Let's talk 8x10 B&W Film brands and musings.

[John Kasaian]

Who is currently making 8x10 B&W sheet film?

I have seen Ilford, Kodak, Foma, Arista, Bergger, Cat Labs (apparently Shanghai?) Rollei and Adox(although I haven't found an importer currently offering Adox emulsions in the US.)
Are there any brands, other than x-ray films, which should be on this list?

My thoughts on what's out there:
Ilford---excellent and very forgivable. FP-4+ and HP-5+ I consider my "gold standards."
Kodak--priced well out of my league. I haven't shot any Kodak sheet film in years so I can't comment, but I sure liked my TMY back in the day.
Foma--Good. Easy to work with
Arista--mostly rebadged Foma, as well as some proprietary ortho graphic arts emulsions which currently won't fit into 8x10 film holders without trimming, according to Freestyle.
Bergger---very nice.
Cat-Labs---I haven't tried this one. It either is or isn't Shanghai. Any ideas?
Rollei----I haven't tried this one either.
Adox----This one sure impressed me back when it was being imported.

[Vaughan]

I'm working through some boxes of Shanghai GP3 100, I've used it in 4x5 and 5x7 as well. It's cheap! Some of the sheets aren't cut cleanly or are crooked, very occasionally a sheet is too big or small to fit the holder. Other than that it's cheap! I'm still learning, so am never sure whether defects are the cause of my handing or from manufacture, but hey it's cheap!

If I had to choose between Shanghai or Fomapan 100 I'd probably choose Fomapan, but Fomapan's green dye gets into my stop and fixer and annoys me: Shanghai doesn't have much colour dye come out.

If I wasn't concerned with cost I'd be using ILFORD film. I have a 25 sheet box of HP5 that I've used for just 2 sheets, I'm saving the rest for when the Shanghai is gone. By then my processing will be worthy.

[Alan9940]

Kodak films are just too expensive nowadays for my budget. I shot a LOT of 8x10 Tri-X back in the days when it was $50 for a 50-sheet box. Can you imagine? Ilford films have gotten pretty pricey now, too, but I still shoot FP-4+ some. I've been using 8x10 Foma 100 for years and it has served me well. I buy multiple boxes from fotoimpex and even with the DHL Express shipping it works out to be significantly cheaper vs buying here in the states.

[Serge S]

Holiday greetings to all!

I've used Foma 100 - like the tones - bought a couple of boxes of Foma 400 to try.
Issue - I don't like with that film is little imperfections (occasionally) in the emulsion & the sheets float in the holder or are not cut strait?

Going through a box of tmax100 5x7 presently. Will prob not get another due to the cost.

My standard film is HP5. Love it no complaints.
Use FP4 when I need a slower speed.
Ilford makes good products!

[paulbarden]

Who is currently making 8x10 B&W sheet film?

I have seen Ilford, Kodak, Foma, Arista, Bergger, Cat Labs (apparently Shanghai?) Rollei and Adox(although I haven't found an importer currently offering Adox emulsions in the US.)
Are there any brands, other than x-ray films, which should be on this list?

My thoughts on what's out there:
Ilford---excellent and very forgivable. FP-4+ and HP-5+ I consider my "gold standards."
Kodak--priced well out of my league. I haven't shot any Kodak sheet film in years so I can't comment, but I sure liked my TMY back in the day.
Foma--Good. Easy to work with
Arista--mostly rebadged Foma, as well as some proprietary ortho graphic arts emulsions which currently won't fit into 8x10 film holders without trimming, according to Freestyle.
Bergger---very nice.
Cat-Labs---I haven't tried this one. It either is or isn't Shanghai. Any ideas?
Rollei----I haven't tried this one either.
Adox----This one sure impressed me back when it was being imported.

- FP4+ is my personal favorite (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53148457223_b8c58126d0_k.jpg); easy to manipulate, and ideal for making salted paper prints from. I have several boxes cached, but now that it has exceeded $200 per 25 sheets I may not buy it as often.
- Kodak's offerings are absurdly expensive, and I haven't bought any in over 5 years. At those prices, I never will again. There's no compelling reason to choose TMY or Tri-X over FP4+
- I recently bought some Fomapan 100 and have been very pleased with the results (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53250169763_d324bafc8c_k.jpg). I see no reason not to buy again.
- Sadly, Bergger Pancro 400 (https://live.staticflickr.com/4445/36870026103_44de032f2e_k.jpg) may be extinct. It hasn't been available here in the US in 3 years, and Bergger's own web site has listed all sheet film sizes as "out of stock" for at least 2.5 years. It is my understanding that Inoviscoat produces it for Bergger, but why there have been no sheet sizes available for three years (or more) is a mystery, and Bergger ain't saying: all emails sent to Bergger over the past 2 years to inquire about availability of Pancro 400 sheets have gone unanswered.
- Adox CHS 100 II is beautiful film (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53341432795_fa492e88a4_k.jpg). For my work habits, I find it works best rated at 40 ASA and developed accordingly. If I could buy it in 8x10 here in the US, I would.

[Drew Wiley]

I have enough of the "right stuff" stored in the freezer (8X10 TMY and TMX) to probably last me till I'm in my 80's. My budget choice was FP4, a fine product unless its windy or especially contrasty; but I once used a lot of HP5 at one time, and experimented with numerous other films. The linearity of Bergger 200 was wonderful when it was around. Now TMax gives me that extra edge.

[AuditorOne]

I love TMX100 when I feel flush. It is almost always on my Christmas and Birthday lists.

But the rest of the time it is Ilford HP5+ which I have stored up over the years.

When that runs out I'll be back to the Fomapan films.

Never tried the rest though I am thinking of buying a box of Adox CMS 20.

Right now I'm flush. :D

[paulbarden]

Never tried the rest though I am thinking of buying a box of Adox CMS 20.


I've only used CMS 20 in 35mm (https://flic.kr/p/2p8GnxD), and it has amazing resolution. However, it is barely a "continuous tone" film, and only when processed in an appropriate developer. I've made POTA for it and Anchell & Troop's TDLC-103, and dilute PMK (also suggested in Anchell & Troop's book) and the TDLC-103 was better at delivering reasonably broad-toned negatives. Adotech is definitely a better developer for it. I compare it to Kodak's old Tech Pan, which is equally difficult to develop to get a good range of values.
Because of its limited tonal scale I found it difficult to squeeze a good image out of and so I doubt I will use it again. YMMV of course.

[Sal Santamaura]

...Sadly, Bergger Pancro 400 (https://live.staticflickr.com/4445/36870026103_44de032f2e_k.jpg) may be extinct. It hasn't been available here in the US in 3 years, and Bergger's own web site has listed all sheet film sizes as "out of stock" for at least 2.5 years. It is my understanding that Harman produces it for Bergger, and it may be that Harman is now too busy with their own brands to take on work for others, like Bergger...

Nope. HARMAN makes Bergger paper, but it's never been involved with PANCRO 400. The latter was coated by then-Inoviscoat.

[Kevin Crisp]

I tried Shanghai. First box didn't have any index cut to tell you which side was which. Also, small (smaller than "pin holes") clear spots on every sheet. Sometimes 25+ per sheet.

[paulbarden]

Nope. HARMAN makes Bergger paper, but it's never been involved with PANCRO 400. The latter was coated by then-Inoviscoat.

Corrected.

[Michael Kadillak]

I am with Drew on older T Max 400. I am focused around T Max 400 as I have a load of it. Ilford FP4+, Delta 100, and Foma 200 (don't like the 100 and 400 ASA versions, but that may just be me) are my priority listing. I have an inventory of Efke 25 in 11x14 that will keep me busy for some time to round things out. I have found that as long as one can ensure you do not ask a film to do more than get on first base, HP5 works fine. Ask it to do anything else - good luck.

[Drew Wiley]

HP5 is great if the contrast is not extreme. But I didn't like it in smaller size than 8x10. Sometimes I'd counterintuitively both overexpose and overdevelop it to increase the shadow detail as well as edge acutance and midtone microtonality, and then add an unsharp mask to tame the thing for printing. Really lovely detail rendering. But in this day and age, throwing in an extra sheet of TMax or FP4 for the mask itself ups the cost to where I might as well have shot it on TMY to begin with. But it's fun to explore different looks.

[esearing]

Delta 100 is available in 8x10 But may not be different enough from FP4+ for you. I like it when there are lots of yellow and green scenery and it responds to an orange filter with slightly darker sky tones her in the south. I keep a box around and use it when waiting for FP4 delivery. Never have gotten along with HP5 at 400.

[Michael R]

If I shot 8x10 I’d probably end up using Delta 100 or more likely HP5 as 100 really would be too slow for me in that format. It’s expensive though, so I don’t know, maybe Foma? (I haven’t tried Foma films). Best would be TMY-2 or TXP (since I’d only be contact printing negatives that large) but I’d never be able to afford 8x10 Kodak film.

Aside from Kodak, Ilford and Foma I have no idea who makes what and have no interest in trying to keep up with all that branding crap.

[paulbarden]

If I shot 8x10 I’d probably end up using Delta 100 or more likely HP5 as 100 really would be too slow for me in that format. It’s expensive though, so I don’t know, maybe Foma? (I haven’t tried Foma films). Best would be TMY-2 or TXP (since I’d only be contact printing negatives that large) but I’d never be able to afford 8x10 Kodak film.

Aside from Kodak, Ilford and Foma I have no idea who makes what and have no interest in trying to keep up with all that branding crap.

Most rebranded films these days seem to be Foma (As Freestye's house brand, and CatLabs X80) or Gevaert's Aviphot aerial films (Lots of the Rollei stuff).
My only experience is with Foma 100 (under the Foma name) and I like it enough that I'm going to continue using it for all but Salted Paper printmaking (it has too much base density to be ideal for that). Foma 100 is a really nice film (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53280500054_afb4715191_k.jpg).

[Graham Patterson]

Once I have used up my Bergger stock, I will probably go back to HP5 in 8x10, as I tend to use Delta 100 and HP5 in 4x5 and may as well have a common emulsion. I do not expect to buy more 8x10 for a year, so I will have to see what is available and at what cost then.

[Michael R]

Most rebranded films these days seem to be Foma (As Freestye's house brand, and CatLabs X80) or Gevaert's Aviphot aerial films (Lots of the Rollei stuff).
My only experience is with Foma 100 (under the Foma name) and I like it enough that I'm going to continue using it for all but Salted Paper printmaking (it has too much base density to be ideal for that). Foma 100 is a really nice film (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53280500054_afb4715191_k.jpg).

I can work with anything as long as there aren’t quality issues like scratches, pinholes etc. That’s more or less why I still use Kodak film - ie I just find it to be the easiest to process.

[Alan Townsend]

Who is currently making 8x10 B&W sheet film?

I have seen Ilford, Kodak, Foma, Arista, Bergger, Cat Labs (apparently Shanghai?) Rollei and Adox(although I haven't found an importer currently offering Adox emulsions in the US.)
Are there any brands, other than x-ray films, which should be on this list?

My thoughts on what's out there:
Ilford---excellent and very forgivable. FP-4+ and HP-5+ I consider my "gold standards."
Kodak--priced well out of my league. I haven't shot any Kodak sheet film in years so I can't comment, but I sure liked my TMY back in the day.
Foma--Good. Easy to work with
Arista--mostly rebadged Foma, as well as some proprietary ortho graphic arts emulsions which currently won't fit into 8x10 film holders without trimming, according to Freestyle.
Bergger---very nice.
Cat-Labs---I haven't tried this one. It either is or isn't Shanghai. Any ideas?
Rollei----I haven't tried this one either.
Adox----This one sure impressed me back when it was being imported.

I was just on the B+H website and noticed they have the Inkpress Media Regency Royal Hard Dot Camera film available now in 8x10 for $40 per box of 50 sheets. This film is similar to the Arista Ortho Litho 3.0 film, but about half the cost and slightly better quality. Film speed is very similar (I expose at ei 2 for both) but has fewer pinholes. Ortho Litho films processed for low contrast (I use D23 at 1:7 dilution for 2 min.) have a non-linear response very similar to so called alternate process contact printing processes like cyanotype, vandyke, kalitype, salt prints, etc. Super slow, but super sharp and alt process curvey. I use it mostly in the darkroom for enlarging smaller negatives but occasionally in my 4x5 camera. With the low contrast development and post exposure flashing to densities between 0.5 and 1.0, this film has normal contrast with density ranges as low as 1.2. Yes, contact print times would be 10x longer with that density. Without flashing, density range is about 1.8-2.0 with sunny outdoor use.

Alan Townsend