Favorite Medium-Format Films

[Peter Browne]

I propose that people may like to discuss their favourite MF films with examples and why the film/s is chosen?

I'm sure this will help me and others who are returning to film or are new to the wonders of this medium!

I suggest that this is more a critique of MF films that are currently available, rather than just posting photos, but use photos as examples. This can include whether you develop yourself or commercially, techniques and curious factors like using expired films or particular development techniques.

 

[lynnb]

Hi Peter,

Good idea for a thread. One small suggestion: consider contacting one of the mods and ask to move this thread to the Film forum and change the thread title to Favorite medium format films.

You might find it useful to look through the excellent and informative thread, Medium Format ... long may it live! which contains hundreds of examples of different MF films in a great variety of MF cameras. It's the resource I'd go to first, although not all of the pictures are tagged with film or development used.

Kind regards,
Lynn

 

[lynnb]

Here's TMAX400 @ISO400 in a Bessa II 6x9 with 105mm f/3.5 Color-Skopar, developed in Rodinal 1+50 (which I only used because I didn't have any TMAX developer at the time). I wanted lots of detail and broad tonality in the bright light. I've taken other pictures of ferry crossings (this is the Manly ferry crossing Sydney heads) when the seas were rough and weather dreich or stormy, and preferred 35mm Fomapan or pushed HP5+ to better capture the mood. TMAX400 is also great for landscaping, as well as Acros which gives impressive detail but being a slower film, I'd prefer to use with a tripod.

This neg was scanned on an Epson V700 and post processed in Lightroom 6.

If you want to see a bigger version of this picture, follow the link to my Flickr.

Manly Ferry #118 by lynnb's snaps, on Flickr

 

[narsuitus]

Still Life by Narsuitus, on Flickr

Mamiya RB67 SLR
50mm f/4.5
Ilford HP5 + 120 black & white film
2-Bath Divided Developer
Epson V850 scanner

 

[lynnb]

Here's Acros in Rodinal 1+50, taken with a 6x6 Yashica Mat 124G.

clouds off the Sydney coast, 2014 #136 by lynnb's snaps, on Flickr

 

[narsuitus]

Macro by Narsuitus, on Flickr

140mm Mamiya Sekor f/4.5 macro lens
Mamiya RB67 extension tube #1 (45mm)
Mamiya RB67 extension tube #2 (84mm)
1:1 reproduction ratio
Fomapan ISO 100 B&W film
1-second shutter speed
f/8 aperture
mirror up
2-Bath Divided Developer
Epson V850 scanner

 

[lynnb]

South Curl Curl beach, Sydney, March 2018.
Meopta Flexaret IIa Mirar 80mm f/3.5 with Fomapan 200 in Fomadon LQN. V700 scan.

beach closed #803 by lynnb's snaps, on Flickr

 

[lynnb]

Historic British cast iron hand crank boat winches at Fishermans Beach, Sydney, March 2018.
Yashica Mat 124G with Rolleinar 3 close up attachment. Fomapan 200 in Fomadon LQN. V700 scan.

boat winch at Fishermans Beach, Sydney #795 by lynnb's snaps, on Flickr

 

[lynnb]

Another TMAX400 example, this time in TMAX developer. Yashica Mat 124G with Rolleinar 3 close up lens. V700 scan.

princess portrait #712 by lynnb's snaps, on Flickr

 

[lynnb]

...and another Fomapan 200 in Fomadon LQN example. 124G with Rolleinar 3. Crop.

chain on boat winch at Fishermans Beach, Sydney #801 by lynnb's snaps, on Flickr

 

[lynnb]

My favourite colour portrait film: Portra 160.
Taken with the 124G

#325 by lynnb's snaps, on Flickr

 

[lynnb]

Compare with Ektar 100, a favourite landscaping film. Here it is in 6x9.

Sunset surfers at Dee Why beach, Sydney, end of summer 2018. Voigtlander Bessa II Color-Skopar 105mm f/3.5, Kodak Ektar 100. V700 scan.

sunset surfers #002 by lynnb's snaps, on Flickr

 

[lynnb]

That isn't to say that Portra doesn't make a good landscaping film; it depends on whether Portra's colour balance and saturation suits your intended purpose. Here's a Portra landscape taken with an uncoated 80mm f/4.5 Agnar triplet lens.

Late afternoon on the Sydney coast from Long Reef. Agfa Isolette I Kodak Portra 160NC. V700 scan.

Sydney coast #765 by lynnb's snaps, on Flickr

 

[chipgreenberg]

Portra 400

Portra 400

I agree, Peter. Great idea for a thread, but this may not be the best place for it.

Currently I'm shooting color with Portra 400. I like the soft pastel palette and huge dynamic range. 20 inch prints really don't show grain. The film is processed/ Noritsu scanned by the FIND lab in UT. Initially I sent them images after I post processed their scans and they adjusted accordingly. Now I barely spend 5 minutes doing a couple tweaks in post.

This was incident metered agains the wall with the doors. The outside was bright morning sunlight. I was at a 1/15 wide open on a mono pod. I have a 20 inch print of this at is sharp and grain free.

LP doorway copy by Chip Greenberg, on Flickr

 

[chipgreenberg]

Porta 400

Porta 400

This was on a tripod, wide open unknown speed.I really like the film's palette.

Same as all these, Minolta Autocord, Portra 400, Noritsu scan.

Taos door sm by Chip Greenberg, on Flickr

 

[chipgreenberg]

Porta 400

Porta 400

One of my colleagues thinks this typifies Porta 400. This wasmhand held and I didn't nail it as well as the mooned/tripod shots I do.

Same as all these, Minolta Autocord, Portra 400, Noritsu scan.
Old town chairs by Chip Greenberg, on Flickr

 

[chipgreenberg]

I'm going to add some 35mm since I also want top give Ektar 100 some display time and I don't have any from my TLR. I moved from Velvia to Ektar, it wasn't a great leap though different rendering and better latitude but nothing like Portra 400. These were Hasselblad scans. Contax T2

T or C door 8 copy by Chip Greenberg, on Flickr

 

[chipgreenberg]

Hasselblad scans. Contax T2 Ektar 100

Weed hill 8 b 12 by Chip Greenberg, on Flickr

 

[chipgreenberg]

Red stairs 10.6 by Chip Greenberg, on Flickr

 

[css9450]

For most purposes, I have never warmed up to Acros. I find it to be very "flat". Not contrasty enough. But what I do use it for, is night photography, where it excels. These are with the Rolleiflex 2.8C and developed in Rodinal 1:50 (old formula Japanese-made Acros)




I've posted this one before, but it's a favorite: