Best "All Around" 400-ISO B&W Film & Developer for 35mm B&W Leica "M" Street Shooting

Tri-X and Rodinal is the route I've been going. Good results from ISO 200 up until 6400 for me with Tri-X. Regardless of what lenses/speed I shoot I'm covered with tri-x/arista premium.
 
XP2? It doesn't give you the option of easy home development. We still don't know just how archival that black dye might be in fifty years, or one hundred for that matter. All I know is that I threw out an awful lot of C-22 negatives and many of my older C-41 negatives are probably ready for the landfill too. Maybe a pure black image will hold up better than the tri-color dyes. To me it's not worth the risk. Sorry, Eric.
 
I understand Al. But I came to the conclusion that once I die no one is really going to want my negs anyway. In a way it just makes the prints I sell today worth more tomorrow.

On the subject of development fortunately my local drug store still does a good job of C41 processing. I suppose once the last 100 foot roll is gone I will switch over to HP5 since that is what I like in LF.

You should give XP2 a shot just to see if the tonality is vastly different and maybe more pleasing than your usual combo. Not saying switch over, just try it for fun.
 
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I'm still looking for a film/developer pair that:

- Has good shadow detail at 400 or higher
- Is less expensive per roll than DD-X

I've been using primarily tri-x and hp5+ in HC110. I've been getting a lower effective film speed with the hp5 over all. For those who have shot a bunch of combos, any in particular that seemed to have a higher exposure index for you?

Our dark, cloudy days in Seattle make 400 speed film feel rather slow as it is.

Edit: I've used DD-X and liked the results with it, but it is on the expensive side to use as my base line developer. I have a pack of XTOL I plan on trying once I get though either my DD-X or HC110.
 
Brian Legge said:
I'm still looking for a film/developer pair that:

- Has good shadow detail at 400 or higher
- Is less expensive per roll than DD-X

I've been using primarily tri-x and hp5+ in HC110. I've been getting a lower effective film speed with the hp5 over all. For those who have shot a bunch of combos, any in particular that seemed to have a higher exposure index for you?

Our dark, cloudy days in Seattle make 400 speed film feel rather slow as it is.

Edit: I've used DD-X and liked the results with it, but it is on the expensive side to use as my base line developer. I have a pack of XTOL I plan on trying once I get though either my DD-X or HC110.
Click to expand...


I'd go with either HP5+ at iso 800 in xtol 1+1 or TMY-2 in xtol 1_1 or 1+2 for a cleaner and smoother look.

Mike
 
It's fun to see these old threads resurected 🙂

My combo is Tmax-2 400 and Tmax Developer. Through trial I've learned well enough for my own satisfaction to overexpose and under-develop (mostly through low agitation) this combo for a good DR and a sharp clean look that is grainy but not gritty. It's the combo that I trust myself with for now. Caviot being ....... I like T-grain films. It seems others do not prefer them.
 
I love Tri-X in D76 1:1 but I don't reuse my working solution, so I run out fairly quickly. Do you all reuse your D76?

Because I run out of D76 so quickly whenever I do use it, I end up using HC-110 dilution B or Rodinal 1+50 (occasionally 1+100 stand) more often. I get great tones from both, more grain and contrast with Rodinal. I usually push (to 1600) with Rodinal.
 
I like Tmax 400 @ 320 in Finol.
But Trix in Xtol 1:1 mixed with Rodinal 1:100 quite sharp and rich in tonal
Best regards
sem
 
Arista Premium+Rodinal. Cheapest combo there is, and very very versatile. You can pull it down to 100 (probably further) and push to 12800 and further. D76 is also pretty good.
 
I just discovered Neopan 400 in Xtol 1+1 at 400 or even more beautiful at 1600. Simply gorgeous. Now I just need it back in 120. :bang:
 
you will always get conflicting answers because the result is always subjective. Some like it coarse and grainy, some medium and some like very fine grain and smooth. Some lik high contrast, some normal and some low contrast. So which do you prefer.
The question you should have asked is: Which film+developer combo gives me a certain look and posted a link to an example you have seen. Then you would get answers specific to your aims and not just everyones personal favourites which really means nothiing except to to them unless you have seen their work and like the look of it.
 
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Can give some love for TMY - beautiful results, I usually use Rodinal but occasionally D-76 too.

Neopan 400 has the loveliest grain and sharpness but as has been said (and is patently obvious), preference is entirely subjective and personal.
 
Tri-X, D76. No need whatsoever to mess with anything else. Peanut butter & jelly, steak and mushrooms, cookies and milk, pork and beans, squid and Clamato, fruitcake and Night Train 20/20...
 
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