best 35mm b/w film? - DPChallenge Forums

Pentax D-FA* 70-200mm f/2.8 ED DC AW

03/23/2009 08:38:47 PM · #1

I know the word 'best' is incredibly subjective but i'm trying to find a black and white film with fine grain, gradual tone curve and a large amount of latitude so I can screw up and recover.

I've heard great things about Tri-X but its SOOO expensive over here (not to mention rare), so i'm looking at Fujifilm Neopan 400 that I can get hold of for about $5 USD per roll.

Are there any others I should be looking for? I'm trying to avoid Fujifilm 400 and Ilford 400 since these always look a bit flat to me with poo grain.

Cheers!

K3Master

Pentax K-3

03/23/2009 08:41:41 PM · #2

I always preferred Ilford 100, but I do not think that you can get it anymore.

(ahh, I see you're looking at 400 range. I don't really know anything about what's out there in that range, especially not these days.)

Message edited by author 2009-03-23 20:42:28.

Pentax D-FA* 70-200mm f/2.8 ED DC AW

03/23/2009 08:43:55 PM · #3

well i'd take 100 if it was great but 400 seems more 'general usage' for me- nice grain and exposure times.

Did you just use 'Ilford 100'? Not Ilford Delta or anything?

K3Master

Pentax K-3

03/23/2009 08:45:26 PM · #4

Originally posted by Tez:

well i'd take 100 if it was great but 400 seems more 'general usage' for me- nice grain and exposure times.

Did you just use 'Ilford 100'? Not Ilford Delta or anything?

As far as I can remember it was just Ilford 100 B&W. Though, to be honest, I wasn't that discerning. It came in a simple white box and was among the best B&W film I ever used.

*EDIT* ah, yes, I just looked it up and Delta is the box I'm familiar with. lol. Seems my memory isn't what it used to be.

Message edited by author 2009-03-23 20:47:13.

03/23/2009 08:47:57 PM · #5

hmm... the plot thickens. If I can source it, i'll give it a try!

Thanks for your input.

mirdonamy

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

03/23/2009 08:53:56 PM · #6

I am a huge fan of Tri-X Pan 125! I know it's not cheap, but it's my fav!!!

amathiasphoto

Nikon D300

Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG APO IF for Nikon

03/23/2009 08:58:01 PM · #7

fuji neopan.... excellent

chromeydome

Nikon D7000

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

03/23/2009 09:17:10 PM · #8

Kodak BW400CN is pretty sweet. It is not a "true" silver b/w emulsion, but a color negative film "tuned" to be b/w. The disadvantage is that it is not archival in any sense, but the advantages are that it can be processed in any normal color film lab, and it has a smooth luminous tonality, and portraits are especially nice. I know a few guys who tried it for portraits, and never went back to anything else. The link is to the "professional" version, but often one can find a lower price version in the local drugstore. I really like it, and if I still shot with film it would be my 35mm film of choice. I hated developing 35mm film myself, and I hated waiting for 1-2 weeks for a lab to turn around tmax, tri-x, etc. The one hour place can turn this around for you.

I assume you want to do your own printing--this film is nice for that. The prints from the drugstore lab that you get with this will be too automated, but can serve as quick proofs. It is when you print directly yourself from these negs that this film really shines.

I used it for 35mm, but liked tmax 100 for large format work.
gallery of cn400 shots

Message edited by author 2009-03-23 21:18:56.