bmattock
Veteran
I was asked to help provide information regarding the different B&W film brands available - where they can be found and where reviews of them can be found as well. I don't have all the information, but I have some and can kick things off. If everyone contributes what they know, we could make this useful for those who want to try this or that B&W film and don't know much about it otherwise.
Known Retailers (US):
http://www.bhphotovideo.com
* Agfa, Bergger, Foma, Forte, Fujifilm, Ilford, Kodak, Konica-Minolta (C41), Paterson.
http://www.adorama.com
* Agfa, Bergger, Fujifilm, Ilford, Kodak.
http://www.freestylephoto.biz
* Agfa, Arista (house brand), Foma, Fujifilm, Ilford, Kodak, Maco.
http://www.jandcphoto.com/
* Efke, Adox, JandC (house brand), Agfa, Kodak, Fujifilm, Foma, Lucky, Rollei.
http://www.frugalphotographer.com
* Efke, Bluefire, Maco.
http://www.calumetphoto.com
* Agfa, Bergger, Fujifilm, Ilford, Kodak
I have done business with all of the above at one time or another - they were all fine to deal with. Prices vary - one will be better one day, another better a different day or for a different product.
That makes this list available in the US that I'm aware of:
Adox
Agfa
Arista
Bergger
Bluefire
Foma
Forte
Fujifilm
JandC
Kodak
Konica-Minolta
Ilford
Lucky
Maco
Paterson
Rollei
I am aware that some of these are relabels of other products. Some vary by brand, some vary by type. For example, Arista film could be just about anything, from Agfa to Ilford to Forte - depending on which sort of Arista you buy (.EDU, Ultra, Ultra II, etc). Others are always the same - for example, I believe Bluefire is Agfa Copex always. Some are actually manufacturers. Kodak, Ilford, Foma, Forte, Konica-Minolta, Fujifilm, and Lucky, unless I am mistaken.
The person who emailed me asked if I could point them at characteristics based on usage - I guess meaning my opinion of the various films listed.
I only have in-depth experience with two of them - Kodak Tri-X and Ilford Delta 100. I like them both, for different reasons. Tri-X seems to be the 'classic' when people are talking about the old B&W reportage or street photography look - somewhat grainy, very sharp, good tonal range. Delta 100 is a nice portrait film - smooth, creamy, kind of dreamy looking to me.
Of course, a lot can be changed about a film's look by changing the developer and the development times, pushing and pulling, etc. I tend to use D76, a classic but a bit pedestrian and not at all exotic.
So, I turn this over to others. Let's make a meaningful list out of this, if you don't mind, and let's reserve the 'film x is crap, use film y' for another thread. Just information here, light on the opinions.
Best Regards,
Bill Mattocks
Known Retailers (US):
http://www.bhphotovideo.com
* Agfa, Bergger, Foma, Forte, Fujifilm, Ilford, Kodak, Konica-Minolta (C41), Paterson.
http://www.adorama.com
* Agfa, Bergger, Fujifilm, Ilford, Kodak.
http://www.freestylephoto.biz
* Agfa, Arista (house brand), Foma, Fujifilm, Ilford, Kodak, Maco.
http://www.jandcphoto.com/
* Efke, Adox, JandC (house brand), Agfa, Kodak, Fujifilm, Foma, Lucky, Rollei.
http://www.frugalphotographer.com
* Efke, Bluefire, Maco.
http://www.calumetphoto.com
* Agfa, Bergger, Fujifilm, Ilford, Kodak
I have done business with all of the above at one time or another - they were all fine to deal with. Prices vary - one will be better one day, another better a different day or for a different product.
That makes this list available in the US that I'm aware of:
Adox
Agfa
Arista
Bergger
Bluefire
Foma
Forte
Fujifilm
JandC
Kodak
Konica-Minolta
Ilford
Lucky
Maco
Paterson
Rollei
I am aware that some of these are relabels of other products. Some vary by brand, some vary by type. For example, Arista film could be just about anything, from Agfa to Ilford to Forte - depending on which sort of Arista you buy (.EDU, Ultra, Ultra II, etc). Others are always the same - for example, I believe Bluefire is Agfa Copex always. Some are actually manufacturers. Kodak, Ilford, Foma, Forte, Konica-Minolta, Fujifilm, and Lucky, unless I am mistaken.
The person who emailed me asked if I could point them at characteristics based on usage - I guess meaning my opinion of the various films listed.
I only have in-depth experience with two of them - Kodak Tri-X and Ilford Delta 100. I like them both, for different reasons. Tri-X seems to be the 'classic' when people are talking about the old B&W reportage or street photography look - somewhat grainy, very sharp, good tonal range. Delta 100 is a nice portrait film - smooth, creamy, kind of dreamy looking to me.
Of course, a lot can be changed about a film's look by changing the developer and the development times, pushing and pulling, etc. I tend to use D76, a classic but a bit pedestrian and not at all exotic.
So, I turn this over to others. Let's make a meaningful list out of this, if you don't mind, and let's reserve the 'film x is crap, use film y' for another thread. Just information here, light on the opinions.
Best Regards,
Bill Mattocks
