Medium speed film with finest grain?

[jbrubaker]

I need the wisdom of the forum. What do you all think is the finest grain readily available ISO 100-125 BW film (35mm)? I am going to slit and spool some film for my Minox and grain is a primary concern. I last used some Acros, but now that is going away. I need something to standardize on. thanks, john.

 

[mpaniagua]

If I wanted something like Acros, would go FP4+. If you are on the cheap, Ultrafine Xtreme 100 is also good. Base seems a bit cheaper than FP4+ so probably handle with care if you are realoading. Had better result with this than Kentmere.

If you fancy tubular grain, go Delta 100. really like it when I want some creamy results on my portraits versus a more grainy classical FP4+.

Are you using any jig for slit and spooling for Minox? got one and probably would try giving it a shoot.


Best of lucks

Marcelo

 

[mpaniagua]

Delta 100 vs FP4+, Developr D-76 1:1

Delta 100

FP4+

YMMV

Regards

Marcelo

 

[Oren Grad]

T-Max 100.

 

[mpaniagua]

T-Max 100.

That too 🙂

Similar to Delta 100 but it has its own allure

Marcelo

 

[RJ-]

At subminiature formats like a Minox, using the same developer across all the choices, Kodak TMAX 100 has the finest grain structure.

Oren might recall the Viewcamera article on film development test of tabular/cubic grain structure films in the Fuji Acros vs TMAX100 vs Delta 100. It was over a decade ago, demonstrating Kodak TMAX' sharpness over the other modern film emulsions.

RJ

 

[Oren Grad]

Similar to Delta 100 but it has its own allure.

Actually, distinctly different in both grain structure and characteristic curve; IIRC spectral response too. It's easy for me to imagine someone liking one but not the other.

They're both very fine films. But as far as the objective criterion of finest grain assuming the same developer, TMX is it.

EDIT: If the OP is worried about getting this exactly right to his own tastes, it will be easy enough to buy a roll each of TMX and Delta 100 and decide for himself which "flavor" he prefers.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Sharpness and fine grain are a VERY long way from being the same thing.

Pan F is finer grained than Delta 100. Delta 100 is sharper.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Oren Grad]

Sharpness and fine grain are a VERY long way from being the same thing.

Yes! And which, if either, matters more will depend on the user's taste and intended application - for example, I might make a different choice enlarging 20x from a Minox negative vs enlarging 3x from a 6x9cm negative.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Tmax 100 is probably the finest grained 10 speed film now that Acros is gone. I have used a lot of it, and it is a great film. I preferred it to Acros, as it had much nicer midtone gradation.

FP4 is a beautiful film, but is not fine grained.

I have not tried Delta 100, but I imagine it is probably very good, if my experiences with Delta 400 are any indication.

 

[jbrubaker]

Thanks for all the replys. I suspected that Tmax 100 would be the fine grain winner, and your responses seem to verify that. I think that will be the next film to try in my Minox.

 

[rfaspen]

To be similar to Acros? I'm guessing either Tmax 100 or Delta 100. However, I wonder how Adox Silvermax might compare. I haven't used it for a while, and I developed it in Rodinal, but supposedly when developed in the Silvermax developer it is rather fine-grained and very tonal -- compare with Acros???

 

[Steve M.]

These are all good choices regarding film, but remember, exposure and developer are going to play a big part no matter which film you decide to go with. Under exposure is going to cause big problems, and something like Perceptol, Pyrocat HD, Microdol X full strength, or Acufine is going to be a lot better than developing in Rodinal. Those developers give me almost grainless negs with more than a few films. The difference between Tri-X (for example) with either of those developers and a developer like Rodinal is quite visible. Myself, I like grain, and Rodinal grain is beautiful, but I understand why you want to keep it minimal w/ such tiny negs. So go w/ slow film, tabular grain perhaps, and be selective of your exposure, developer, and agitations. Delta 100 is one of my favorites for tight grain.