BW film with wide tonal range in lights ?

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searching film with wide tonal range for portraits and NU. Which one could you recommend? (film + developer). With samples please, if it is possible.
 
in wide tonal range in lights, i assume something like this

28-08a.jpg



09-10b.jpg


17-03a.jpg
 
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Not that it really matters Dmitry, but you seem to have answered your own question nicely, however I finally realized that you did not give the film/developer information.
 
Tri X in a pyro developer - I recommend Prescysol EF semi stand, but you can try other pyro developers like Pyrocat HD, etc. I do not shoot nudes, but let me see if I can show something...
3580168257_f2c1f16724_b.jpg


3700469932_e43127d9ab_b.jpg


4074549856_ec58a3820e_b.jpg


An alternative, would be Tri X in Diafine @ EI 400-800 - it holds the highlights in an incredible way, but the shadows get somewhat compressed, and there are often problems with uneven development:

2832801348_b54fcbd207_b.jpg


2838455241_6ce70f7674_b.jpg
 
wow, those are all great shots. Do you remember which lens/lenses you used? The clarity and sharpness of the first photo is superb. I have used primarily Tri-x over the years, but I don't think I've ever gotten results like that, looks like a very fine grained film on my monitor.
 
Rules for fine grain

moderate speed, tri x at 200, D76 full strength. Do not dilute it

Rule for sharp

Scan to tiff and go into photoshop. Sharpen to 75 in ACR, .8 radius.

When you get done in photoshop, resize for web manually. resize to what size you want at 100 ppi. Then do a final sharpen, change to 8 bit, save as jpeg.

Highlights are preserved by moderate development. The More you develope, the denser they get and are hard to control. Tri X is probably the easiest to scan film. Developer does not matter much. Keeping time short is paramount.






you have existing negs hard to control, scan one for good highlights & save. Scan a second time to get correct shadows. Save.

Layer in photoshop with dense file on top & combine. Make a black mask for top layer and paint highlights with white to greys depending on how much you want to let thru.

If you get registration problems, change the blend mode to multiply and use arrow keys
to get a black image. Arrows will move it one pixel at a time.

http://www.thelightsrightstudio.com/digital-darkroom.htm

watch the video at bottom right, click open, then watch the one on blended exposure.
He uses a luminosity mask.

Save yourself a lot a trouble and develope moderately. You don`t need fancy stand techniques, just watch the clock. My times for Tri x are 4.4 at 68 for 200 EI and 5.5 for 400 Ei.

Fill the tank with developer, drop the loaded reel in, cap and invert. I start my clock with 5 sec early, darken the room, start the clock and count backwards from 5. Drop the reel in at 1. The tank top is next to the tank to the left so yu start the clock with your left hand, then grab the cap. Allow 15 sec for drain out, no stop, no water, dump in fix for 3 min. Stop or water will increase grain size. You will shorten the fix life a little, but I use it one shot anyway. Use it up on test prints.

Whatever you do, for 1/2 box speed is normal development time less 20%. Remember most published times are for diffusion enlargers which need more contrast, so start with 10% less for scanning or condensers. Then reduce 20 for 1/2 speed.
 
@like2fiddle
The first shot is with the Hasselblad Sonnar 180/4, I believe it was shot wide open, then DR Summicron, C sonnar 50/1.5, also the next one, and the last with the 85/1.4 Planar ZF.
 
If it were me I'd probably use Tri-X rated at 200 in D-76, or T-Max 400 likewise in D-76. Use the latter if the finest grain is an important consideration. I know it's not very esoteric sounding but it works for me :)
 
yesterday, i've tried stand-development of Acros100 in D-23 1+3 (60min. total. agitation 2 minutes only, then leave untouched for 60 minutes )

acros100_d-23_1+3_stand_60min.jpg


and normal dev. in D-23 1+3 (20min. total , agitation on 3,5,9,13 min. 10 sec. intervals)

acros100_d-23_1+3_20min%283,5,9,13%29.jpg
 
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If you want something that smooth looking, I would guess it will be a lot easier to get with medium format. And a slower film. Tmax 100, Delta 100, Acros, PanF+?
 
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