What is the LEAST contrasty 400 speed B&W film

[BUTLER]

In your opinion. Thank you!

 

[skibeerr]

underexpose/develop

 

[Keith]

Of the ones I've used HP5+ has the least contrast in my experience.

 

[jbielikowski]

Ilford Pan 400, but dunno if its avaible anywhere outside Europe.

 

[Tim Gray]

underexpose/develop

Don't you mean overexpose/under develop?

Barring films that have a pronounced shoulder, in my experience, it's mostly up to the developing. You can make Tri-X, T-Max 400, HP5+, etc., all lower contrast by reducing development.

 

[bwcolor]

+1 above ^

 

[Arvay]

Ilford Pan 400, but dunno if its avaible anywhere outside Europe.

second to this

 

[Tim Gray]

Stand development is a bit different because you can get a compensating effect.

I was just stating if your images are coming about too contrasty for you, decrease development times by 15-20%. Repeat as necessary. You can also increase exposure while doing this.

Tri-X rate at 400 and developed for X minutes will look different than Tri-X at 200 and rated for 80% of X minutes.

 

[paulfish4570]

kentmere 400 is much less contrasty than tri-x. i shoot a good bit of it. i always list film in my gallery pic info if you want to take a look ...

 

[nikku]

Push Kodak BW400CN one stop.

 

[venchka]

Pyrocat-HD as a two bath developer. Expose the film at half box speed. GOOGLE can find the instructions.
Which leads one to believe that lowering the contrast of 400 speed film doesn't give you 400 speed.
For me, HP5+ has very full tones at 250 in Xtol 1:3 for 10 minutes.

 

[Rob-F]

I haven't tried them all, but between Tri-X, Delta 400 Pro, and HP-5, I find HP-5 to be a good choice for taming the harsh outdoor summer sunlight. Shot at 400 and developed in D-76 1:1 for about 7 or 8 minutes, I get good shadow detail without blocked highlights.