What's your favourite 400-ISO-film for your RF?

[thodo]

Hi everybody,

so far my only film-experiences come from medium format (and earlier SLR). As I think of ordering some rolls of film for my upcoming RF, I simply can't decide, which one to get, so I decided to ask you, which preferences you have.

As for BW, I tested

- Fuji Neopan 400
- Hp5+
- Delta 400
- Kodak T-Max 400

I couldn't see a huge difference in medium format (as grain really isn't an issue). What about smallframe? I like contrasty pictures with deep blacks and nicely defined whites; there can be grain, but I like it to be fine. Which one is your favourite?

As for color negative, I am even less experienced, just tried Fuji Superia and Kodak NC. What I want is a film, that can produce colors, which you can often see at pictures of Asian users at pbase (pastell-like colors; eg look here ). Which film would me serve well for this?

Thanks and best wishes,
Thorsten

 

[Frank Granovski]

After trying several, I've come to like Ilford's HP5+. As for color film, I find the Konica VX200 brings out pastel-like colours---especially yellows, reds and browns. Blues aren't so good.

 

[varjag]

My favorite is Tri-X 400. I use bulks of Fortepan 400 though, for cost considerations.

 

[hoot]

Hi, Thorsten.

I can highly recommend Neopan 400, exposed at EI 320 and developed in Rodinal 1+50 with *very* gentle and highly reduced agitation. This will give you lovely tonality and beautiful grain with high acutance (=edge sharpness). This is my favorite film for both 35mm and medium format. In Deutschland, you can order this film at Nordfoto for a fair price.

Another possibility is HP5+ (also known as Adox CHM 400; available for cheap at FotoImpex) exposed at EI 250~800 and developed in Adox A49 1+1. Unlike Neopan in Rodinal, this combo will give you much higher exposure latitude with relatively similar tonality and acceptable shadow detail. However, your grain will look different: A49 tends to soften it. This means that with small grain, you will get the impression of no grain at all; whereas big grain (resulting from big enlargements and/or a high EI) will look bloated and give the impression of low acutance.

Grain is as much of an issue in medium format, if you print big. I like to view grain as a feature, not a bug. It can be used to your advantage.

Personally, I dislike the tonality of TMax 400, though some may argue that with the correct exposure, development and printing, it gives fine results. And I have no experience with Delta.

The color pic you posted is Velvia, a slide film. Color slides always look prettier than color negatives.

Since you like deep black and well-defined white, have you considered Neopan 1600? Try exposing it at EI 640 and developing in Rodinal 1+50 (same as NP400).

 

[alfa]

HP5+ & Neopan 400

 

[pvdhaar]

Fuji NPH. Very colour accurate, fine grain.

 

[Richard Black]

TriX and Superia 400!

 

[lido]

Kodak Tri-x in Diafine or D76. I am trying Ilford Delta 400 though.

 

[sf]

Depends on the subject matter. HP5 for everything except color portraits, in which case I choose Fuji 400H.

Don't like the Neopan. I choose HP5 for its pretty grain and nice handling of skin in portraits. I think it has a nice skin glow that the Neopan fails to communicate. But, overall for portraits, I have really loved Astia - which is a slide film.

By the HP5+. FOr pastels, the Portra NC does a nice job.

 

[Simon Larbalestier]

For 35mm i've settled on tri-x and for 120 Delta 400 or FP4

Simon

 

[GeneW]

Tri-X, HP5+ and Neopan 400. I generally buy whichever one is cheapest. They're all good.

Gene

 

[CZeni]

HP5 in Ilfosol S - smooth and sweet tonality, good sharpness. Silly easy, too 🙂

 

[Skinny McGee]

tri x!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[dmr]

I can't really comment on B&W, but for color negative I prefer the plain old off the shelf Fuji Superia Xtra. I'll occasionally use the Kodak Max. I've recently tried the Walgreens/Agfa 400 but I don't like it as well as the Fuji or Kodak.

 

[HansDerHase]

As for color negative, I am even less experienced, just tried Fuji Superia and Kodak NC. What I want is a film, that can produce colors, which you can often see at pictures of Asian users at pbase (pastell-like colors; eg look here ). Which film would me serve well for this?

Guess you mean "colors that pop". AFAIK pastell is more like low-saturated creamy colors.

Anyways. I fell in love with Sensia 400 (slide film) lately. Prefer it to Superia. The colors do not pop like Velvia of course.

The weak point is that while Sensia renders colors pretty accurate in tungsten light, it's not very sensitive under those no-flash-indoor-at-night conditions. More like 100 to 200 what makes it pretty useless for those situations. Actually I was a little disappointed by that.

That aside I prefer it to Superia because Superias grain was not up to my taste in the scans I've done. On the other hand I was very pleased by Sensias grain rendition (totally subjective here!).

But then - I still haven't mastered scanning in any way. :bang:

 

[wlewisiii]

Color - Fuji Superia
B&W - Plus-X at EI400 developed in Diafine 😀

William

 

[Rick Waldroup]

Tri X or Neopan 400- all of it souped in Rodinal 1-25. I like grain.

 

[Stephanie Brim]

Slide: Expired Velvia, Sensia.
Color: Fuji Superia 100, 400
B&W: Pan-F, HP5, Tri-X, TMAX 100, 400.

I have two rolls of Pan-F to shoot right now, but no D76...so no shooting those until I get some. Pondering a small order from B&H when I get paid: 2 quart packages of D76 and 3 more rolls of Pan-F. Gallon bag of D76 may be a better choice, though...it's cheaper. 😛

 

[sf]

Well, if you were looking for a slower BW film, PanF is gorgeous. Totally rich and tonal and high resolution. I love it. Actually my favorite B&W film for landscapes.

 

[Nick R.]

Whatever B&W film you choose, shoot about 25 rolls before trying something else. By then you might have a handle on most of its properties. Shoot 1 or 2 rolls of one brand and then a couple of rolls of another and you'll never know the strengths or shortcomings of any.

FWIW, I shoot HP5 and develop in Xtol. For color, lowlight I use when I can find it Kodak 800. It's as good as most 400 speed print films and has an extra stop to boot. Otherwise, the kodak UC films have great color saturation for prints.