with the supply of film dwindling, what film do you use?

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If you shoot a significant volume of bl/w on a regular basis - first get "Anchell/Troop The Film Developing cook book" and get large stock of film. It is a capital outlay - but it is a one time cost - and then start making your own developers. Cheap (my cost for developers like Td 201 is around $0.7/roll and Pyrocat HD is around $ $0.10/roll. Making your own "soup" allows you to fine-tune developers to your style of shooting - and no more worry about supply of Kodak/Ilford products (or any other maker of pre-packaged film. It is far easier than you think too.
The Arista Premium 400 (a.k.a. Trix works very well in all of these, D76/D96/Pyrocat/Td 201 etc). This from Texas earlier this year, Leica MP, Zeiss Biogon 35f2,8 Arista/Pyrocat.
 
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Guaranteed long term developer availablity: Caffenol. Beyond that, the internet is full of developer recipes. Thornton's 2-bath and Pyrocat come to mind.
Lots of film around. Lots & Lots. Folks are still selling Panatomic-X on ebay.
Stop saying Kodak is gone. Kodak isn't gone. Not yet.

Wayne
 
With Arista Premium 400 seemingly on the way out, my source from cheap Tri-X will be gone. I'll probably move to the Arista.EDU/Fomapan 400 when my current AP400 stock (about 110 rolls) runs out.
 
The chemicals used in film development have other industrial uses as well that are not related to phtography in any way. The availability of development chemistry is not a concern. Sometime in the future the price may increase because demand for development formuations could decrease. But the chemicals themselves will be manufactured for the forseeable future.
 
Talking about film dieing encourages the death because people view it that way, and slowly make decisions based on that. If all the Internet forums started talking about the revival of it you may not see Kodak jump back on, but purchasing would go up, prices down. (prices sure are high for film these days... good thing I got tons of bulk stuff I use. too bad I like Efke for pretty photos)
 
DNG said:
HP5+ or Tri-X/Arista P 400 in HC110 B
I Have Rodinal, but, too flat for my taste. even shot at 1/2 box and 20% more time at 1:25
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It can be as high contrast as you like, contrast being a function of exposure and development. Shooting at half box speed and and giving more time won't necessarily increase contrast.
To increase contrast rate it higher say 640EI and give 20% more time.
Ilford have different gamma targets for times in developer, develop to a higher gamma at normal exposure or slight underexposure.
HP5 has a great long broad shoulder making it the highlight retaining king; basically set your emerging shadow and the highlight will be fine.
That also with the fact that film is relatively cheaper when compared to other goods over a timeframe makes it a bargain. In 1986 I was paying £2,29 for a roll of HP5 and 27p for a litre of petrol, now I'm paying £4.19 for a roll of HP5 and £1.49 for a litre of petrol.
Film is a bargain! add to that the cost of a used Hasselblad over the same timeframe...
 
thanks so much for the responses guys. sorry if my post will discourage future browsers brought here from google to stop shooting film, causing a chain effect which will hasten the demise of film. if that's the case I'll just save your responses and delete this post (if I can do that).

I think I'll just go with HP5 then. I'm dying to try Neopan 400 but the economics of it at the moment makes it an unfeasible option for me. I will try to get the cookbook by keeping an eye out for it at thrift stores once I get back stateside and maybe once I'm used to at least using one developer I'll actually make my own brew (all those years of Chemistry Lab will finally pay off!)

Sincerely,
R.
 
For lower contrast (good to scan) Eastman 5222 Double.X from Film Emporium.com/New York (400ft bulk about 300 dollars) For printing MACO/Rollei RPX-400 100ft bulk, about 28 euros NET For developer, any of these: Diafine, Acufine, Rodinal 1:100 one hour"stand" or my favourite: for 2 liters (about 2 quarts) 30cc each, HC-110 and Rodinal syrups. ( 10 minutes development.
 
thegman said:
As far as I am concerned, supply of film is not dwindling. Types will come and go as they always have, I have no trouble buying film, or getting development.
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They are certainly dwindling...especially color and slide. In the past more new types came out each year then were retired. Now it is not the case.
 
I don`t see B&W film in any kind of shortage. Actually I checked what is available in USA
(Freestyle) Most of the films are (leaving out freestyle´s own brands) available in Europe at MacoDirect:

Adox CMS II (Agfa copex rapid rebranded ?)
Adox Silvermax 100 (APX 100 rebranded?)
Arista (rebranded ??)
Arista Premium (Tri.X rebranded?)

Fomapan 100/200/400
Fuji neopan Acros 100/Neopan 400
Ilford Delta 100/400/3200
Ilford FP4+ 125
Ilford HP5+ 400
kentmere 100/400
Kodak T-max 100/400/3200
Kodak TRI-X 400
Kodak/eastman Double -X 522 Movie stock
Rollei atp 1.1 and 2.1 (Agfa copex rapid?)
Rollei ortho 25, retro80S
Rollei superpan 200, 400S
Rollei RPX100-RPX-400 (Rebranded kentmere??)


So guys, how many films you actually need, how many you are really testing and know how they behave-I have more head ache in figuring out what to use ??
 
Fp4 and hp5 in 120. Agfa apx 100 and TMax 400 in 135. I like delta 100 in both formats as well.
 
Rangefinderfreak said:
I don`t see B&W film in any kind of shortage. Actually I checked what is available in USA
(Freestyle) Most of the films are (leaving out freestyle´s own brands) available in Europe at MacoDirect:

Adox CMS II (Agfa copex rapid rebranded ?)
Adox Silvermax 100 (APX 100 rebranded?)
Arista (rebranded ??)
Arista Premium (Tri.X rebranded?)

Fomapan 100/200/400
Fuji neopan Acros 100/Neopan 400
Ilford Delta 100/400/3200
Ilford FP4+ 125
Ilford HP5+ 400
kentmere 100/400
Kodak T-max 100/400/3200
Kodak TRI-X 400
Kodak/eastman Double -X 522 Movie stock
Rollei atp 1.1 and 2.1 (Agfa copex rapid?)
Rollei ortho 25, retro80S
Rollei superpan 200, 400S
Rollei RPX100-RPX-400 (Rebranded kentmere??)


So guys, how many films you actually need, how many you are really testing and know how they behave-I have more head ache in figuring out what to use ??
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Most of the films quoted I have in my fridge, Orwo I haven`t tried and will not try... I get pimples from DDR stuff...
 
Wow, Rangefinderfreak! You must have a dedicated refrigerator or two (LOL).

I don't know why people keep talking about the end of film. What we will be facing is the end of cheap film. Film, especially b&w film, will continue as long as there is a dedicated niche market for it. Obviously this exists and interest in film by enthusiasts of all stripes is growing.

I am stocking up on Arista Premium soon and will continue with Foma 100. I think I'll try Foma 400 as well.
 
Chriscrawfordphoto said:
llford Ilfotec HC developer is identical to Kodak HC-110, so even if Champion Photochemicals (the company Kodak outsourced chemical production to several yrs ago) stops making HC-110, you can get the Ilford version.
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Thanks Chris for this very useful bit of information.

With respect to the film question, if I only had one it would be Ilford FP4. A very good and versatile film. Ilford seems very committed to staying in the film bus. so there's no concern about availability.
 
APX-100 from macodirect.de, Arista Premium (aka Tri-X) from Freestyle. I buy some HP5+, especially in 120 but also some 135 because I feel guilty about not giving Ilford some more business, given its commitment to B&W film. I also have a pretty good supply of TMY-2, but don't stockpile it as its availability seems pretty secure for now.
 
I think what some people are missing here, is the importance that stable supply of a product has for amateurs like me. I just don't have the ability to constantly change films and still develop and get to a know a product.

I just need to have a product that I am convinced will be available for a while. This is driving my selection criteria towards companies that *I hope* will be around for a while. This inlcudes Ilford, Adox and Spur.
 
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