Favourite 400 speed B+W film?

Favourite 400 speed B+W film?

  • Kodak TriX 400

    Votes: 858 41.1%

  • Kodak TMAX 400

    Votes: 238 11.4%

  • Ilford Delta 400

    Votes: 138 6.6%

  • Ilford HP5 Plus 400

    Votes: 636 30.4%

  • Efke KB400

    Votes: 12 0.6%

  • Fomapan 400

    Votes: 38 1.8%

  • Fuji Neopan 400

    Votes: 328 15.7%

  • Rollei R3 400

    Votes: 15 0.7%

  • Forte Fortepan 400

    Votes: 2 0.1%

  • Arista EDU Ultra 400

    Votes: 22 1.1%

  • Arista II 400

    Votes: 9 0.4%

  • Another unlisted 400

    Votes: 112 5.4%
  • Total voters
    2,090
D.O'K. said:
I'm surprised Delta 400 hasn't received more praise: superlative sharpness for a fast film (better than many older 100's) and--to me--really excellent tonality, particularly in DDX.

Regards,
D.
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I agree. Delta 400 is a wonderful film. It's always my second choice after Neopan 400.
 
+1
I actually find it better at ISO 800 and 1600. Do not care for it much at ISO 400 (or any ISO 400 film). At 400, if need to be, I may actually go for Neopan 400. I am currently trying Delta 400, though, and I will see how FP4+ pushes.

menthel said:
My favourite is HP5+. I like the way it looks and what it can do rated from 400 to 1600 iso! 🙂
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I keep using TX400 (TMY). Sometimes I used FOMA400 which is from East Europe but Kodak is better. Ilford is another top film brand, I agree but in my experience TX400 has a stronger effect on images than Ilford - I might be wrong.
 
maxwell1295 said:
I'm loving Arista Premium 400/Tri-X these days, especially when I can get decent results at 1600. Here are a few recent samples shot a 1600 and stand developed in Rodinal (120 mins, 30 sec initial agitation, 2 inversions every 30 mins)

I think your "Swimming pool" picture is a far better sample to demonstrate what you achieved with the same combination.
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maxwell1295 said:
Thanks Bob.....i assume you mean this one?
Pool by alanabramsphotography, on Flickr
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Yes. Pushing an ISO 400 film to 1600 usually results in losing a couple of zones if not also ending up with high contrast. The above sample illustrates a fine example obtained through appropriate processing; medium contrast, plenty of mid-tones, acceptable graininess, to make the onlooker wonder about if it really was a 1600 ISO shot.
 
maxwell1295 said:
I'm loving Arista Premium 400/Tri-X these days, especially when I can get decent results at 1600. Here are a few recent samples shot a 1600 and stand developed in Rodinal (120 mins, 30 sec initial agitation, 2 inversions every 30 mins)


Hangin' Loose by alanabramsphotography, on Flickr


Basement 2 by alanabramsphotography, on Flickr
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That's awesome! I've been trying stand developing the Tri-x and HP5 with rodinal but never got good result. It was just grains and grains. What you did has just changed my mind of the "Rodinal incapability".

What's the dilution for this stand develop?
 
danielmk2 said:
That's awesome! I've been trying stand developing the Tri-x and HP5 with rodinal but never got good result. It was just grains and grains. What you did has just changed my mind of the "Rodinal incapability".

What's the dilution for this stand develop?
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I've been using 3.5ml of Rodinal per roll of 35mm film, which seems to work well for me.

That being said, I just picked up some Diafine to see if I can get better results. From what I've seen, that appears to be THE developer for pushing Tri-X to 1600 or even 3200.
 
maxwell1295 said:
I've been using 3.5ml of Rodinal per roll of 35mm film, which seems to work well for me.

That being said, I just picked up some Diafine to see if I can get better results. From what I've seen, that appears to be THE developer for pushing Tri-X to 1600 or even 3200.
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Thanks! I'll try Rodinal again next time. I hear that Diafine would be also fine for pushing. I use D76 1+1 pushing Tri-X to 3200 and it's pretty good 🙂

2011-12-13_b_05_delft_400tx.jpg
 
I usually shoot Tri-X, but this weekend I shot and souped in D76 a couple rolls of Ilford HP5, along with some Tr-X, and forgot how awesome HP5 is. Tri-x still has its own unique character that I like, but I have to admit, that HP5 is amazing stuff--finer grain, smoother tones overall. Less contrast than Tri-X, but that's something I can always bump up in post if need be. I'm going to shoot some more of it this weekend.
 
I like Arista EDU Ultra 400 black and white film. It is inexpensive, gives great images if I do my part, and is very flexible. I can also use it in 35mm, 120 and 4x5 so I don't have to learn a new type of film for each format.
 
Ilford Delta 400 + DDX : finest grain ever, slightly higher sensitivity in the reds, full mid tones. Can be pushed a lot (+3) without problem.
Neopan 1600 or 400 + Ilfotec HC 1+31: extra sharp and fine and nice grain, good contrast as usual with Neopan. Needs careful and gentle agitation at processing.
These 2 combinations have given me the greatest results both in the darkroom and scan.
Unfortunately Delta 400 and Neopan 400 prices have gone up recently :-(
 
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