Advice in my new adventure

[Bruno Gracia]

Hi guys, after sold my whole digital gear I've jumped into film completely.

I'm planning a long term project, mainly in black and white through South Asia..

The point is, I'm not an expert but the films I've tried, in 35mm Neopan 400 was my favourite but is expensive in EU, and love triX as well for contrast pictures.
Any suggestion about 100 ISO films? They are well suited for street photography? I've found TMAX cheapest than the other ones, is good? What about TMAX 400?
Don't know nothing about Ilford Delta 100, Across 100...

And now MF.. I have a Rolleiflex 2.8F and just shot two rolls of HP5 but found the images so pleasant to many greys! Some other choices grainless and a lot of tonality?

Thank You all!

 

[clayne]

If you have the light for 100 you probably have the light for 50:

PanF+ 50

And the obvious:

FP4+
Delta 100

You're probably best off just bringing a bunch of Tri-X and pulling to 200 or pushing to 1600 when necessary.

The king of "tonality" is APX100.

 

[Bruno Gracia]

Thank You very much!

I've been reading a lot, a lot a lot! jaja

seems to be TMAX is better suited for enlargment?

 

[seanathan]

If you're looking to budget, freestyle's Arista can be had for cheap and is said to be rebranded Kodak Tri-X (though someone should confirm this if possible).

It is available here:
http://www.freestylephoto.biz/category/2-Film/Black-and-White-Film

 

[samtr87]

I like Arista.EDU, which is rebranded Fomapan. If you're in the EU then it may be more widely available as Fomapan. Arista Premium is rebranded Tri-X.

 

[charjohncarter]

I'll put a plug in for TmaX100, but it is really a personal choice (as everything should be). I shoot it a 50, so sometimes it is a little slow for street photography. I like the way it looks better than any other film, except maybe TriX (at200). But for a smooth, soft look I don't think it can be beat it. I haven't used that many other quality films of that speed, so again I'm not an expert. Here is a street shot, shot in the late afternoon that will show what I mean by smooth soft:

 

[Godfrey]

Fuji ACROS 100. Superb film.

G

 

[Pablito]

Since you area asking for advice, I'd suggest sticking with ONE film only. Probably iso 400 for flexibility.

 

[clayne]

Fuji ACROS 100. Superb film.

G

The issue with acros, atleast for me, is that while it's a technically stellar film, the tonality is typically boring. There's something too clinical about Acros.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

The issue with acros, atleast for me, is that while it's a technically stellar film, the tonality is typically boring. There's something too clinical about Acros.

It has very flat midtones, and if you extend developing to fix that, you get an image that is too contrasty overall because the highlights are overdeveloped. I think of Acros as a specialty film for very low light work, where its ability to take very long exposures with little reciprocity failure makes it shine. I've done 5 minute exposures with it that required just 1/2 stop of reciprocity compensation!

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I have only found one 100 speed film I truly do not like for everyday use, and that is Fuji Acros (see my previous post above).

I've gotten great results from Tmax 100, Ilford FP4, and Fomapan 100.

Tmax 100 has the finest grain, and it works beautifully in several developers. I like it in D-76 1+1, Rodinal 1+50, and PMK.

FP4 has the best tonality, but it is only slightly better than Tmax 100. I prefer it in PMK. Its good in Rodinal or D-76 too.

Fomapan 100 is best in D-76 1+1. I have not tried it in Rodinal. In PMK it has tonality and grain that is very close to FP4 but it loses a lot of speed in that developer (EI-40). In D-76 1+1 it can be exposed at EI-100 with great results.

I like all three of these films, but I'd pick FP4 first.

 

[clayne]

Yes I'd generally agree. But lets not forget APX (even it not so available) for it's characteristically different response vs the other films. I've never experienced another film with such great midtones - although TMY2 is pretty great.

 

[Photo_Smith]

I don't think I can recommend what works for me as you'll have different expectations.
If you want to find out for yourself I'd try two or three of the ones you find locally available in your area.
Once you find a good film/dev combo stick with it, tonality will come from exposure and development as much as actual film type.

 

[Photo_Smith]

Yes I'd generally agree. But lets not forget APX (even it not so available) for it's characteristically different response vs the other films. I've never experienced another film with such great midtones - although TMY2 is pretty great.

APX was nice, not available in 120 anymore as far as I know. I think most of the 35mm stock was found in a cold store and confectioned back in 2005 the rest had already been boxed as 35mm.

APX was my go to film for many years, I have found the Foma films an acceptable substitute once I found a workflow.

Fomapan 100 (EI50) in Rodinal 1:50

 

[clayne]

PS: Adox will eventually pull through on APX as long as we support them. They've already proven that with Adox Pan 400. I really respect Mirko for what he's been trying to do.

That being said, I went very long on APX100 back a few years ago and have a couple miles of the stuff (literally) in 135 and quite a few 120 rolls because I believed in the stock that much. Today I'd just tell people to 1. Shoot Kodak film, 2. Support Adox, 3. Support Ilford.

There's not a single film I won't use, honestly. I may not use them for all things, but there are so many great films still out there. We must continue to celebrate and embrace this living medium - for if we reward it, it rewards us.

 

[matt_mcg2]

For me, while I like the technical properties of Acros and Tmax 100 -- the low grain, etc -- I find that looking back at photos I've taken, the ones that always pop out at me as having a tonality and a sharpness/acutance that I like, are Ilford FP4+, APX100, and Ilford Pan-F.

FP4+ in Rodinal (also nice pushed slightly to 200-250 in Rodinal), Aculux, or Perceptol (pulled a bit) is pretty much perfect (for me).

 

[Bruno Gracia]

Wow, You perplejo are amazing! Thanks!

Finally I've decided go for secure and buy tri x for 400 @200 and develop in D76 1+1 or Rodinal depends the situation, and for MF men.. I fell in love of FP4 but what can I do in cloudy days? HP5? Is there a huge difference in terms of enlargement between 100 and 400 ISO in MF?

 

[charjohncarter]

Of course, it depends on how big you are going. But MF prints in the 25cm range you probably won't notice a great deal of difference. TMY-2 vs TmaX100 I don't think you would see much.

 

[stupidfish]

if you're looking for a slower speed film, i love ilford's fp4+ as well as their pan f+ 50. if you can still find it, kodak's plus-x 125 speed film is amazing. i couldn't imagine you'd have to go very slow with the medium format, though. the size of the film will make up for the amount of grain, unless you plan on printing huge.

 

[Bruno Gracia]

Do You know the Adox 20 and low speed film? Seems to be in MF with special developers you can get a lot of quality!