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
Rollei Super Pan 200.
Very usefull material up from iso 100 - iso 400.

Here an example of Super Pan 200 E.I. 400. Developer AM74/RHS 1+9. M7 + Summarit 2,5/75mm.

3010018015_2dde1651a7.jpg
 
since 1970 i've used tri-x. college: hp5.
tried tmax. too thin.
only tried a few others: delta, xp2.
seem to like hp5. have used mostly hc110,
earlier: d76.
tried rodinal several times.
but i'm a pretty basic type.
 
I recall reading in a post some time ago that Tom A. shoots Arista 400 as well, I'm not sure which variety. Please pardon me for name dropping Tom, I was just happy to see that someone of note, such as yourself, used the same film I did!

Aside from that, at ~$2.00/roll, I buy this stuff by the brick, develop in full strength X-Tol and while your mileage may vary, I feel that I get very nice results with this film. Easily controllable contrast through pull/push (-1.5/+3 or so) and consistent results. I've only been doing this for a couple years, so I am far from the world's leading expert' I'm just happy to finally be getting some controllable, predictable and pleasing results from a film/dev combo.

Sorry for the long windedness......,
 
I shoot shoot the Arista Premium 400 - intermixed with Tri X and unless I look at the edgemarkings, cant really tell them apart. I have also been shooting the Legacy Pro 400 and intermixed with Neopan Presto 400 - only difference is that it says Fuji on the Neopan but not on the Legacy.
 
Tri-X 400 shot at 250... means to what end?

Tri-X 400 shot at 250... means to what end?

I use Kodak TriX 400, but shoot it at 250 and develop in HC-110h for 11.5 minutes-68 degrees, 30 seconds agitation at first and then 3 inversions each remaining minute.

I'm interested in this idea. This overall process does what? Better shadow/highlight range or just better highlights? Just trying to think this through - sensitive film exposed longer = more exposure in the highlights???

Do you think I can keep with my standard processing : HC-110b, 5min, 68deg, 30 sec, 10 sec/min?
 
I'm interested in this idea. This overall process does what? Better shadow/highlight range or just better highlights? Just trying to think this through - sensitive film exposed longer = more exposure in the highlights???

Do you think I can keep with my standard processing : HC-110b, 5min, 68deg, 30 sec, 10 sec/min?


There are different reasons to use a lower film speed setting. Some people use a shorter developing time to reduce contrast, but doing so lowers the film's effective speed, so you have to increase exposure to keep detail in dark tones.

If you like the results from your processing, keep with it. Actual dev. times can vary from person to person depending on how you agitate, the type of dev. tanks you use, the type of printing paper you use (matching film contrast to paper), etc.
 
I use Kodak TriX 400, but shoot it at 250 and develop in HC-110h for 11.5 minutes-68 degrees, 30 seconds agitation at first and then 3 inversions each remaining minute. I am hopeful that the new Tmax400 will be worth more than the muddiness of the past, because I would like to not have grain on some images.
That's just what I do cjc. HC110 is easy because you can halve the concentration, and double the time and get the same amount of development. I pull Trix, HIE (rip), and Delta 3200 by going the 'h' route. This greatly reduces the size of the grain in these traditionally grainy films, yet maintains the higher contrast that I like.

If I want the same low-grain effect with lower contrast and more defects, I'll just go with coffee. Starbucks+Na2CO3 has less grain than any legitimate developer I know of. Cause of the staining I think.
 
I like Tri-X in D76 or Fuji Superprodol (SPD) Love the subtle tones and it works well shot from 200 to 1600. I often use diafine because it's almost always too hot or too cold in my house, the results are not as nice as D-76, but it's a lot easier to use.
 
I have also been shooting the Legacy Pro 400 and intermixed with Neopan Presto 400 - only difference is that it says Fuji on the Neopan but not on the Legacy.

Today I read that Legacy Pro 400 is rebranded Neopan 400. So I'm going to order 100ft roll of it. Along with APX 400 which I can buy in cassettes, Neopan 400 looks like film I'd like.

Is APX 400 also sold rebranded in bulk, if anyone knows?

I've looked at scans (yes, this isn't absolute truth) from HP5 Plus and it seems different cup of tea (not bad, just different).
 
Is APX 400 also sold rebranded in bulk, if anyone knows?

Rollei Retro 400 is rebranded APX400 (new). But then you must be quick because all stocks worldwide of this film are running low.

Fotohuis (NL) is almost sold out of Retro films (APX100/400) and I think it will be the same soon with my collegues.

Best regards,

Robert


http://www.FotohuisRoVo.nl
 
Rollei Retro 400 is rebranded APX400 (new). But then you must be quick because all stocks worldwide of this film are running low.

Fotohuis (NL) is almost sold out of Retro films (APX100/400) and I think it will be the same soon with my collegues.

Best regards,

Robert


http://www.FotohuisRoVo.nl

A guy at monochrome in Berlin just told me a few days ago that there's APX formula / Rollei being produced and it won't be out of stock for at least a few more years, but for now there's no end in sight.

martin
 
APX100/400 (Retro 100/400) is running to the end.

But from Agfa Gevaert in Belgium there will be new Retro films:
Retro 80S and Retro 400S. Together with the Super Pan 200 (also from Gevaert) these new films will replace the old Rollei Retro 100/400.
All available in 35mm, bulk 30,5m/100ft and 120 roll film.
 
APX100/400 (Retro 100/400) is running to the end.

But from Agfa Gevaert in Belgium there will be new Retro films:
Retro 80S and Retro 400S. Together with the Super Pan 200 (also from Gevaert) these new films will replace the old Rollei Retro 100/400.
All available in 35mm, bulk 30,5m/100ft and 120 roll film.

Do you know where these films are manufactured?
 
Agfa Gevaert in Mortsel (near Antwerpen) Belgium.

The 35mm slitting and packing is done in Bergheim (Germany) and the 120 roll film is done by Foma in Hradec Kralové, Czech Republic.

Special sensitive film like Rollei IR820/400 in the roll film configuration is done by Harman/Ilford BTW.

120 roll film packing in Europe is limited till Efke (Croatia), Harman (UK) or Foma (CZ).
 
Agfa Gevaert in Mortsel (near Antwerpen) Belgium.

Thanks for clearing this up. I was curious as to whether these really are original emulsions or just someone else's with different packaging. It's great to see that there's still a large enough market for monochrome to justify production by the smaller manufacturers.
 
[Do you know if the "new" Rolleis will be different from APX?

Yes. they will be different.

The old films were on tri-acetate base while the new Rollei Retro films will be on clear polyester base.
 
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Fotohuis, thank you for tip on APX400/RR

I see that Rollei 80S and 400S is already on sale.

EDIT: from what I have read, polyester base is better in terms of archival stability.
 
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The more I use Neopan 400 the more remarkable I think it is. I have done some testing with the 1600 sibling not having used it in my Leicas (I have used it some time back in my SLR) and was reminded of what an amazing 400+ speed film this is. It is nowere near 1600 at its natural speed, although I do find it gives a full stop more than the 400 (I rate them at 320 and 640 respectively). The 1600, downrated like this, in Xtol 1+2, gives a truly classic hard hitting monochrome reportage look. The grain is super crisp, the shadows are there and the highlights control beautifully if you develop modestly. I seriously recommend anyone looking for a touch more speed than their regular 400 film to look at this. It provides easily as much resolution as TriX, more speed and, well, I dont see the catch.
 
The more I use Neopan 400 the more remarkable I think it is. I have done some testing with the 1600 sibling not having used it in my Leicas (I have used it some time back in my SLR) and was reminded of what an amazing 400+ speed film this is. It is nowere near 1600 at its natural speed, although I do find it gives a full stop more than the 400 (I rate them at 320 and 640 respectively). The 1600, downrated like this, in Xtol 1+2, gives a truly classic hard hitting monochrome reportage look. The grain is super crisp, the shadows are there and the highlights control beautifully if you develop modestly. I seriously recommend anyone looking for a touch more speed than their regular 400 film to look at this. It provides easily as much resolution as TriX, more speed and, well, I dont see the catch.

i've been shooting a lot of arista premium cause everybody loves tri-x so much and i've liked it. but my last three rolls were two rolls of arista premium and one of arista edu neopan, and despite having used the edu before, the contrast of the two really turned me around to the edu. i think you're right about the stopping down, it was a little dark, but so beautifully moody. cool film.
 
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