Recommend me some new B&W film

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desf

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I've not strayed from the various Ilford, Kodak and Fuji films but I'm keen to try some new (to me) B&W films.

Any recommendations? I'm up for anything but not too expensive or exotic.

I only have R09 (Rodinal) developer but would be up for getting something more appropriate to the film.

Cheers!
 
Fomapan is sure worth a go - lovely rich contrasty stuff.
 
You could also try adox hr-50, and cms 20 II, though the latter requires (so say adox) their developer for best results.

Also, what format are you using?
 
Woodsy said:
You could also try adox hr-50, and cms 20 II, though the latter requires (so say adox) their developer for best results.

Also, what format are you using?
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Mainly 120 but also some 35mm.
 
Thanks all. Sounds like Fomapan is a good way to go. Nice price too!

Does it scan well? I seem to remember comments about a certain film stock curling so much it was hard to scan flat but I can't remember which film it was.
 
simon ess said:
Nice and flat.
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Shirley Not. Last time I loaded fomapan in 120 on to a reel I just pointed it at the spiral and it sprung on. Had to roll it the "other" way in the storage page for a day before scanning.
 
Hmm, I've used a lot of Fomapan in both 120 and 35mm and never had a problem.

Why the difference, I wonder?
 
simon ess said:
Why the difference, I wonder?
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@steveo_mcg Steveos film has obviously been subjected to "Haggisitus".:runaway:(it's an incurable condition where one curls up in fear in the presence of them scottish fiends!:D)

I never had probs with fomapan either although I only shoot it in sheet film format now.;)
 
simon ess said:
Hmm, I've used a lot of Fomapan in both 120 and 35mm and never had a problem.

Why the difference, I wonder?
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Probably because I'm an idiot and getting confused with GP3...

Asha said:
@steveo_mcg Steveos film has obviously been subjected to "Haggisitus".:runaway:(it's an incurable condition where one curls up in fear in the presence of them scottish fiends!:D)

I never had probs with fomapan either although I only shoot it in sheet film format now.;)
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I fear NO Haggis!!


:D
 
FishyFish said:
Yeah, scanning GP3 is like trying to scan Quavers. :D
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Ah, one to avoid then!

Thanks everyone. Off to order a selection of Fomapan in 120 and 35mm. (y)

Any others worth consideration?
 
Some rollei films are pretty good too.

It's a while since i used any but the RPX 400 used to give a nice result and was flat for scanning.

There was a 200 iso speed too ( I don't recall which film it was but it wasn't RPX) that was carp so avoid that!
 
This experience is from a few years ago, but Fomapan in 120 was unbelievably curly - I would put it under big coffee table books to flatten it for a while before attempting to scan it. It was a nice film but I just got utterly fed up of the curliness and how thin the emulsion was, and at the time the Kodak B&W films were not that much more expensive.

(this is 2014-2015 - it was only £2 something a roll at that time!)
 
freecom2 said:
This experience is from a few years ago, but Fomapan in 120 was unbelievably curly - I would put it under big coffee table books to flatten it for a while before attempting to scan it. It was a nice film but I just got utterly fed up of the curliness and how thin the emulsion was, and at the time the Kodak B&W films were not that much more expensive.

(this is 2014-2015 - it was only £2 something a roll at that time!)
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Are you SURE you're not thinking of Shanghai GP3

That used to be £2 a roll, but I don't remember Fomapan ever being that cheap.
 
simon ess said:
Are you SURE you're not thinking of Shanghai GP3

That used to be £2 a roll, but I don't remember Fomapan ever being that cheap.
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Yeah, it was definitely Fomapan - I've never shot with GP3. I would buy it in person from Silverprint. I actually mentioned it about 5 years ago in a post on Bargains Thread:
Nov 25, 2013

Great for testing out new medium format cameras. Otherwise I used Tri-X/T-Max
 
Yes, I see.

I can only repeat, I've never had a problem.

Mind you, I don't have a problem with GP3.

Yes it's curlier than a particularly curly Curly Wurly, but it's not a problem.

I just deal with it.
 
I'm just gonna to assume we're talking 35mm

in which case

Agfa APX 100......duh

God knows who coats it but its cheap, extremely reliable and I like it...:D
 
joxby said:
I'm just gonna to assume we're talking 35mm

in which case

Agfa APX 100......duh

God knows who coats it but its cheap, extremely reliable and I like it...:D
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I use both 35mm but mostly 120.

I'd be up for trying it though, so thanks for the recommendation.
 
I think APX 100 is mebbe Rollei RPX 100, I dunno, I'm not chasing that merry-go-round anymore but if you reads the interwebz (so it must be true), its Kentmere, which is Harman.
That's how ridiculously convoluted the origins of some of these films are.
Ilford > Harman > Kentmere > Rollei > AGFA APX......:rolleyes:

Anyway, the point is if APX is RPX, its available in 120.....but more expensive, Rollei branding....:cautious:
 
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