B&W Portrait film opinions

[Dave Luttmann]

<p>I thought I'd ask everyone for their opinions on their favorite B&W films and developer for portraiture type work...primarily natural light, outdoors. I'm steering away from medium format and concentrating on using my Nikon F5 with the 50 and 85 as the primary setup. I don't mind grain in an image....although Delta 3200 pushed three stops in Rodinal may be a bit over the top ;-)<br>

Oh...the film will be scanned.</p>

<p>Thoughts anyone?</p>

[larrydressler]

<p>TMY-2 in Xtol 1-1... :) rate it between 200 and 400 depending on the subject.</p>

[bgelfand]

<p>1) Ilford Pan F+ developed in either Rodinal 1+ 50 or DD-X 1 + 4. Developed in Rodinal the film will be very sharp, showing all skin blemmishes and wrinkles. It is more forgiving when developed in DD-X.</p>

<p>2) Ilford Delta 100 developed in DD-X 1 +4.</p>

<p>3) Kodak TMAX-100 developed in D-76 1 + 1.</p>

<p> </p>

[Dave Luttmann]

<p>Thanks....That'll give me a few to try out over the next week.</p>

[giverin]

<p>I quite like Acros in Rodinal for portraits.</p>

[Dave Luttmann]

<p>Paul, is Acros still available in 35mm? I thought Fuji nuked it....or was that the 400 & 1600?</p>

[BrianS1664879711]

<p>FP-4+. Lovely for portraits.</p>

[giverin]

<p>Dave, Acros (35mm) is still available here in the UK. I don't think it has been discontinued. In fact I've just checked at my supplier and they still do it in 120. Fuji have nuked Neopan 1600 and I must remember to buy a few rolls of that while I can still get it.</p>

 

[chris_waller]

<p>Ilford FP4, Fuji Acros or TMax 100. Typically I downrate them and dev in Rodinal at 1/50 dilution.</p>

[rustys pics]

Ilford Delta 100 in almost any

developer suits me for portraits-

especially in 35mm. Not sure why

you're eschewing medium format for

portraits...but to each his own!

[tonmestrom]

<p>I've always used Delta 100 which some find to technical for portraits. But I've also used TriX a lot both developed in ID-11 1+3</p>

[Mike Gammill]

<p>I think Freestyle still has Acros 100 in both 35mm and 120 (pro paks). At one time you could get Acros 100 35mm rebranded as Legacy Pro 100, but it's gone now.</p>

[russ_kerlin]

<p>Like the other Russ asked, why are you moving away from MF? Unless you are doing some action shots, I would think you'd want the natural benefits of a larger negative if you have that capability. The only issue I could see is if you don't want to use a tripod and the MF camera you have is challenging to hand hold (like my RB67). Regardless, using a tripod, even with 35mm, will yield the sharpest portraits. Again, unless you are doing action shots, your model isn't going anywhere fast, giving you ample time to work from a tripod. I used to think tripods were for wimps, but now I swear by them. There are exceptions of course, but I think they help immensely.</p>

<p>Anyway, regarding film, I would vote for Acros or Adox CHS Art.</p>

<p> </p>

[tim gray]

<p>I've had good experience with Plus-X (RIP) and T-Max 400 (the new one). Tri-X is a bit grainy. Of course I expect you'd have good experience with FP4+, T-Max 100, and Delta 100 as well.</p>

<p>T-Max 400 (the new one) is an incredible film.</p>

[dave_wilson1]

<p>FP4+ in HC110. I also don't see anything gained by going with the small negative, the 6x6 or whatever "breathes" so much more. Shoot digital then, I don't even touch 35mm anymore. It's either the Blads and black and white or digital. Your call of course, I'm just opinionating *-))</p>

 

[mjferron]

<p>The slower films might be a problem depending on light levels. My favorite all around film is the new TMY. I'd say the level of grain is a near equal to Delta 100 and I can shoot it @400 when developed in TMax developer.</p>

[Dave Luttmann]

Thanks everyone. As I'm

shooting wide open, I can indeed

use the slower films. I find

the results from the current

crop of slow films decent enough

for albums. I may move back to

MF. Right now I just have the

RB67 so I find it too much. I

may try a contax or mamiya 645

as an alternative. Thanks for

the input everyone!

[larrydressler]

<p>So the first and last votes were for TMY-2 Imagine that. LOL Oh and rest the MF if you want but keep it loaded and handy.. :)</p>

[wblynch]

<p>Orwo N54 is nice. Adox CHS (50 or 100) is pretty too</p>

 

[dweezil]

<p>if you still can get some; Agfa apx100 in rodinal</p>

[larrydressler]

<p>In 120 APX 120 was a god.. last run was a demigod . in 35mm it was not too bad in the last run all of them are now gone and the name is now being used with Chinese and real bad British film.. Read that Kentmere. Even Rollei dumped that idea.. with the RPX.</p>

[leicaglow]

<p>Acros stand developed in HC-110, or Pan-F in XTol for faster jobs.</p>

[jaz99]

<p>I'm surprised no none mentioned Ilford XP2 super @200ISO. You can develop it in any C-41 chemistry.<br>

I really like the skin tones on this film.<br>

Check out some <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaz99/tags/xp2/">examples</a>.</p>

[jay_de_fehr]

<p>I'll add my voice to the choir praising TMY-2. It's the bee's knees. I develop mine in my own developers, but if I had to use a commercial product, it would be Xtol, stock and replenished. And bite your tongue for your comments about the RB67! </p>

 

[jay_de_fehr]

<p>Here's an example-</p>

<p><a href="