Questions about Ilford and Kodak films.

[Pfreddee]

I currently shoot Ilford FP4+ and Kodak Tri-X. It really comes down to which camera I grab on the way out as to which film I'm shooting at any given time. I process both myself, and I'm working on setting up a darkroom (actually, I'm 'fixin' to' set up a darkroom. 'Fixin' to' is a Southern US measure of time; it's flexible, and could mean within the next five minutes or 30 years from now. But I digress...)

I'd like to try Ilford FP5 and a slower Kodak b/w film. What do I need to be aware of with the faster Ilford film (if anything) and what would you-all recommend for a slower Kodak film? I've had good luck processing both FP4= and Tri-X with HC-110. Are there any caveats about processing with the new(er) recommended films?

Thanks to all who reply.

With best regards,

Pfreddee(Stephen)

 

[softshock]

HP5 is Ilford's version of Tri X, and Plus X is Ilford's version of FP4+ for the most part... They're direct competitors.

 

[tlitody]

I think we would all like to try out FP5. You may be the first.
Personally I think HC110 is too grainy for HP5 in 135 format. I'd go fo a finer grained developer unless you want a more gritty look than you get with FP4.
ID11 or D76 or for very fine grain then Perceptol. But perceptol will lose you a bit of film speed so if you go for fine grain I would expose at 160 to 250.

 

[pschauss]

I use the same times for HP5+ and Tri-X in HC-110 (dilution H). Although the box speeds for FP4+ and Plus-X are the same, I have found that FP4+ is about a stop slower.

(When I read your definition of "Fixin'" to my wife, who is from North Carolina, she said that you got the definition exactly right. 🙂 )