APX 100 or TMAX 400?

[simon_coyle]

Hi all,

I recently started using APX 100 (developed in Rodinal) and love the

rich grey tones that I'm getting (check out my portfolio for a couple

of pictures I like). However, 100 speed film can be a little limiting

at times, so I'd like to go with 400 speed. What would people here

recommend?

[ryuji_suzuki]

Delta 400 or Neopan 400 developed in D-76 or XTOL 1+1, 1+2 or 1+3.

[albert_martinez]

Hello Simon,

 

Why not try the Agfa version of 400 speed film.

Apx100 in Rodinal @ 1:25 or 1:50 is hard to beat, I use it

in 35,120, and 4x5 formats.

I've read the 400 speed version is just as nice when

processed in Rodinal, plus you may get a speed increase

if your using the Rodinal @ 1:50 dillution.

 

I've never been much of a fan of Tabular grain films.

Tri X processed in Rodinal is another film you wish to consider,

it's worked quite well for Sebastiano Salgado,his photographs

are quite stunning.

 

Good luck,

Albert

[william_patterson]

My suggestion is to try Ilford HP5+ shot at ISO 320 and developed in Ilford DD-X developer. This combination works great for me.

[rob_gruber]

I come from the opposite perspective having recently tried APX

100 after shooting alot of Tri-X and feel like it's the 100 speed

equivalent from a tonality standpoint. Both work great in Rodinal.

 

I would definetely give Tri-X, APX 400 and Fuji Neopan 400 or

even 1600 a try. I don't much like the newer emulsion films and

for some reasons even Ilford's old emulsion stuff (FP4+, HP5+)

don't really have the look I like as much as APX and Tri-X.

 

To me APX 100, Tri-X 400 and the occasional Neopan 1600

seem like they will cover the whole range.

[david_goldfarb]

If you like APX 100, you'll probably like Tri-X as a 400 speed film.

 

I also like Delta 400 at EI 200 in Perceptol, 12 min. or at EI 400 in D-76 1:1, 14 min.

[matthew_stanton2]

Tri-x or apx 400 would have the most similar look to apx 100.

Apx 400 is possibly a little grainier than tri-x in d-76 1:1 but it is a

marginal difference, apx is possibly also a little bit sharper.

Anchell & Troop consider apx 400 to have the most beautiful

tonality of any 400 speed film and consider it to have the finest

grain in rodinal (1:50) compared to any other conventional 400

speed film. One thing I would consider to get the best out of tri-x

or apx 400 is rating them at 200 and finding an appropriate

processing time through your own tests ( dont use agfa's times

they are much too long ) by doing this you wil get the best tonality

out of these films, neither of which are true 400 speed films.

If you really need a true 400 asa speed rating then try delta 400

@ 400 asa in xtol 1:1.

 

good luck

[simon_coyle]

Thanks for the help, everyone. You've given me plenty to chew on.

[don_sigl]

Simon

 

From the responses on this thread, I would guess there is no single best answer. I'm very happy with HP5+ 120 shot at 400 developed in PMK 13 minutes at 70 degrees.

It works for me.

 

Don