What is your favorite B&W emulsion?

What is your favorite B&W emulsion?

  • Tri-X

    Votes: 277 33.2%

  • Tmax-400

    Votes: 53 6.4%

  • Tmax-100

    Votes: 27 3.2%

  • Tmax-3200

    Votes: 4 0.5%

  • HP5

    Votes: 126 15.1%

  • FP4

    Votes: 68 8.2%

  • Delta 400

    Votes: 23 2.8%

  • Delta 100

    Votes: 32 3.8%

  • Delta 3200

    Votes: 6 0.7%

  • Acros 400

    Votes: 23 2.8%

  • Acros 100

    Votes: 70 8.4%

  • Other

    Votes: 125 15.0%
  • Total voters
    834
I recently ran a roll of 120 Ilford Pan F Plus 50 through my Bilora Bella 66. When I got to the end and wanted to put the gummed wrapper on the roll the wrapper clearly stated "Professional Kodak film." The paper film back wrapper clearly states it is "100TMX." The point is I have no idea what I shot .Was it Ilford 50 or Kodak 100? Each roll comes in a real nice white, black and orange box that states it was made in England.
 
semi-ambivalent said:
By this do you mean to process 5222 in HC110 using the same time/agitation method that one would use when developing Adox 100 in Rodinal? Or just that the look can be similar?

Sorry to be so dense. I'm about ready to bust open a 400' can of 5222 and would like to start by using it differently than I use Tri-x.

Thanks,
s-a
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I find 5222 shot at iso 200 and developed in HC-110b looks like the Adox/Efke 100 shot at 100 and run in Rodinal 1:25. SImilar grain and tonality. I suppose they're both rather old recipes.
 
I have become quite fond of shooting TMX100 and have used up four 100 foot rolls in the last 4 months. I certainly hope Kodak keeps making it as my last two BW emulsions went the way of the dodo.
 
Pioneer said:
I have become quite fond of shooting TMX100 and have used up four 100 foot rolls in the last 4 months. I certainly hope Kodak keeps making it as my last two BW emulsions went the way of the dodo.
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Ilford T-grain films are wonderful as well. Sharp as hell and fine grain.
I use Delta 100 and rate usually at box but occasionally at 50.
Delta 400 anywhere from 100 to 1600.
Have never tried Delta 3200.

It's almost impossible to tell these films from Tmax IMO.
I've read some say the ilford is more contrasty.

Cheers!
 
Thanks for this thread and poll. I'm on my second year of b/w film, choose to get it in bulk due to financial reason.
I started with T-MAX 100/400 and never liked it. Too grainless. Switched to Kentmere 400, it is pushable to 1600, sharp and fine at 200, but kind of grey.
Currently sitting at the 50 or so meters from original 90m of Polypan F. Nice grain, contrast, affordable bulk film, but emulsion has visible defects.
According to poll results I should try HP5 or TRI-X. Most likely will choose Ilford, they have reasonable pricing and I never tried Ilford before, maybe one 120 roll.
 
Neopan Acros and 400 will always be my favorites. The latter is discontinued, former is not available in bulk.
I bought a bulk roll of Delta 400 but I'm finding it not particularly to my liking. Weird grain for scanning (though I hear good things about XTOL and Delta), not a tonality I like. So I'm going back to TMax for the time being.
If only FP4 was faster, I'd be sold...
 
35mm: 400 ASA Tri-X and 125 Plus-X--old formulations. 120: Verchrome Pan. Favorite sheet film is 320 ASA Tri-X ORTHO.
You meant a film that's currently in production? 400 Neopan.
 
If I could only have one...

If I could only have one...

Tri-x hands down. I also use HP5 and and FP4. On a rare occasion it's Delta 3200. My girlfriend tells me to shoot more color, B+W is too " Gloomy". Apparently she doesn't understand my artistic side :D
 
I voted for Tri-X, but as I've been scanning lots of old negs, I sure like FP4+ a lot. I may be switching back!
 
I voted other since as of today my favorite is Eastman Double X. I had purchased 4 rolls to try out and was blown away by the outstanding tonality and overall quality of this film. I am now in the process of buying a large bulk roll so I can roll my own..
 
colyn said:
I voted other since as of today my favorite is Eastman Double X. I had purchased 4 rolls to try out and was blown away by the outstanding tonality and overall quality of this film. I am now in the process of buying a large bulk roll so I can roll my own..
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Excellent news Colyn. Looking forward to your future XX posts.
 
Ilford FP4 developed in PMK. I also use a lot of Delta 3200 developed in Tmax Developer and have used hundreds of rolls of Tri-X developed in D-76, though I am switching to Ilford HP5 in PMK now.
 
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