Need advice about about what fast film

[Rhodes]

Need advice about about what fast film to get. Should I go for T-max 400 or tri-x and push it or try to get t-max 3200?
I am looking for a film to use in low light/indors plus night time and not use flash (since I have none for my cameras).

 

[Colin Corneau]

Hi Rhodes - All are good choices, most will depend on availability of each film type in your area.

I've used TMax 400 both at box speed and pushed, and it is terrific. I haven't used TMZ (TMax3200) as much but have seen good results from it -- in either case, what makes as big (or bigger) difference is the developer you use.

 

[Rhodes]

Xtol! I only used once rodinal pushing tri-x at 1600, just to try out, but all my tmz were develop in xtol. They are avaliable, but expensive or unavaliable in bulk. Also, outside portugal the shippment cost are high! Was thinking in buying in ag-photographic a pack of 10 rolls of tmax 400.

 

[Colin Corneau]

I"ve heard nothing but good things about XTol -- I've used DD-X and really liked it for push processing.

Compensating developers like Microphen and TMax developer are great choices for this work, too.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Tmax 3200 or Ilford's Delta 3200 will give better shadow detail at 1600 or 3200 than pushed 400 speed films will. I'm favoring Delta 3200 now, but used Tmax 3200 for many years. Both are good films.

Delta 3200 at EI-1600

Delta 3200 at EI-3200

Tmax 3200 at EI-1600

All developed in Kodak's Tmax Developer, which is the best developer I have tried with these fast films.

 

[RanceEric]

I shoot Tri-X pushed to 3200 all the time (devo in microphen for 25 minutes, agitate twice every minute) Here are some shots.. I've loved the results.

 

[Rhodes]

All great and nice shoots! Only used once ilford 3200 at 1600 and developed in DDX, but did not like the results, to grainy comparing to the tmz that I used in theplace after ending the delta 3200. But here ilford 3200 is expensive 7,69 € each!

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

All great and nice shoots! Only used once ilford 3200 at 1600 and developed in DDX, but did not like the results, to grainy comparing to the tmz that I used in theplace after ending the delta 3200. But here ilford 3200 is expensive 7,69 € each!

Its about $8 a roll in the USA, so you're really being screwed since the stuff is made in the EU (no import taxes!). Tmax 3200 is about the same price as the Delta 3200 here though.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Its about $8 a roll in the USA, so you're really being screwed since the stuff is made in the EU (no import taxes!). Tmax 3200 is about the same price as the Delta 3200 here though.

No, but there is VAT.

I completely agree with you about the superiority of Delta 3200. Yes, it's grainier than HP5/Tri-X: but it's around twice as fast.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Sparrow]

I've had some OK results with HP5 in Acuspeed, if they still make it, usually because it was all I had in my bag ...

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

Hi Rhodes,

Both 3200 films are faster than 400 film by not much more than one stop. When I can live with 1600 shooting or even 3200 and contrasty, pushed images I prefer to use 400 film.

The same image, with 3200 films, gives me more grain (Ilford more than Kodak) and a bit more shadow detail.

Ilford Delta3200 is a bit faster than Kodak IMO (close to nothing), and it's also a bit lower in contrast, and can be well processed in DDX or Microphen. I don't like its look too much, even though I like visible grain in general.

Kodak TMax P3200 is the best fast film to me when it's processed in TMax developer: amazing tone, beautiful clean grain, and much higher acutance/sharpness than Ilford.

I'm getting with stand development (ISO400 film at 3200) higher acutance than with normal agitation development: one thing I wonder is, how well would stand development work for TMaxP3200 at 6400 incident on TMax developer... I'd bet it works... Shamefully I can't get TMax developer right now to try that...

Recently I've found only for night shooting those high ISOs make sense... On 99% of situations including low light, a fast lens and 400 film work very well... Even for night shots, with 400@3200 I can shoot at f/1.4 1/125, 1/60, 1/30... And the high contrast looks fine on night shots...

Cheers,

Juan

 

[Rhodes]

Decisons, decisons! eheheh. First of all, thank you all for the replies and advices. I am goin to think more and then see what I can buy with the options that I got. In the other point about prices, I will left here some of they practice in portugal. For a few it may be cheaper, for others expensive.
Kodak TMAX 400 35mm - 36 Exp. 5,50€
Kodak TMAX P3200 35mm - 36 Exp. 7,90€
rd DELTA 3200 PROFESSIONAL 35mm - 36 Exp. 8,50€

All prices include IVA (our vat, I think)!
If a buy 10 rolls, well the price is high. ANd no bulk of those around here!

 

[haempe]

I experimented some time ago with faster films and personally found the combination of TMZ @1600 in TMaxDev. was the most satisfying.
For economical reasons I ended up shooting TX @1600 and developed in Diafine.

 

[semilog]

I've avoided shooting TMZ simply because I fear that it would be addictive (not a problem) and expensive (potentially a problem). I routinely shoot Neopan 400 and 2TMY at ISO800-1250 and develop with XTOL -- I'm very happy with the results.

 

[Ronald M]

Tri x is nice and true 400 as is t Max. 3200 T Max is really 1000 or less if you want proper shadows. Not worth it to me of a stop or 1 and a half.

 

[Tim Gray]

I love TMZ at 800 or 1600. Good stuff.

You really just need to decide if you want shadow detail or fine grain. If the former, go with TMZ or Delta 3200, if the latter, go with a 400 speed film pushed.