[DaveHolmes]

I shoot film sporadically and have normally used either Fuji Superior 200/400 (and some 1600 which I still have a stockpile of) or Ilford XP2 400 (B&W - C41 cos I can't do my own developing)

I'm running low on stock and fancy a change...

I'm thinking Kodak Ektar 100 as a colour option but would like a few suggestions of other films I can buy in bulk (25 to 50ish rolls) at a decent price... (?)

Black and white options would need to be C41 so I can get processed which I assume leaves me with very little options... (?)

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Last edited by DaveHolmes; 03-26-2013 at 01:59 PM.

[DaveHolmes]

Wow. Thought there'd be more response than this tbh...

Looks like I'll go for the Ektar 100 then ... Still have a fair amount of 1600-fuji-superior but still no clue if there's a B&W I can get that can be processed at my local printshop except Ilford-XP2...

[stevebrot]

I was going to respond, but the standard line here goes pretty much like this:

• We like Ektar
• We like Portra
• We like Kodak Gold (choose your flavor)
• We like Velvia (or at least some do )

As for C41 B&W. Your choices are limited. Pity self-processed conventional B&W is not do-able.


Steve

[DaveHolmes]

Cheers Steve!

[Nesster]

LOL, I was expecting several responses along the lines Steve says... Personally, I've never warmed up to Ektar, though I do see others get decent results. My current favorites are the 160 and 200 speed films, from both Kodak and Fuji, and all varieties.
There is a Kodak C41 film, and sometimes there are private/white label films available at discounters.

[Lloydy]

I like XP2, not just because it's C41 - I love the tones and lattitude, it's a great film.

[Nuff]

I will add to this, I like Ektar for punchy colours, it's like slide film on print. I like Portra 160@125/400@320 for more muted pastel colours when it's overexposed (and told at the lab to print them that way). With rich reds and yellows.
I like Fuji Pro 400H@iso 200-320 for the muted pastel colours and rich greens and blues.
I like Kodak e100vs(E6) for the saturated colours, especially reds and yellows. It's discontinued, but I scored 20 rolls for my trip to indian subcontinent, where I think it will be perfect, with some ektar and portra.
I like Velvia(E6) for well, the punchy colours.

I've never done self development until 3 weeks ago, it's easy! Few youtube tutorials and my development costs went down a lot!

It's really hard to suggest something if we don't know what you like and what you want to achieve.

[LesDMess]

Kodak BW400CN and Ilford XP-2 are chromogenic films - b&w that is processed as regular C41. I've used the Kodak and it has outstanding latitude and I understand that the Ilford does too.

BTW, you should try true b&w processing at home if you haven't already. All you need are some chemicals, a developing tank and a sink.

Kodak Gold 100 is a very good film at a great price.
Kodak Ektar 100 is an outstanding film - high contrast and high resolution.
Kodak Portra 160/400/800 have extreme latitudes and color tolerance. I prefer the 400 for the additional speed and not much more grain and 800 a bit more so.
I have also used a limited number of Fuji Pro 400H and NPZ800 and I think both are finer grained then the Portra offerings. Although I favor the Kodak palette, color adjustments in post is pretty trivial.

[Buffy]

I was going to respond, but the standard line here goes pretty much like this:

• We like Velvia (or at least some do )

No, we *love* Velvia! It's the only color film I've used in the past several years.

[twitch]

Ektar, Portra 400/800, XP2, BW400CN; can't go wrong with any of these

[womble]

Hi Dave,

I used Ektar 100 almost exclusively for 35mm colour but it needs very careful exposure and development. Most of the complaints I have seen about it online are where it has been developed and scanned at a local chemist or the like. I send mine off to "The Darkroom UK" and get very nice results although at a price. I have just started using my first roll of 35mm Portra 160 but only because the store in Perth didn't have 35mm Ektar. I'll let you know what I think when I get the films back towards the end of April (I'm away until then).

For BW chromogenic I use Kodak BW400CN. I cannot quite put my finger on why, but I seem to get better results with it than the XP2. Again I use the Darkroom UK for dev and scan. Although it has a stunning exposure latitude (which is why I use it in my FSU gear), I find setting the meter at ISO 320 or thereabout works well.

I often use a wide variety of other BW films. I especially like the Agfa APX 100, partly because it is cheaper than the Ilford equivalents. I have some Fuji Neopan 1600 in the freezer although I find at 1600 the negs are very thin and have started exposing it at 800. If you're happy to wait a couple of days, the lab does BW at the same cost as colour print.

Bulk purchases can be made through Silverprint or 7dayshop.

Cheers, Kris.

[builttospill]

If you're really looking to stock up, Four Corner Store (in Delaware) sells a box of 50 rolls of Kodak HD4 for $150. I don't know how much it would be to ship to you, but you could always ask them. I've ordered a few different films and a camera from them and been pleased. Here's the link: Kodak 50 Roll Propack | Four Corner Store