B&W film recommendations?

[Leigh Youdale]

If you haven't used your Rolleiflex for 30 years you should really get it checked out before taking it on holidays for the first time.
I ran five 120 films through mine last week to test them. Efke R100, Rollei Retro 100, Ilford FP4+, Fomapan 100, Ilford Delta 100.
Conclusion - I liked FP4+ best, followed by the Delta. No real difference in grain for any of them.

 

[chris00nj]

Like someone else said, there is few bad choices, though I'd go for a traditional black & white. I generally go for tri-X, but also like Efke 100.

mfogiel - nice photo.

 

[bwcolor]

C-41 based film really simplifies the lab issue. Otherwise, you can't really go wrong with any of the choices above, but an ISO 400 film at 320 and shooting a roll or two prior to leaving is a must. Delta 3200 @ EI 1000-1200 for lower light situations. Medium format is much more forgiving than 35mm, except for depth of field and relatively slow lenses.

 

[Dave Jenkins]

Ben Z, I developed my first roll of black & white in 1969. How about you?

BTW, I still have a complete of SpotPens, if anyone wants them.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

I think Dave is right... Maybe he refers to the real pain it is retouching digitally with noticeable grain scans, because you can't work in a clean way: you get lots of wrong corrections and unconvenient patterns both in grayscale or color. C41 B&W or grainless B&W work better...

I retouch the old way... It's a nice part of it as it has always been...

Cheers,

Juan

 

[ZeissFan]

Lab processing? I'd use TMax 100 or 400. Both are very nice films with tight grain.

And I agree that you should make sure that the camera is ready to shoot before you put film into it. That is, you should make sure it focuses smoothly and that all shutter speeds work.

 

[Steve M.]

If you haven't used that camera in 30 years, I think the speeds would be questionable. Might be prudent to fire it 25 times or so on the main speeds and see if they sound alright afterwards.

I use A&I in L.A. or The Black and White Lab in Prescott, Arizona for processing. Absolute pros. Never a scratch or any issues whatsoever. Beautiful negs every time.

 

[cz23]

Thanks, Steve. I shot a roll of FP4 and sent it to RPL in Hollywood. Several folks recommended them on LUF. While I wait for the film, I'm shooting a roll of Fuji 160S. I'd like to try the color C-41 approach for color channel control in BW conversions. I really think I'd miss that shooting BW film.

The camera definitely needs a CLA, but before I spend on that, I want a better feel for how I like MF film after shooting 35mm digital all these years.

John

 

[Rogier]

Ilford HP 5 Plus.
Can't go wrong with that!

Even in my Holga 90% of the exposures are good despite only two "aperture" settings and fixed shutter speed...

 

[sanmich]

In 120 size, the best choice is between Ilford FP4+ and Kodak Plus X, Acros in my opinion is tonally inferior(but has smaller grain) however my advice would be to just use Tri X - in 6x6 size the grain is not a big problem, and this is a film difficult to trump for tonality and overall tolerance. If you prefer a modern look, then TMY-2 could be a good option. Medium format is limited by lens speed and DOF, so with a 400 ISO film you would be shooting at 1/500 and f16 in the best case, but you will have some leeway for shots in low light or in interiors, with slower film you are always borderline if you shoot handheld.

A Tri X shot:

Hi Marek

Is this a medium format shot?