Favourite 400 speed B+W film?

[crawdiddy]

I keep checking this thread to see if Tri-X will finally edge out HP5+.


*edit* Yes, Tri-X now leading.

 

[nikon_sam]

Interesting that T-max isn't getting a lot of votes...I wanted to love this film when it first came out and believe me I tried...I have 40 rolls of T-max 120, 400 ASA in the fridge...not to worry I will shoot it...
I just need to find the right exposure/develope combo to get it NOT to be flat looking...

 

[charjohncarter]

nikon_sam, check with John Sexton and as someone said 'he may know a thing or two.' His latest email was about the 'new' Tmax400, and he recommended: D-76, 1:1, 68 degrees, 7 minutes. He also, I believe uses Tmax RS and D-76 on the old Tmax400. I'm with you though, I just couldn't get the stuff to work for me. Frankly, I'm surprised at how many votes Tmax400 got. I wish these guys and gals would tell us their secrets.

Sorry, (this is an edit) he uses E.I. 250 with the new Tmax400.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

nikon_sam, check with John Sexton and as someone said 'he may know a thing or two.' His latest email was about the 'new' Tmax400, and he recommended: D-76, 1:1, 68 degrees, 7 minutes. He also, I believe uses Tmax RS and D-76 on the old Tmax400. I'm with you though, I just couldn't get the stuff to work for me. Frankly, I'm surprised at how many votes Tmax400 got. I wish these guys and gals would tell us their secrets.

Sorry, (this is an edit) he uses E.I. 250 with the new Tmax400.

The original Tmax 400, the version made before they built their new facory a few yrs back, worked gorgeously in Tmax Developer diluted 1+7 at 75 degrees for 10 minutes with agitation first 30 sec, then 4 inversions every minute.

This works well on the last version of Tmax 400, right before the new fine grain version that just came out, but the grain is a lot more than the old original Tmax 400. I used to use Tmax 400 but now prefer Tri-X.

 

[amateriat]

Over the years, I've bounced between HP5, Tri-X, and Neopan 400/1600. Then I discovered chromogenics, and came to love them; mostly XP2 Super, but occasionally Kodak BW400 as well.

This, I believe, I took with Neo 1600, late summer 1995, during an outdoor performance (Washington Sq. Park) of King Lear.

- Barrett

 

[charjohncarter]

Chris, I did read in one of Sexton's (about old Tmax and possibly Tmax400 medium new) missives that he used 75 degrees, but he said that it was because he couldn't get water temperature lower where he lived. Just by coincidence Kodak also recommended 75 degrees for Tmax development.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Chris, I did read in one of Sexton's (about old Tmax and possibly Tmax400 medium new) missives that he used 75 degrees, but he said that it was because he couldn't get water temperature lower where he lived. Just by coincidence Kodak also recommended 75 degrees for Tmax development.

I think kodak recommended 75 just to keep times short. I've used it at 68 and saw no image quality difference. For the 1+7 dilution that i prefer, the times get kinda long at 68....its 10 minutes at 75.

 

[MCTuomey]

I forgot to mention, that for whatever reason, Neopan 400 negs, print up quite well on color paper in the one-hour photo machines. The Neoapn 1600 (very nice film) prints up poorly on one-hour color machines...

Russ

very nice pics - russ, chris, and barrett!

 

[bigdog]

Tri-X

Tri-X

400 Tri-X works for me, APX for 100 speed

 

[EmilGil]

There's something weird about this thread, it pops up on top all the time (at least 4 times today) but the last post is bigdog's 3 days ago!

On the first page it says "Last post: 18 minutes ago, 11:50 by bigdog"?

 

[varjag]

Emil, it's a poll, you can vote without posting a thing.

 

[EmilGil]

Ah, thanks Eugene!

Never saw that in previous polls...

 

[enochRoot]

neopan all the way!

 

[40oz]

this is tough. I really liked HP5 and TMAX400. but Tri-X wins by less than a hair. What can you do?

FWIW, I don't think there is anything wrong with TMAX400. It just doesn't have the history of the other two, so it "loses." Not really fair, because the film is way better than 3rd place implies, IMHO. I REALLY like how it pushes. Not to mention what it looks like at box speed. But I can only shoot one film at a time, sadly

 

[le vrai rdu]

I was told that TMAX was a brilliand film I souped with Tmax developer, otherwise it is not very intersesting. I tried once, the picture where quite soft with nice grey but , for I didnot souped it myself, I can't tell you what was the developper

 

[Graham Line]

I don't see it as winners and losers: different films have different characteristics and you select what helps you meet your goals.

 

[40oz]

^ I agree.

BTW, TMAX400 in D76 is great. Like all films, exposure and dev time dictate what is good and what is muddy and crap more than the specific developer.

 

[charjohncarter]

For some reason I get the feeling the 40oz is very most correct on this thread; exposure and development time are the most important choices with a film. I know over the years I stopped using a film because I didn't think it was any good. Tmax400 was one of them, but if you have ever seen a silver print by John Sexton you realize that maybe you (I) weren't doing something right.

 

[lawrence]

Not to sound like a broken record, but Neopan, TriX and HP5, in that order. I have not had good luck with Rodinal or Diafine with the 35mm version of HP5, so I am looking for a better develper for the 100 feet of it that I have on hand right now. I wish Neopan was still available in bulk.

Suggest undiluted Adox ATM49, if you can get it in the States. I've been using this for a while with HP5 and in my opinion it's perfect.

 

[lawrence]

Obviously we have a strong majority of trix and hp5+ users; but i wonder whether many of them use any of the more solvent developers; e.g., microdol x at no greater dilution than 1:1, Ilford Perceptol, etc.? Some images from this microdol/trix or microdol/hp5 combination seem to have a greater tonal range than with less solvent developers.

As I've just mentioned, Adox ATM49 undiluted gives wonderful, smooth results with HP5 and also with Tri-X without the speed penalty of Microdol or Perceptol.