Acros 100 and Portraits

[furbs]

For color portraits, I've come to love the looks of Portra 160 and Ektachrome E100G - particularly in 120 format. I love their tonality and complimentary color palettes. For monochrome portraits, I've always seemed to opt for the gritty look of 35mm Tri-X, but lately I've been wanting to try something new.

Though I've never shot it, Acros seems fascinating. I love how it looks in others' photos. Acros in 120 format seems like it would be quite different than 35mm Tri-X; different grain, tonality, and dynamic range. How have you found Acros to perform for portraits, especially in 120 format? What do you like about it? What do you dislike?

 

[Photo_Smith]

It looks smooth, I like it but its not my favourite though.

Both shot on a Rolleiflex

 

[mfogiel]

It is already almost grainless in 35mm


201212732 by mfogiel, on Flickr

I have found though, that it is relatively easy to blow the highlights when they bleed


201212824 by mfogiel, on Flickr

I have heard some like it in Diafine at a higher EI - this should give better control of tonality. In 120 I mainly shot it so far when long exposures were needed, as it has no reciprocity issues up to 1 minute

MF20090302 by mfogiel, on Flickr

 

[littleearth]

The finest grain, smooth as butter !
The negatives look very thin and highlights clip to white very easily !

 

[znapper]

I find it to be extremely smooth, and the spectral response is how I like it, concerning the rendering of reds.

It can be a bit finicky to determine exactly what to shoot it at, concerning true speed and the developer you use, normally I use HC-110 B.

Here's a studio-shot on Acros 120 film, printed on Ilford Multigrade IV and scanned.


Acros portrait, printed on Ilford Multigrade IV by znapper74, on Flickr

 

[furbs]

Beautiful examples. There's a certain timeless refinement to Acros in these portraits. I wonder which developers make it shine...

 

[Moto-Uno]

Sigh, as I look at these photos I get the sense that there's no developer on earth that's going to detract from these pics !!! Yep, that's a compliment. Regards,Peter

 

[NaChase]

You can't go wrong with Acros for anything.

 

[tuanvinh2000]

as others stated, love the blend of grain and smoothness:

The only film i shoot with at 120 atm since i love it. For 35mm i favour a bit more speed so trix 400.

 

[Johnmcd]