What is your favorite B&W emulsion?

[telenous]

Over the years I think I may have used more rolls of TriX than HP5+. Regardless of intensity of use I think I like(d) Kodak Plus-X most of all.

.

 

[John Lawrence]

Dependent on what I'm shooting:

HP5+

APX 100

Acros 100


John

 

[semilog]

T-Max 400 is a versatile film that I shoot at different ratings with happy results. In wintery Seattle a modification of the sunny f/16 rule to cloudy f/2.8 generally works, and this film gives good results rated at ASA 800. On a bright day the film works well rated at ASA 200. So if I'm packing only one film, this one is it.

Same here, right down to the city. When it's brighter I shoot ACROS.

 

[Black]

The silvery greys of HP5+ are the clincher for me. After that, I'm quite whorish and will go with pretty much anything 😀

 

[Ed Weatherly]

I love TriX especially in 35mm. I have also been playing with Arista EDU in MF and HP5 in 35mm. I like them all but love TriX in every form. TriX in Rodinal or D76 is my pick.

 

[KenR]

I have been using Tmax400 exclusively for the past few years. Maybe it's me, but Tri-X seems both grainy and mushy compared to Tmax400. I've tried D-76 1:1, HC 110 and Xtol 1:1 and didn't like the results that I got. When I tried various slower emulsions (Tmax 100, Plus X and Pan F) I found that they weren't worth the extra effort of having 2 different films with me, so I have standardized on the Tmax400.

 

[Peter_S]

FP4+ by far...

 

[Tom A]

Kodak Double X - it dries flat (I have been wrestling with some TriX this morning - clock spring - and the scanner groaned). The XX also has a bit more latitude for Sunny f16 shooting. Both XX and XXX work fine as does ORWO 74 as 400 iso films.

 

[haempe]

My favorite was APX100.
Nowadays I shoot mostly Polypan F and Orwo N74+

 

[bwcolor]

Kodak Double X - it dries flat (I have been wrestling with some TriX this morning - clock spring - and the scanner groaned). The XX also has a bit more latitude for Sunny f16 shooting. Both XX and XXX work fine as does ORWO 74 as 400 iso films.

Double-X sure looks nice. Has it been discontinues, or do you need to know the guy that knows the guy to get it? Can't find it anywhere.

 

[Sylvester]

Agfa/Rollei 80S for the moment
I use a lot Tri-X but it curls a hell lot... in the wrong way.
Rollei curls how film is supposed to roll... scans easier. It also has finer grain since it's lower speed... I can manage the 1/30 of a second inside...

 

[carlcox]

hp5 has the look I want.

 

[Paul Jenkin]

My favourite is Ilford XP2 Super.

Extremely versatile, great latitude, process in "High Street" as it's C41, scans really well, available in 35mm and 120 and I know people who have had lovely results prcessing it in tradiional B&W chemicals - though I haven't had a go myself, yet.....

 

[Nokton48]

Double-X sure looks nice. Has it been discontinues, or do you need to know the guy that knows the guy to get it? Can't find it anywhere.

Easiest way for me to get Double-X is to call the "Film Ordering Line" at Kodak's Cinema & Television Division (in New York City). Their telephone number is 1-800-621-3456.

I ordered two rolls of 400' Double-X several months ago this way, they take VISA. Cost per roll was $140.76 plus UPS shipping. I had the package in two days. That's quick.

400' of Double-X will make about 80 rolls of 36 exposure film. So it is cheap to buy (fresh film) and easy, too.

 

[ayazdani]

Tri-x w' Acros 100 coming in at a close second.

 

[RobGetz]

Easiest way for me to get Double-X is to call the "Film Ordering Line" at Kodak's Cinema & Television Division (in New York City). Their telephone number is 1-800-621-3456.

Wow. I can't believe that still exists. You can kiss it goodbye in the next two years. Unless Christopher Nolan and Spielberg pony up enough to keep the cellulose running. Unlikely.

 

[petronius]

Polypan F.

 

[animalhairs]

I voted Tri-X even though I usually shoot XX. At half of the cost, it's close/good enough for me.

 

[stratcat]

I love the tones and grain of Acros 100, but the versatility of Tri-X makes it my go-to b&w film. I love HP5+ too and will shoot that happily if Tri-X goes the way of the dodo.

 

[Turtle]

Out of these, I use TriX the most (and like it a lot) but the only ones that really stand out and make me think about the film are the 3200 emulsions. TriX is reliable, but Tmax 3200 and D 3200 can be spectacular in their own right if used specifically for the look, esp with big prints