Is Tri-X 78% better than HP5?

[briandaly]

Tri-X in my local shop is €5.70 - HP5 is €3.20.
As I'm new to film, it has been recommended to stick with one film and one developer and stick with that combination for a while.
Any reason not to choose the cheaper of the above two films?

 

[Pherdinand]

tri-x can be used in diafine at 1600 speed very well.
That is about the only thing i can come up with in its favour 😉

 

[rogue_designer]

I like TriX - but in the US, the prices are more comparable. Lots of people have very good luck with HP5. There are certainly worse films out there.

Go ahead and use the Ilford for a while. Don't worry about it too much. Especially if you're new to film.

 

[Matthew Allen]

Do a tag search on each film on Flickr. There are people doing amazing things with both, I wouldn't get too hung up on the relatively small distinctions between two very versatile films.

It makes sense to buy HP5 since a)it's cheaper (in the EU, I imagine the opposite would be true in the US), b) it's more 'local' and c)I want them to keep making Ilford products and if we don't buy them they won't.

Matthew

 

[nightfly]

Personally I wouldn't use HP5 if it was free because I feel like it makes everything look overly grey and drab.

Some people do get good results, I just don't happen to be one of them.

 

[aizan]

nope. it just costs more.

 

[Monz]

I use both films a lot. No problems with either. BTW check out 7dayshop.com for cheaper prices.
--
Monz

 

[varjag]

It is better for me, 3x better 🙂 Buy roll of each and see which you like better.

 

[tripod]

I would choose the HP5 even if the price was the same as TX. Been using it for years

 

[mr_phillip]

I wouldn't say it's better at all (except for pushing), but it's at least 78% different. Try both, see which you prefer.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Hmm, by this standard, according to Adorama, Tri-X ($4.49) is 87% "better" than HP5+ ($3.95) (or only 12%, depending on your Mathematical point of view)

Also, Windoze XP Professional upgrade ($149.00) is 14900% better than Red Hat Fedora (free). 😉

 

[Rafael]

Also, Windoze XP Professional upgrade ($149.00) is 14900% better than Red Hat Fedora (free). 😉

Actually, if Red Hat Fedora is free, then XP is infinitely better than it! 😀

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Actually, if Red Hat Fedora is free, then XP is infinitely better than it! 😀

Well, I did assume you paid 1 cent for the CD you'd burn it in! 😀

 

[Rafael]

Ahhh! Foiled by an unstated assumption.

 

[xayraa33]

overly grey and drab?

 

[elude]

Tx is just more..punchy. I prefer HP5+ and UNFORTUNATELY in France tx is far cheaper : 3euros against 5euros.

 

[andersju]

Adox CHM 400 is the same as Ilford HP5+, as costs ~2.2 euros at fotoimpex.de.

 

[nightfly]

overly grey and drab?

Nope that one is shades of white but same idea, just more overexposed.

I just don't dig the tones of this film. They don't work for me.

My preference is for Tri-X or Neopan 400. I've never gotten along well with Illford's films.

 

[KenD]

Try 1/2 a dozen rolls of each, pick the one you like after a short trial, and use it for 100 rolls to get used to film. Then try the other for a stretch if you're not happy to stay put.

I have not had good results with HP5, but many photogs get great results.

To quote a Canadian beer maker's slogan, for either film... "Those who like it... like it a lot."

KenD

 

[Matthew Allen]

Tx is just more..punchy. I prefer HP5+ and UNFORTUNATELY in France tx is far cheaper : 3euros against 5euros.

Really? Are there any good mail order places with Tri-X that cheap? All the European shops I've checked charge more for Ilford than Kodak, it'd be nice to get some Tri-X for that little.

Matthew