Which is your favourite 35mm B&W film?

[Bosk]

I'm very curious to hear from other members about which is your favourite choice for 135 B&W film.
I realise specifying just one may be difficult, so please feel free to list more than one if you can't bear to choose between several.


Having only tried XP2, Kodak 400CN, Tmax 100 and Lucky 100 so far I'd have to say I've been most impressed with XP2 which has such lovely dark tones and remarkably little grain for 400 film.
I can't wait to try out Acros, Delta 100, PanF and Tri-X in the near future, though I have a nagging feeling that rather than being able to pick one as a 'clearcut winner' instead I'll confirm that they all have their uses and applications to which each is best suited.

Nevertheless my dream of "One camera - One lens - One film" is not one I'm prepared to bury just yet, hence why I'd love to hear your thoughts on which film/s 'gives you what you're looking for' more than the rest of the pack.

 

[Bosk]

Oh, and here are a couple of examples of my favourite shots I've taken with some of the B&W films I've tried. 🙂


Kodak BW400CN:

Ilford XP2:

Kodak TMAX 100:

 

[BrianPhotog]

50 & below: PanF in anything
100: Shantou ERA100 in Rodinal 1+50
400: Tri-X in HC-110 1+63
above that: Delta 3200 in DD-X

 

[rbiemer]

I started using the Kodak BW400CN for convenience' sake but have found that I like the results.
And while I have shot some of my other "favorite"(TriX) recently, using the same film for a year or three now has helped me quite a lot: I have a fairly good idea of what I can do with that film and my cameras.
Bosk, I think that your dream is worth keeping above ground! I haven't quite got to the "One camera - One lens" part yet and don't think I will--they are all to much fun! But it is a noble dream none the less.
I am shooting some XP2 currently to see how well I can use it compared to the Kodak and if I could get any, I would try the C-41 Fuji B&W film. Seems to be a home market film only, though.🙁
Rob

 

[Turtle]

This easy:

One film only allowed regardles of speed: TriX
A slow film too: APX100
Once APX is gone...FP4+ (only prefer APX100 as I can use the same dev time as TriX. Otherwise I would happily take either)

There are plenty of others I like but the above are just wonderful.

 

[Silva Lining]

I like Ilford Pan F rated at 25 - or for a fast film i'll use Ilford Delta 100 of Fuji ACROS 🙂D)

 

[raid]

I like Ilford XP2 and EFKE 100. I have tried out and also liked TMAX 100 and of course the amazing Kodak TriX.

Raid

 

[wintoid]

I think a 400 speed film is best for "one camera - one lens - one film" because it can be pushed or pulled to other useable speeds. XP2 or BW400CN are probably not far from ideal in that respect.

Nevertheless, the reason I use film is because I like the different flavours. Digital is very good at one camera one film one lens, but I want more variety than that.

If I could only have one film ever, it would probably be Neopan 400, but I'd be just as happy with HP5 or TriX really.

 

[einolu]

they are already making new apx100, so no worries about it going away. my favorite all around film is tri x in diafine. a 1600 iso film that has a nice look and scans real well

 

[varjag]

Does APX returns? Good news if so.

Tri-X for me, at EI 640 in stock Microphen and EI 200 in Rodinal 1+50. Acros is great too.

Tri-X in Rodinal:

 

[GeneW]

Tri-X, of course, but HP5+ and Neopan 400 are very, very good and I'm happy to shoot with any of them.

APX100, love it -- I missed any announcements of its continued manufacture. Can anyone supply a link?

FP4 is also lovely.

Pan F. Tried it twice so far and really liked it for a slow film.

XP2 and Kodak BW400CN. Amazingly convenient and versatile. Fun to use.

Gene

 

[pesphoto]

Another vote for Trix, but Neopan 400 is a close second.

 

[Nachkebia]

Delta 100 - daylight
HP5 - night
Trix- everything

 

[Fotch]

Looks like I am the only one who likes Plus-X first choice, Tri-X when more speed is needed. D76. Hope to try Xtol soon.

 

[sienarot]

HP5+ for just about everything, though PanF+ is nice too.

 

[DavidH]

HP5+
Initially for low light work but like it so much that I use it everywhere now.
Dev in DDX

Delta 100
for totally smooth shots - landscapes and scenics - in Perceptol or DDX

XP2
for general purpose if I'm also shooting a lot of color C41...saves me having 2 sets of chemicals on the go and constantly tweaking the Jobo...

 

[Trius]

APX100 is my favourite, and Tri-X is a close second. Previously I would have said Tri-X, but I've just fallen in love with APX.

Gene: Click here for a link to the APUG discussion of APX being "resurrected"; I'm not convinced it will be the same, or even if they will be successful. But I do hop it works out.

 

[rbiemer]

APX100 is my favourite, and Tri-X is a close second. Previously I would have said Tri-X, but I've just fallen in love with APX.

Gene: Click here for a link to the APUG discussion of APX being "resurrected"; I'm not convinced it will be the same, or even if they will be successful. But I do hop it works out.

Trius,
Thanks for that link!(almost feels like reading some one else's mail...)
Back when I did shoot silver based BW APX was always one of my preffered choices. I didn't mention it in my response to the original question since I figured it was basically gone.
And I do get what you are saying about the fil/paper being the same as the original APX but if it's reasonably close that would be very good, indeed!
The way I read that thread, it looks like I've got about a year and a half or so to:
>Find a bigger place to live so I can
>set up a wet darkroom again so I can
>relearn dev and printing so I can
>enjoy this hobby of mine even more!
Oh well, I am getting bored out of my mind not working anyway. 😀
Rob

 

[DMG]

personally HP5+ rated at 320 with the addition of a light yellow filter and dev'd as 400

 

[mw_uio]

Right now for me is Neopan 400, as I have given up on BW400CN as I got back some crappy processing from the lab. No more C41 B&W ever, not even a chance I will ever, ever use BW400CN. 😡 I export my B&W film every few weeks to be processed in Toronto. I will get to see my results in a few months, thus it will be a surprise.

Cheers

MArk
Quito, EC