

for 4x5 HP5+ 60ml Xtol full strength BTZS tube @20.5C

 

N-1 3.5 min EI 200

 

N 7.5 min EI 400

 

N+1 12 min EI 640

 

N+2 20+ min EI 800 (I'm extrapolating this data point as my longest dev time was 16 min)

 

This is 1/3 stop faster than TMY for N dev, but 2/3 faster for N+1.

It also suggests that I could marginally use HP5+ with Xtol at EI800 and still have a printable negative in non-harsh lighting which would

be impossible with TMY. This is not a dramatically faster film for my conditions, but an extra 2/3 stop might help from time to time...

For high contrast scenes, I'm better off with another film as developing time is frighteningly short.

 

Thanks again for all the input!