Well, XP-2 was my principal go-to chromogenic for a long time:
However, during that period when XP-2 was frequently out of stock (during ilford's corporate transition), I drifted toward Kodak BW400NC, and have pretty much stayed there:
For me, the principal advantages of XP-2 over BW400CN are its (relative) pushability and its relatively clear base, allowing it to be more easily wet-printed from; Textually speaking, I've come to have a slight preference for BW400 - Frank Van Riper argued that it was akin to Tri-X minus much of the grain, and, sacraligious as that might come off, I'm finally somewhat inclined to agree.
Of course, one of the big draws for me was price: up until recently, a 36-exposure roll of BW400 was a buck cheaper in these parts. Now it's pulled within fifty cents of XP-2 (according to Adorama).
As far as processing goes, I have a wonderful little lab a few blocks from me (Accurate Photo) that turns arond my processing lightning quick; as usual, I have them process the film, then hand it back uncut. All scanning/tweaking/printing is done at Atelier Tiny here at home (now a bit tinier).
I do still shoot XP-2 from time to time, on the rare occasion when The Usual Suspects are out of Kodak stock. I'm ratehr behind in my scanning n' editing, but I'll have new examples of my work with the stuff sometime in July.
- Barrett
