Finest grain iso 400-rated film/dev combo?

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minoltist7

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What 400 rated film has finest grain in your opinion? (with particular developer of course) ?

Can I achieve same result in terms of graininess by pushing some 100-rated film to 400 ?
From all films I have , I've seen smallest grain on Neopan 400. Don't know what developer was used, it was processed in commercial lab
 
For me it's been Neopan 400 with Xtol at 1+1.

A modern developer with a modern film! :)
 
I shoot Neopan 400 and 100 Acros and do not develop my own film at this time. I understand that Fujifilm in Japan recommends the following:

Neopan 400
SPD [Super Prodol]
Fujidol E

Neopan 100 Acros
Microfine
Fujidol E
D-76

When I spoke to the lab that develops my b&w (in Japan) he said that the lab was using Microfine.

CLH
 
Leaving aside the chromogenics, which will have the smallest grain (Kodak BW400CN first and Ilfors XP2 second) the finest grained 400 ISO silver film is easily the new Tmax400-2. I have only tried it in Rodinal 1+50, and the grain looks like from an ISO 100 film, but surely you can try finer grained developers.
 
I haven't used any yet, but Sandy King published a comparison between Tmax 100 and the new Tmax 400-2 in View Camera magazine. His conclusion: 4x5 sheet film developed in D-76 1:1, there was no difference in prints up to 32" x 40".
 
TriX in Xtol is very fine grained, as is Neopan 400 and delta 400. D400 is the finest grained I have used (not used the new Tmax400-2). Xtol is quite a bit finer grained than D76 when both are used 1+1. Xtol is also likely what was used by a commercial lab.
 
ChrisN said:
If you push to 400 you will see more grain.

If you want smooth, try medium format. :)
Click to expand...

That's the reason. I want to use it in MF camera, and have the same (or finer) print look as ISO 100 on 35mm format.
I don't have many choices - I can buy here only Delta 400, or TMax 400 , or HP5+ for MF
 
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T-Max 400-2 probably has the finest grain, but I prefer the tonality of Delta 400 of the three films you mention. For the finest grain, you could use a developer like Perceptol, Microdol-X, or mix your own D-23 (the simplest of homebrew film developers), but they'll generally cost you one stop of speed. D-76 or ID-11 straight or 1+1 should give you about the box speed with a little more grain. Rodinal will give you more acutance, but also sharper grain.

That said, any 400 film should give you finer grain in 6x6 or larger than 100 films in 35mm.
 
The new T-Max 2 is very, very fine grained developed in T-Max dev. Finding the grain in the dark room can be quite difficult:bang:
 
Delta 400 in Xtol or similar will give you incredibly fine grain and to be honest, it will be darned close to perceptol but with full film speed. I would not personally use perceptol unless I had a particular love of the pictorial effect because D400 in Xtol is plenty fine enough if this is your goal. I know some photogs adore D400 in perceptol for reasons unrelated to the fine grain however....
 
minoltist7 said:
What 400 rated film has finest grain in your opinion? (with particular developer of course) ?

Can I achieve same result in terms of graininess by pushing some 100-rated film to 400 ?
From all films I have , I've seen smallest grain on Neopan 400. Don't know what developer was used, it was processed in commercial lab
Click to expand...

Apparently finest grain 400 asa film is the new TMY-2 400 in something like XTOL
 
venchka said:
I haven't used any yet, but Sandy King published a comparison between Tmax 100 and the new Tmax 400-2 in View Camera magazine. His conclusion: 4x5 sheet film developed in D-76 1:1, there was no difference in prints up to 32" x 40".
Click to expand...

This does not surprise me. I saw a 100% crop from a 2400 DPI scan of a TMY-2 neg and I couldn't see any grain at all. Haven't used it myself, but I plan to give it a try.

Paul
 
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