Best films for half frame shooting?

[CliveC]

I just picked up my first half frame (a PEN EE-2). Just wondering what would be the ideal film for this. I anticipate grainy films aren't great for half frame. The camera also has a maximum shutter speed of 1/200, so ISO 400 may not be great either.

Should I relegate it to complete daylight duty and buy it FP4+ or Tmax 100? I also have a roll of Kodak Gold 200 for colour. All my other stock is ISO 400 (Tmax, Tri-X, Portra and Superia).

 

[RWaldron]

Back when I was shooting half frame I liked the results with Ilford Pan f 50 best. Even shot at EI of 100 and souped in Microphen the grain wasn't bad. Of course Delta 100 or T-max 100 are faster without a speed enhancing developer and have similar grain. One good thing about half frame is that you can also experiment with big grain. I have some negatives shot in an Olympus Pen on Tri-x then developed in Dektol. That's grainy! Maybe try some different films and see what you like.
Randy

 

[ZeissFan]

I've shot a lot of Kodak Gold 200 with my half frame. I tend to think.a finer grain film is best, although it could be fun using a 400 speed film, too. Right now, I have my half frame loaded with some Ilford FP4 Plus, one of my favorite films.

 

[matthewm]

While I don't have any half-frame experience, I do have some experience with fine-grain films. You might try Kodak Ektar 100 and you could also try some Ilford Pan F (ISO50). I find Kodak Gold films to be pretty grainy no matter which ISO you go with.

 

[CliveC]

Based on what I have on hand, I'm leaning towards Tmax 400.
I also have Fuji Neopan SS, but I hear that's a grainy film. I may have a roll of FP4 Plus around somewhere.

Goodness, how did I end up with all this film?!

 

[Clint Troy]

Grain is good! Go with Delta 3200.

 

[Erik van Straten]

When you want really fine grain: Tmax100 developed in Ilford Perceptol. Rate the film @ ISO 50.

Erik.

 

[pvdhaar]

For a 100 ISO colour film, you could try Reala. Very fine grain colour emulsion, but at the expense of some exposure lattitude compared to Superia.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Another fan of fast film here! As said earlier, grain is good. And the tonality of Delta 3200 is gorgeous.

Cheers,

R.

 

[sepiareverb]

Adox Silvermax is quite lovely through older glass.

 

[CliveC]

But the Pen EE-2 only goes up to ISO 400?

 

[Jockos]

Rollei 80 or Agfa Copex Rapid maybe?

 

[huddy]

For a 100 ISO colour film, you could try Reala. Very fine grain colour emulsion, but at the expense of some exposure lattitude compared to Superia.

FWIW, Reala is discontinued so anything you are buying is old stock and you won't be able to get fresh film forever. :bang: Great film though!

 

[jsrockit]

If you want fine grain, don't shoot half-frame. 🙂

 

[pvdhaar]

FWIW, Reala is discontinued so anything you are buying is old stock and you won't be able to get fresh film forever. :bang: Great film though!

Discontinued in 120, but Fuji still lists it available for 135 in 24 and 36 exp.

 

[matthewm]

Velvia 50? 😀

 

[btgc]

My HF cameras don't depend on particular film, rather weather and light dictate choice. Modern emulsions are so much better than decade old ones that smaller negatives (compared to 24x36mm) enlarge well enough. Just keep within reasonable enlargement limits and film don't matter much.

 

[KansanTim]

I've only shot Delta 100 and Delta 400 in my half-frame. Both worked great, and if anything Delta 100 was too fine in the grain department, as in it was fine enough to seem fine-grained, but not so fine that you couldn't tell the difference between half-frame and regular 35mm. I like the advice of others like jsrockit that you shouldn't worry about grain if shooting half-frame.

 

[Erik van Straten]

If you want fine grain, don't shoot half-frame. 🙂

So lovers of fine grain may not profit of the advantages of half-frame? This is discrimination!

Erik.

 

[zuiko85]

I'm an inveterate bargain hunter and have used half frame cameras for 40 years. Whatever I got on hand is what I shoot, all B&W now. The secret of small negs is to make small prints. My usual size is 6X8 inch on 8X10 paper.

Yeah, I would imagine Eric van Straten could push his to 16X20 if he wanted to, but I don't have that guys talent.