Cheap B&W 400 speed film

[presspass]

With the disappearance of Arista Premium 36 exp., I'm looking for a decent to good replacement. I know I can buy Tri-X or HP5+, but I want something less expensive. I've tried Foma and don't like it. I am willing/eager to bulk load. Any suggestions?

 

[kshapero]

I think you have all the options there are.

 

[defconfunk]

Kentmere is pretty cheap. I've seen bulk rolls selling for $30US, which is less than $2/roll. If price is your only concern, it is hard to beat that. Ultrafine is also cheaper than HP5+ in bulk, (http://www.ultrafineonline.com/35x100ftfifo.html) but I can't remember what film stock it is, it may be foma.

 

[Lauffray]

I think Rollei (or some other manufacturer) in Europe make BW films, check out MacoDirect or FotoImpex. Could be interesting, HOWEVER....shipping :bang:
I don't know for the US but importing anything into Canada is a massive pain in the rear

 

[Lauffray]

That said, I've been ordering the 50 roll box of HP5 directly from the Ilford distributor somewhere in Ontario and while it isn't cheap, you do save on the volume. I quite like Ilford, if I wasn't so damn lazy I'd buy and load in bulk

 

[f16sunshine]

That said, I've been ordering the 50 roll box of HP5 directly from the Ilford distributor somewhere in Ontario and while it isn't cheap, you do save on the volume. I quite like Ilford, if I wasn't so damn lazy I'd buy and load in bulk

Can you hook us up with a link to that source?
I got spoiled the last time I stocked up. Ilford was running that 2pack roll for price of one sale (20111/2012).
I'm down to a dozen rolls. Thinking of buying some bulk rolls but prefer individual cartridges.

As to OP.
Buy what you like. I'm with you on Foma. 100 is nice but... the 400 is not sharp enough for me (although I like the grain).
Tri-x and HP5 are hard to find a match for. Count your blessings they are still available.

 

[Lauffray]

Well you might wanna check the Ilford rep in your area, trust me you don't want to pay for cross border shipping.
In any case, here it is: http://www.ilfordphoto.ca/catalogpc.htm?Category=ILF_HP5&NBReset=1

they have 4x5 and 8x10 sheets, 100' rolls, 35mm canisters, packs etc

 

[Colin Corneau]

With the disappearance of Arista Premium 36 exp., I'm looking for a decent to good replacement. I know I can buy Tri-X or HP5+, but I want something less expensive. I've tried Foma and don't like it. I am willing/eager to bulk load. Any suggestions?

Bulk load HP5 or Tri-X -- it cuts the cost (at least) in half.

I bulk load now, piece of cake.

 

[alienmeatsack]

What about ORWO UN74 in 400' reels? Not as cheap as Kentmere, but still under $50 per 100'.

 

[FrankS]

I just bought some Tri-x (36) from Freestyle @ 4.39 per roll. I thought that was pretty good.

When I buy film in bulk, I get 18 rolls of about 30 exposures, so I figure 15 rolls of 36. Bulk roll cost was $66. Dividing, I get $4.40 per roll. Also with bulk rolling, I lose the last couple of exposures of each roll due to exposure during the rolling process.

 

[newtorf]

HP5 100ft is usually about $54 including shipping from Adorama/BH, that is about ~$3 per roll of 39 exp (same as pre-loaded 36exp 135 films). I think this is about the same price as Arista Premium 36exp you could get in the past considering the shipping cost.

With the disappearance of Arista Premium 36 exp., I'm looking for a decent to good replacement. I know I can buy Tri-X or HP5+, but I want something less expensive. I've tried Foma and don't like it. I am willing/eager to bulk load. Any suggestions?

 

[Vics]

100' roll of Tri-X gets you 18 rolls at $3.89. adjusted for inflation, that's about as cheap as I've seen it in 40 years of shooting. But for $4.49 you can get it already rolled.

 

[Pioneer]

100 foot rolls of HP5 are available from BHPhoto for 49.95 a roll. That will give you eighteen 36 exposure rolls at approximately 2.77 per roll. Pretty inexpensive for just a bit of extra time expended. Of course, if you haven't ever rolled your own before you will need to pick up a loader and some cassettes so your initial cost will be a bit higher. Reloading has allowed me to drop my film costs dramatically while still shooting quality products.

 

[Roger Hicks]

For "how to roll your own" even without a loader -- in fact, I'd suggest, ideally without a loader -- see http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/ps how load bulk.html

But as Vics says, is it worth 60 cents a roll to have to do it yourself?

Cheers,

R.

 

[Eugen Mezei]

Don't expect wonders, but some people had pushed Polypan-F to 400 ASA. I doubt you could go cheaper. Better price/quality yes, but not cheaper.

 

[kzphoto]

What about Eastman XX? Tom A shoots that stuff. You can find "short ends" from various online shops.

http://motion.kodak.com/motion/Products/Production/Black_And_White_Films/5222.htm

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Kentmere 400 went up few months ago at BH. It is not as cheap as it used to be.
I haven't tried it wet printed, yet. Comes grey after scan.
My best results with it so far is at 200 and developed deluted in d76.

 

[Tijmendal]

Bulk load Hp5+. Only 50 bucks a roll. 2,50$/roll. Crazy cheap

 

[Volver]

Bulk load Hp5+. Only 50 bucks a roll. 2,50$/roll. Crazy cheap

where can i buy that cheap?

 

[Gregoyle]

I think the order up from least expensive per 36 shot roll is about like this:

$1.72 Ultrafine Xtreme 400 100'
$2.12 Arista.edu Ultra 400 100'
$2.22 Kentmere 400 100'
$2.78 Ilford HP5+ 100'
$2.78 Arista.edu Ultra 400 36 shot roll
$2.99 Ultrafine Xtreme 400 36 shot roll

Ultrafine also had an Ilford XP2 clone that they sold for a while that was cheap, but I can't find it on their site now.

I think the best deal of any of those (now that Arista Premium has just about dried up) is the HP5+ bulk. $2.78 for one of the best films ever made is a bargain if you ask me. B&H has the 100' rolls for $49.95.

-Greg