cheap film recommendations for bulk loader

[mgrinnan]

Hello

I was wondering if anybody on here does the bulk loading thing, and if so what the best (cheap) films are to use. Kentmere? Foma? Arista?? I use D-76 1:1 and am looking for something that looks passable... Tri-X is just sort of expensive and it's hard to justify the cost right now. If you have any experience with any of these and this developer, please let me know!

 

[HSI]

Ilford HP5+ is still under $60USD for an 100 foot roll.

 

[bmattock]

Orwo un54 is $60 for 100 feet as well, but I have no experience with it, sorry to say.

 

[harpofreely]

I like Fomapan 100 exposed at 50 in D76 1:1

Freestyle's house-branded version, http://www.freestylephoto.biz/190110-Arista-EDU-Ultra-100-ISO-35mm-x-100-ft., is $38.94 for 100 feet. I've shot upwards of 400 feet of the Arista EDU 100 and never had any issues with quality or consistency.

As you probably know, Foma/Arista EDU is kind of "old school," grainer than other 100 speed films, but has a very nice tonality. I also like it in Xtol 1:1.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Depends where you are. I'm purchasing from BH with free delivery. For me HP5+ and FP4+ are great films for reasonable price. Kentmere 100 and 400 is cheap film with reasonable quality.
D76 works with them. It is hard to find bw film which doesn't works in D76.

 

[jamin-b]

I like the Foma 100 and 200 ( Arista Edu Ultra in the US - see freestyle). I used them with HC-110, Diafine or Rodinal and am generally pleased when I don't mind some grain...

 

[ruby.monkey]

Polypan-F if you want cheap and distinctive. It has no anti-halation layer, so there's 'glow' aplenty:


twinkle by Jean-Yves, on Flickr

 

[Santtu Määttänen]

Rollei Retro 400s and 80s are both great films for a great price. 400s is around 45 euros and 80s is bit cheaper for 30,5m roll.

 

[Ronald M]

18 rolls of 35 exposres per 100 feet. Cheap makes no sense whatsoever.

 

[grouchos_tash]

I have just started using Ilford Pan 400 and have been quite pleased with the results (I used ID11 1:1)

Untitled by Gary Harding, on Flickr

 

[Rayt]

If you need the speed then you can't beat HP5+ for the price. If iso 100 is enough then try Fomapan 200/ Arista Edu and shoot it at 125

 

[k__43]

After I ran thru a roll of Rollei 80s which I found nice but too much of a special use film I plan on getting Kentmere400/Rollei Retro 400 whatever is cheaper.
I also have a bit of old Ilford Surveillance Material left that seems to be HP5 (w/o the Plus).

 

[mdarnton]

At $35 for 100 feet, I've found Ultrafine Extreme 400 to be totally sufficient. I know some people hate it, but I haven't seen any reason why, yet--no quality control problems; grain, sharpness, etc., are fine. For decades my go-to film was Tri-X, but this is OK, and the price is right.
http://www.ultrafineonline.com/ulxtblwhfiis3.html

Here's more: https://www.flickr.com/groups/ultrafinextreme/
To see what's possible, here's a particularly nice example of good sharpness, grain, and tonality in that pool: https://www.flickr.com/photos/62824259@N02/24053534162/in/pool-ultrafinextreme/

Polypan F is a dirt-cheap film, too. Too slow for me, but it has some nice qualities, as ruby.monkey says.

 

[harpofreely]

At $35 for 100 feet, I've found Ultrafine Extreme 400 to be totally sufficient.

How do you rate your Ultrafine? I also love Tri-X but have always been curious about Ultrafine. I'd hope to be able to shoot it at e.i. 320 in average conditions, like I do Tri-X.

 

[mdarnton]

I treat it just like Tri-X--intermixed in my bag and in developing. I really don't see much difference.

 

[harpofreely]

I treat it just like Tri-X--intermixed in my bag and in developing. I really don't see much difference.

That sounds worth a try - thanks!

 

[mwoenv]

I have bulk loaded Ultrafine Xtreme 100 and 400 for several years and develop it in D76 stock. I shoot it at its rated speed, develop it at their recommended times, like it, and have had no problems with quality. I've made many nice prints from these negatives. You might want to buy a couple of rolls before buying 100 ft. as they sell it loaded as well; unfortunately they have a $35 minimum order.

The Xtreme 120 films (100 and 400) are very good too.

 

[Pioneer]

The two discount choices in the US are Ultrafine Extreme or Arista EDU Ultra. They both seem to respond well to D76 1:1 and I find them very usable films. Bulk roll prices are quite similar between these two.

If you wish to push your film over ISO400 then I definitely recommend HP5 Plus from Ilford over the other two. The bulk roll price for this film is about $20 higher but still far below what Kodak is asking for TriX.

I have pushed Arista but developing time gets very tricky and dependent on the scene. Better done with sheet film instead of 35mm or roll film.

 

[harpofreely]

(Now that I've pretty well hijacked this thread) In the interest of putting together a minimum order, anybody tried the "Ultrafine Ultramax T-Grain 400" ?

 

[kossi008]

Rollei RPX 100 and 400...
Very nice films, and really inexpensive. Finer-grained than the Foma equivalents, too.