Stagirit
I’d be interested to know which combination of film and chemicals (including papers) you prefer to use, or rather, which combination has given you the worst experience.
That way, we can learn something and avoid certain mistakes.
My clear favourite is: Fuji Neopan 400 developed in Kodak Microdol X, fixed with Calbe A 300.
Worst experience: Ilford HP5 in Microphen and Tetenal Superfix.
Roman
Love:
Neopan 400 (ISO 250) in Rodinal 1+50
Neopan 400 (ISO 400) in Barry Thornton’s Metol two-bath process (homemade)
Neopan 1600 (ISO 800) in Rodinal 1+50
TMax P3200 (ISO 3200) in Calbe A49 1+1
Hate:
Delta 3200 in Emofin (the worst I’ve ever tried – flat and washed-out, with strangely fluffy grain)
Forte 200 in Rodinal (brutally harsh, and even at ISO 125 there’s still too little shadow detail)
Efke KB 100 in Diafine (very strange tonal range – the mid-tones look somewhat metallic, the highlights are too compressed)
Roman
uworischki
My favourites...
EFKE R 50 in R09 1:40
EFKE R 100 in see above – also as sheet film...
KB FP4 in A49 standard...
Uwe
cfb_de
"Love": Efke-R50, HP5+/120, APX100/120 (remaining stock).
"Love": Fomapan-100, TMY, HP5+ in 135 format.
Developed as required in HRX-II or Rodinal.
"Hate": Lucky-SHD100.
It doesn’t matter whether it’s HRX, Rodinal or Ultrafin liquid.
HP5+/120 and Microphen is my travel combo. Microphen as a powder developer is ideal for flying and sits somewhere between HRX and Rodinal. But only at 320–400 ASA. Yes, I develop on site at the hotel.
I use Superfix or X55 (both are excellent, X55 is cheaper), and when travelling with sodium sulphite/sodium thiosulphate from a resealable bag. Yes, I take my own powder mixes with me.
In future, a salutation and closing would be nice; I’ll use both then. At least in the closing, a real name would be nice too; I’ll use one then as well.
Wolf_XL
Love:
35mm: ADOX CHS 50 in Rodinal
Medium format: APX 100 in Rodinal, Fuji Neopan 400 in A49 1+2, Ilford Delta 3200 in A49 (E.I. 1600 ASA)
KB: Fuji Acros 100 in HRX-2 (E.I. 64 ASA), HP5 in HRX-2 (E.I. 250 ASA), HP5 in Emofin (E.I. 800 ASA)
Hate:
The oldest film I’ve come across so far was a 400 TMax in A49 – it was absolutely mushy, closely followed by a Plus-X in Rodinal – dreadful grain. Yes, Kodak and I will probably never see eye to eye in the black-and-white sector... ;-) For me, one of the biggest misrepresentations is the Forte 200. Where the lads got the 200 ASA rating from will probably remain one of humanity’s last unsolved mysteries – it barely manages an ISO 100...
Gast
Love: Ilford Delta 400, 100 in 135 and 120, and 4x5" Classic Pan 400 in 4x.5" or 9x12 in A49
Love: Foma Pan 400 in 135 in A49
Love: Classic Pan 400 in 4x.5" or 9x12 in A49
Hate: The same in SLD process. It does offer speed, but I don’t think I’m keen on the “well-accentuated grain”. I also find that the blacks in the dark areas clump together at higher contrasts. I think you can tell the developer comes from the recording sector.
Hate: Ilford Delta 3200 in ID-11 or HC-110. It’s a film I can’t get to grips with; when I perform the exposure and development at 3200 ASA, it always comes out 1–1.5 stops too dark. I’d rather push the 400 Delta to 800 ASA.
Regards, Sven.
Gast
Hi Wolf,
"what many don’t dare to ask".
It’s a relief for me to read that you’re only getting 64 ISO out of the HRX II with Acros.
I was starting to think I was too daft to get it right.
Now I’d be interested to know whether you achieve 64 ISO across all zones.
For me, the specified 80 ISO is reached again from Zone 2-3 onwards.
(I’m not trying to squeeze out every last bit of speed here, I just want to know if I did everything right during the test run – as this was my ‘first time’)
Best regards
Patrick
Gast
Hello everyone!
So, here are my favourite combinations:
ISO 100: TMX
ISO 400: TMY (35mm), Neopan 400 (roll film)
ISO 1600: Neopan 1600
ISO 3200 and above: Delta 3200
All developed in Emofin.
Best wishes,
Wolfgang
Stagirit
It’s interesting how much personal preferences vary.
On the other hand, it would be a shame if we all did the same thing.
One more thing:
Kodak 400 TX in XTol – this gives the film a character all of its own, which is fascinating for certain moods, but the actual speed is then more like 320 ISO or lower.
