Lost in Film

[Bingley]

Prices in the U.S. on Kodak films have definitely gone up in the last year, prompting a second look at rebadged offerings from Freestyle.

I have not used Rollei Retro myself, but I've seen some beautiful work with it done by forum members here.

 

[OurManInTangier]

i tried to write something productive and helpful for ten minutes, but all i came up with is this:

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYAYAYAYA!

now buy tri-x and shoot stuff.

That'll do fine mate😀

Wow, first of all welcome to the "dark side" again 🙂. It is great honor to see you at "dark side".
Actually my favorite films are Tri-x and Hp5+ but I am using Rollei RPX 400 because of economical reasons. Nevertheless, I am quite well satisfied results of it. Yes, it has grain but it doesn't bother me somehow I couldn't describe. I suggest you to give a chance to this film.
BTW I am using this film @250 and it has a best performer at inclined sunny day in my opinion.

Thanks for the welcome back Taylan!

Sounds like I need to give this RPX 400 a go, if its economical and as good as Valdas' shot make it look. I could never get on with HP5 at college, our stock film of the time (mid nineties,) as I always managed to get golf ball grain...perhaps I should revisit that too!?

So, like me, you've gone full circle and returned to film. Last I heard you had an M9.

Yep, full circle...and I'm excited. The M9 is a cracking piece of kit but all that money in one body, slowly depreciating...too much. Plus, I find with film in a M body gives me a freedom when shooting (no idea how I'd begin to adequetly explain that🙂😛)

AG Photographic has also gone into my 'suppliers faves' and I'll look into the dev various of you have mentioned.

Glad I didn't get rid of my dev tanks etc😎

 

[OurManInTangier]

Sorry, forgot to mention a BIG THANKS for sharing some of your shots with your favourite films. I know its hard to truly see on a scanned shot presented via the interent but it all helps to provide a better idea of whats available.

 

[OurManInTangier]

Just checked out Freestyle and their Arista prices. Is Arista available in the UK or EU?

 

[mfogiel]

For Arista, you should simply order several hundred rolls, this way your shipping and taxes won't hurt so much per roll - maybe you can make a joint order with friends -aha, and buy a freezer first...

 

[zauhar]

Simon, according to another thread there are only about 100,000 rolls of arista (Tri-X) left, so you need to hurry!

I am pleased you have returned to film, although a little surprised. Hope you share your motivations and experiences as you go.

Randy

 

[helen.HH]

+1... for Arista Premium with HC110 is LOVELY !

Tmax400/TriX a steady companion

Would be FUN to try some ILFORD Film ...hmmmm
I like Bob's Idea about supporting Ilford 😉

 

[rolfe]

1. Buy a freezer

2. Buy a hundred rolls of APX100 from macodirect.de

3. Buy a hundred rolls of Arista EDU Premium (aka Tri-x) from Freestyle

 

[raytoei@gmail.com]

Simon,

dun forget to invest in a scanner,
even if you intend to do your own wet prints.

i find certain film more curly than others, and this
affects the sharpness of the scans (it could be a
perceived sharpness).

The good news is that there are lots of
information on the web to explore DIY
like bulk-rolling, home-development,
and scanning. Information on film is also
plentiful.

Shooting film is quite a pleasurable experience.
The downside is fairly obvious, it is on it's last legs,
it is time-consuming and it is getting more expensive.

i have sort of settled on bulk roll as a money saving
option, i tried several films and i seem to like films which
is easier to scan, Polypan F 50 for slow film, and
Kentmere 400@800 and Fomapan 400@200.
of course, i am still learning and experimenting, i am into
my second can of seldom mentioned Ethol UFG developer.

here's a picture from late last year:

Fomapan 400@200, developed at higher temp for increased grain.

raytoei

 

[maddoc]

FOMAPAN200 and HP5plus in HC-110 "B" (HC-110 is quite difficult to get here in Japan recently ...)

 

[helen.HH]

Hey Gabor,
Just let me know if your in need /HC110
And I will send it your Way.....😉

 

[zauhar]

Simon,

Ray brings up film curling - this is a real problem with the arista premium (in fact, brand-label tri-x is just the same). It can be very difficult to scan.

I generally put the film in archive sheets and then under a heavy stack of books. Others recommend winding the film the "other way" on a reel to remove the curl.

I will assume they mean metal reels - don't try it with plastic. ;-(

Randy

 

[charjohncarter]

I'm a half full guy, I've tried many different films; in the last 7 years in anticipation of the demise of some films that I use. My first shot at it was Arista EDU ultra 400, maybe it was called something different that 7 years ago. But I hated it. So for a while I just went back and slowly went through some others one at a time. Bottom line: You can make any film work if you put in enough time refining it to your tastes.

Anyway, Arista EDU ultra 400 isn't that bad after trying many EI and development times.

 

[shadowfox]

Bottom line: You can make any film work if you put in enough time refining it to your tastes.

Wise words worth repeating, John 🙂
I have also came to the same conclusion.

Every time I got a print the way I expected in the darkroom, every nuance of film type differentiation that I wring my hands through before just melt away.


Forgot to say to Simon: Welcome back 😀

 

[maddoc]

Hey Gabor,
Just let me know if your in need /HC110
And I will send it your Way.....😉

Helen, thanks a lot for the kind offer and highly appreciated ! 🙂 No idea if shipping of that stuff is easy, though ... For example, R09 (Rodinal) can`t be shipped using air-mail since it is corrosive.

 

[paulfish4570]

tri-x/arista 400 and hc-110 are a perfect pair.
hp5 and tmax developer are another.

 

[OurManInTangier]

Thanks all for your experiences, favourite emulsions and developer combinations and your 'welcome backs' (though I am keeping my X100😉🙄.) I'm so glad I also kept my film scanner and all my dev tanks, changing bags etc otherwise the cost of switching back may well have been prohibitive...or certainly have drawn the process out a lot longer.

All your suggestions for suppliers are a huge help too, it made me wonder if we have a 'sticky' for where to get certain films, developers etc at a good price but I rather suppose that's what the sponsors are for.

Randy, I used to use TriX before I went digital and always found using my grandfather's complete volume of Churchill's memoirs (all the same size and weight) was an effective way to flatten them for scanning. If you were suprised I returned to film I hope its not because I gave an impression of being anti film in any way, although I will no doubt sound anti film when my very first film doesn't stay on the spiral and the whingeing starts😀😛

 

[Photo_Smith]

Welcome back to using film, you know it makes sense.

Living in the UK you've had good recommendations for suppliers, 7 day shop stopped stocking Ilford because they wouldn't discount enough I stopped using 7 day shop—they're not the cheapest and they take longer to post in my experience.

Film
Films to try are the Foma ones from Silverprint, I like the 100 which I rate at 64 and find it gives nice tones. All the Foma films are slower than box in the Rodinal mix I like.

The Rollei films are nice also I've used the Retro 100 and find it the same as APX.

Developers
You've had good recommendations in HC110 and to that I'll add Ilfotec HC which is essentially the Ilford version; both are syrup types that are economical.
I also like Microphen for a slight speed increase (makes Foma films box speed) without too much grain penalty.
Rodinal is my favourite especially with HP5 which gives lovely tones (I like long tonal scales) with the right agitation and times. Some don't like Rodinal because they feel it enhances grain, I can't see this effect myself even in large blow ups but it does lose speed, and I've never found anything that can hold a highlight as well.

Fomapan 100 (EI64) in Rodinal 1:100

HP5 rated 400 in Rodinal 1:50

Most films can be made to give the results you need but you'll need to experiment—there are plenty of people here who will help should you have problems.
Regards
Mark Antony

 

[OurManInTangier]

Thanks Mark, some good recommendations there for me to try. Also, its interesting to hear why 7 Day Shop stopped stocking Ilford films, and I agree about there posting times for prior experience.

I'm curious, looking at your pictures and how well held those highlights are, as to how well I'll deal initially with my exposures. Coming from so long underexposing to try and keep highlights from blowing out on a digital sensor to, if anything, overexposing to avoid blocking up the shadows on film - it's going to be fun.

 

[John Lawrence]

Also, its interesting to hear why 7 Day Shop stopped stocking Ilford films, and I agree about there posting times for prior experience.

Don't forget that the government closed the Channel Islands tax loophole too (so all their films cost more now):

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/b...lar-channel-islands-tax-loophole-6259101.html

John