What is good film for shooting B&W photography?

12 years 7 months ago #152624 by littlebirdie
I currently use Aristia premium B&W film. What do you guys recommend?


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12 years 7 months ago #152686 by MLKstudios
I like old style Tri-X. Maybe because I grew up on it.

T-Max films are fine too. I have to agree Arista is another great one.

I don't think it matters that much which film you shoot with as much as the processing and care in printing taken afterwards. That's what makes B&W art.

:)

Matthew L Kees
MLK Studios Photography School
www.MLKstudios.com
[email protected]
"Every artist, was once an amateur"

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12 years 6 months ago #156400 by icepics
I haven't tried Arista but I've always done well with T Max or Ilford. Rollei/Agfa is making 127 size B&W film but I found it only in a lower ASA and haven't tried it yet. I'm wondering what the Adox and Foma films are like (guess I'd have to just try a roll and see). I think too that the printing make a difference, I can often see quite a difference in prints I did in the darkroom and ones I had done at a lab.

Sharon
Photo Comments
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12 years 6 months ago #157668 by Justin Black
I agree that most B&W films can be used to great effect. The film is just part of an equation that includes exposure, development, printing, and print development (and maybe scanning). That said, I have had great experiences with Tri-X (developed in D-76 1:1, HC-110), TMAX 100 and 400 (developed in a modified D-25 formula), and particularly Fuji Neopan 400 and Acros 100 (both developed in D-76 1:1). I actually think the Fuji's are the best B&W films I've ever encountered, at least for my taste much of the time. Ilford, Agfa, Arista, and others have had excellent films too. The films are a factor, but it's how you handle them and what you do with them that is important.

Justin Black
Visionary Wild – workshops and travel for the passionate photographer
visionarywild.com

Photo Comments
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12 years 3 months ago #200865 by farhadali
very helpful for us

Thanks,
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