What film to buy

K5_Ltd_User · 10-23-2013, 11:21 AM

Hello,

I just bought a few Film SLR' s so naturally I want to test them out. I will start with color film, as it is cheaper.
But my question is which B&W film is now, the best? I know is a matter of taste, but recommend me one. The Ilford 100 or bellow are any good?
What price do they usually run at?

Second, if you are from Romania, where do you buy them from?

Thank you all!

Last edited by K5_Ltd_User; 10-23-2013 at 11:23 AM. Reason: Romania,Film,35mm,Pentax SLR,Film Camera

tuco · 10-23-2013, 11:42 AM

All BW film still available are good. It is what you can do with it and the conditions you are using it in. Many times fanboys of a particular brand would say brand-X sucks and they get terrible results from it. I'll post a tone-rich picture better than theirs using that film and they still think it sucks. Go-figure.

Just get and try some different BW films that are available to you and see. Some notable BW film I use regularly include Acros 100, T-Max 400, T-Max 100, Ilford HP5+

The newer T-grain films such as T-Max, Acros and Ilford's Delta usually offer finer grain for the same speed as the older cubic grain films such as HP5, FP4 and Tri-X. But the developer used has an influence on that too.

Best of luck and have fun.

K5_Ltd_User · 10-23-2013, 11:53 AM

Hello,

An expired film can be shot and developed?

Thank you!

tuco · 10-23-2013, 11:56 AM

Originally posted by urssu

Hello,

An expired film can be shot and developed?

Thank you!

Yes and more yes for BW. Depending on how old (say 5-10 years for BW) you can experience some fogging. But may not degrade the final image too much. Color is more sensitive to age and results vary.

Pontax · 10-23-2013, 11:56 AM

I use Ilford HP5+. It is easy to develop with Tetenal Ultrafin Plus. I can recommend this combo.

gabro822 · 10-23-2013, 12:19 PM

I'm a beginner in developing film myself and I choose cheap rolls. I really suggest Lucky and Kentmere in order to try in the beginning.

I don't know where to buy films in Romania, but you can found them on their respective website (most of the time) or on eBay (with attractive prices

).

Kobayashi.K · 10-23-2013, 12:40 PM

I'm living in the Netherlands and I recently checked where to get B&W film (to test my refurbished Olympus Trip 35) and I was surprised how easy it is to find shops that have them. A local shop in my town has more than 10 different B&W films in stock, including all the Ilford films! They have color films too. I also found several online shops in Germany that sell films from Ilford, FujiFilm and Kodak (to check prices). I seems film is still alive and kicking so, as for the OP, it won't be too difficult to get it in Europe.

Kobayashi.K · 10-23-2013, 12:44 PM

Originally posted by urssu

Hello,

An expired film can be shot and developed?

Thank you!

Several members in https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-film-slr-discussion/159796-post-yo...ilm-shots.html are showing results from expired B&W films.

vladimiroltean · 10-23-2013, 01:01 PM

Originally posted by urssu

Second, if you are from Romania, where do you buy them from?

Filme Foto - F64.ro

**Eric Auer** · 10-23-2013, 01:25 PM

Ilford Delta-400

Ilford Delta-400 Professional 135-24 Black & White 1748165

**blackcloudbrew** · 10-23-2013, 01:43 PM

Since getting back into B&W photography, I've been very happy with Ilford film products. Their Delta products are their best I believe.

Jonathan Mac · 10-23-2013, 02:25 PM

My favourites are Ilford FP4+ (which is also quite cheap) and Kodak TMAX 100 and 400.

The only B&W film I've tried that I didn't like was Fuji Neopan 400, and that's now been discontinued anyway.

K5_Ltd_User · 10-24-2013, 09:22 AM

Originally posted by kcobain1992

Filme Foto - F64.ro

Thanks for the direct link- I see I' ll end up cheaper ordering from there then buying them from Ebay (unless it' s some big sale at low price) .

Thank you all as well for the advices!

Will return (I presume later then sooner) with some samples of my `work` .

All the best!

tuco · 10-24-2013, 09:40 AM

Not too some BW films such as Rollie have a very thin base and curl really bad making it hard to scan. In general you won't experience this with Kodak, Ilford and Fujifilm films.

10-23-2013, 11:21 AM	#1
K5_Ltd_User Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Photos: Albums Posts: 273	What film to buy Hello, I just bought a few Film SLR' s so naturally I want to test them out. I will start with color film, as it is cheaper. But my question is which B&W film is now, the best? I know is a matter of taste, but recommend me one. The Ilford 100 or bellow are any good? What price do they usually run at? Second, if you are from Romania, where do you buy them from? Thank you all! Last edited by K5_Ltd_User; 10-23-2013 at 11:23 AM. Reason: Romania,Film,35mm,Pentax SLR,Film Camera

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10-23-2013, 11:42 AM	#2
tuco Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pugetopolis Posts: 11,026	All BW film still available are good. It is what you can do with it and the conditions you are using it in. Many times fanboys of a particular brand would say brand-X sucks and they get terrible results from it. I'll post a tone-rich picture better than theirs using that film and they still think it sucks. Go-figure. Just get and try some different BW films that are available to you and see. Some notable BW film I use regularly include Acros 100, T-Max 400, T-Max 100, Ilford HP5+ The newer T-grain films such as T-Max, Acros and Ilford's Delta usually offer finer grain for the same speed as the older cubic grain films such as HP5, FP4 and Tri-X. But the developer used has an influence on that too. Best of luck and have fun.

10-23-2013, 11:53 AM	#3
K5_Ltd_User Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Photos: Albums Posts: 273 Original Poster	Hello, An expired film can be shot and developed? Thank you!

10-23-2013, 11:56 AM	#4
tuco Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pugetopolis Posts: 11,026	Originally posted by urssu Hello, An expired film can be shot and developed? Thank you! Yes and more yes for BW. Depending on how old (say 5-10 years for BW) you can experience some fogging. But may not degrade the final image too much. Color is more sensitive to age and results vary.

10-23-2013, 11:56 AM	#5
Pontax Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Bornholm Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 160	I use Ilford HP5+. It is easy to develop with Tetenal Ultrafin Plus. I can recommend this combo.

10-23-2013, 12:19 PM	#6
gabro822 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Milan Photos: Gallery Posts: 339	I'm a beginner in developing film myself and I choose cheap rolls. I really suggest Lucky and Kentmere in order to try in the beginning. I don't know where to buy films in Romania, but you can found them on their respective website (most of the time) or on eBay (with attractive prices ).

10-23-2013, 12:40 PM	#7
Kobayashi.K Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Photos: Albums Posts: 716	I'm living in the Netherlands and I recently checked where to get B&W film (to test my refurbished Olympus Trip 35) and I was surprised how easy it is to find shops that have them. A local shop in my town has more than 10 different B&W films in stock, including all the Ilford films! They have color films too. I also found several online shops in Germany that sell films from Ilford, FujiFilm and Kodak (to check prices). I seems film is still alive and kicking so, as for the OP, it won't be too difficult to get it in Europe.

10-23-2013, 12:44 PM	#8
Kobayashi.K Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Photos: Albums Posts: 716	Originally posted by urssu Hello, An expired film can be shot and developed? Thank you! Several members in https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-film-slr-discussion/159796-post-yo...ilm-shots.html are showing results from expired B&W films.

10-23-2013, 01:01 PM	#9
vladimiroltean Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Bucharest, Romania Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,465	Originally posted by urssu Second, if you are from Romania, where do you buy them from? Filme Foto - F64.ro

10-23-2013, 01:25 PM	#10
Eric Auer Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,211	Ilford Delta-400 Ilford Delta-400 Professional 135-24 Black & White 1748165

10-23-2013, 01:43 PM	#11
blackcloudbrew Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cotati, California USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,460	Since getting back into B&W photography, I've been very happy with Ilford film products. Their Delta products are their best I believe.

10-23-2013, 02:25 PM	#12
Jonathan Mac Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 10,897	My favourites are Ilford FP4+ (which is also quite cheap) and Kodak TMAX 100 and 400. The only B&W film I've tried that I didn't like was Fuji Neopan 400, and that's now been discontinued anyway.

10-24-2013, 09:22 AM	#13
K5_Ltd_User Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Photos: Albums Posts: 273 Original Poster	Originally posted by kcobain1992 Filme Foto - F64.ro Thanks for the direct link- I see I' ll end up cheaper ordering from there then buying them from Ebay (unless it' s some big sale at low price) . Thank you all as well for the advices! Will return (I presume later then sooner) with some samples of my `work` . All the best!

10-24-2013, 09:40 AM	#14
tuco Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pugetopolis Posts: 11,026	Not too some BW films such as Rollie have a very thin base and curl really bad making it hard to scan. In general you won't experience this with Kodak, Ilford and Fujifilm films.