Favourite B&W films?

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Druid

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'Casablanca'

No, not that sort of film :)

I just got a nice deal on an old F3HP in mint condition and I've ordered some XP2 so that I can get some instant gratification from Boots, but I'm wondering what 'proper' B&W films people here would recommend?
 
My all time fave was Kodak's Technical Pan (or T-pan for short). Sadly it's gone for good now but at 25iso it was unbeatable for tone and texture.

Of what's left it all depends on what you like to shoot as there are slow smooth films and really nice fast grainy ones.

I quite like the Fuji Neopan range and used quite a bit of Ilford Delta 100 too.

Different film stock responds differently to various developers, so that's something else to take into account. If you're going to do that bit as well of course. :)
 
Well, what motivated me was the B&W 'look' so having been poring over sample shots on pbase I've mostly been attracted to things like HP5 and the faster Deltas so far.

I'll probably try sending stuff off to a proper lab and seeing whether I can live with the hassles of film, before I'd start thinking about getting involved in developing stuff myself.
 
The thing about getting into B&W film is that to fully realise it's potential to give the full range of control over the end print that it can, you need to print it yourself.

oh...... and Hobson's Choice. :D
 
I was on about this a week or so back, plenty of helpful suggestions from the guys here in this thread

See the results from the first outing with my Nikon F75 and some Ilford 3200 here

:)
 
Kodak T-Max P3200 was my fave B+W, loved the grain you got from that :thumbs:
 
Ilford HP5, do they still make it ?.
Or the wizard of Oz, well half of it at least.
 
Mmm. What a lovely old camera. Feels so solid and precise compared to even a fairly high-end DSLR like my D200.

DSC_0009_28.jpg


I've got some cat pictures on cheapo colour film down at the minilab right now. If they come out ok, it's XP2 time :)
 
Quite like HP5 myself, also delta 3200 for some nice grainy prints. Depends what I'm shooting really. Would never send b&w film away to be developed, like to have controll over my final image & developing times.
 
Kodak Tri-X 400 for me, often pushed to 1600 for high contrast and grain.
 
Nice Nikon F3 i was a Nikon FA user myself in the days of film. I love the solid feel of the F3 and FA cameras, how i wish they made digital camera's that looked the same. Shutter speeds on the top and the F stops on the lens.
 
they still do pan f plus (if thats the same one )
 
Same as Dave, love Tri-X. Good grain structure, very forgiving film, great in low light.:thumbs:
 
At college we mainly use delta 400 and delta 100 (but thats the tutors choice). We have dabbled with the TMax 3200 got some good results from that.

We have to print them ourselves, I definately prefer it, you get total control, and its not so much of awaste of money if it goes wrong.
 
Another vote for good old Tri-X, which I use in 35mm, 120, 220, and 4x5. Works great in Tmax developer, but I've been using Gamma Plus lately, which I also like.
 
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