Yea, I'll take a chance with expired b/w slower emulsions for non critical stuff if I can get them for 2 bux a roll or cheaper.
If you want tri x got to freestyle and get the Arista Premium 400(35mm only) It's cheap and most agree if it isn't tri x it sure looks and behaves exactly like it.
The Arista Premium 100 is supposed to be re badged Plus X. This Arista stuff goes for around 2.25 a roll of 135/36 depending on which speed you buy.
Ilford has gone through the roof but can be found on eBay for 3 bux a roll fresh now and then.
I like the Foma stuff in 120 if you are screwing around but there's been some reports of it scratching lately over at apug so beware but I like the look.
The only b/w 220 available these days in the US is Tri x 320 but if you're shooting color there are more choices but it's slim for 220.
almost s good as the thread where some ds said "digital wins".
There's a couple of films I do find 'boring', I just find their rendition to be uninteresting. But a whole brand? I don't think so. Ilford also offers some of the more interesting films out there, like SFX200 and PanF+ (the last true traditional slow emulsion film from a major maker).
Yea, I used to not dig T grain films and still favor the non tabular grain for most of my b/w stuff.
T grain looks too clean, almost like digital converted but I recently scored big on a bunch of 100 ft rolls of TMX so I'm back playing with that stuff for awhile.
HP5+ actually pushes pretty well but I haven't shot alot of Ilford,
given all the different developers we have available these days I doubt I would become bored of it.
I do like the "noirish" look that Neopan can give if treated right and I agree with most that you can get the 400 speed from Freestyle badged as "Legacy Pro". A 100 ft is under 30 bills if I'm remembering correctly.
Fuji films are good deal compared to some brands these days.
Yes, yes..and sorta..yes, if you don't have to pay our taxes here in LA, which would put a 100' roll at nearly $40. But the Neopan is FUN. brucemuir wrote:
I do like the "noirish" look that Neopan can give if treated right and I agree with most that you can get the 400 speed from Freestyle badged as "Legacy Pro". A 100 ft is under 30 bills if I'm remembering correctly.
I buy my fresh film from B&H, they are almost always the cheapest. I buy my expired and short dated film on eBay. I had to stop looking I found so many deals in the last month. I've bought probably 400 rolls of film all for $2 a roll or less aside from some Velvia I paid a bit more for. I've yet to have an issue with any of the film I've purchased even the stuff that's close to 10 years expired.
Joe,
although this wiki has some erroneous info it will give you an idea what's going on.
T grain is usually super fine grain for the speed because the way the grains are designed they are more sensitive to light.
That blurb says Neopan is a T grain but I think only the 100 speed Neopan SS is T grain. The 400 and 1600 types are traditional grain but don't hold me to this. I haven't examined it under a microscope but if I recall someone did and has it on the net somewhere.
except for that horrible Kodak 1600. That was probably just because it was Kodak though. EWWWWW (in ref to TWoK's cheap expired purchases)
At least in my age group (on the old end of 18-25), most Ilford fans fall into my "art student" stereotype. Me being a somewhat typical military guy, i do not usually jive with "art students". . I'm not being 100% serious, and i am not saying that it is the right way to think, but this is just how it is.
I love the way Neopan 400 and 1600 show a scene, they are cheap films, and they work for me. I never got excited over any of the TMAX films.
Bruce, that is good info.
Notice i don't mention 100SS in the films i like. The few times i've shot it, it was:
1) more finicky to develop (using HC110)
2) rather bland
3) boring (kinda the same as bland)
If i want a super clean boring file, i'll shoot digital, thank you
If i'm going to shoot B&W film, i want it to be exciting and punchy.
. I'm not being 100% serious, and i am not saying that it is the right way to think, but this is just how it is.