film question

jackbauer

hi all,

getting back into doing some hobby b&w photography and processing this summer after about a ten year gap and i'm wondering what the best "general purpose" 35mm b&w print film would be? something tolerant of me messing up both taking the shot and in the darkroom I used ilford fp4 previously but i'm sure things have came on somewhat.

cheers,
jack

Fajitas!

If it's black and white you're after, that'd be the best. I still use it time to time, if I'm not using slower speeds.


(Edit:By 'that' I mean Ilford)

jackbauer

cheers for that.

joolsveer

When I am using monochrome film I usually use Ilford XP as it can be processed in a colour film developer i.e. in your local Boots etc.

Here is a blurb from the net. http://www.adorama.com/ILXP2S36.html

Description
XP2 SUPER is a sharp, fast, fine grain black and white film. It can be used for any photographic subject, but ensures excellent results when there is a wide subject brightness range. XP2 SUPER has improved exposure latitude compared with XP2, and gives exceptionally sharp, crisp prints. The excellent highlights and improved shadows of XP2 SUPER give enhanced negative contrast for optimum black and white print quality. XP2 SUPER is easy to expose, and has extremely wide exposure latitude. XP2 SUPER is easy to process. It is a black and white film which is processed in C41 type processing chemicals alongside color negative films. XP2 SUPER is very easy to print. Negatives are printed on black and white paper in the same way as conventional black and white negatives.

XP2 SUPER is a chromogenic film. This means that the dyes which make up the image are formed during development rather than being present in the film or added later. The extremely wide exposure latitude of XP2 SUPER is the result of the unique relationship between exposure and grain in chromogenic films. The best balance of sharpness and grain is obtained when XP2 SUPER is exposed at EI 400/27. However, down-rated or overexposed XP2 SUPER negatives have finer grain, the opposite of that expected and obtained with conventional films. Up-rated or underexposed XP2 SUPER negatives have only a slight loss in quality. Furthermore, standard C41 processing is recommended for the whole of the exposure range.

XP2 SUPER 35mm film is coated on 0 . 125mm acetate base and is available in 24 or 36 exposure DX cassettes, or in bulk film lengths of 17 and 30 . 5 meters. XP2 SUPER 35mm film is supplied in DX Coded cassettes, suitable for all 35mm cameras. XP2 SUPER roll film is coated on 0 . 110mm clear acetate base with an anti-halation backing which clears during development. It is available in 120 lengths and is edge numbered 1 to 19. Following international standards, XP2 SUPER roll film has a red exposed label to signify color negative processing.
Features
ISO 400/27° SHARP, FINE GRAIN, BLACK AND WHITE PROFESSIONAL FILM FOR EXCELLENT PRINT QUALITY AND C41 PROCESSING CONVENIENCE

andy1249

Not exactly sure now which one , but I think it was Amateur photography , had a free roll of ilford B+W film , its still on the shelves in Celbridge anyway , maybe you could still get a hold of a copy.

FinoBlad

jackbauer wrote:

hi all,

getting back into doing some hobby b&w photography and processing this summer after about a ten year gap and i'm wondering what the best "general purpose" 35mm b&w print film would be? something tolerant of me messing up both taking the shot and in the darkroom I used ilford fp4 previously but i'm sure things have came on somewhat.

cheers,
jack

Jack, Ilford are still going strong, FP4 is still a great film and quite tolerent in the darkroom. Does ISO 125 suit you?

Ilford have a new webbie and heres their Film Product Page

Btw there was a dude here recently selling some film dev kit, all you would need is a changing bag. See this thread.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2054916677

Alternatively take a trip into Gunns in Wexford street and have a chat with them.