100 ASA Film

[Wil_Bloodworth]

I currently only have some Ilford HP5+ 400 ASA film. I would like to purchase some ASA 100 film (4x5"). Here are the three I found on Adorama:

1. Kodak Professional T-MAX 100 - TMX 405
2. Ilford Delta Pro 100 Fine Grain Medium Speed
3. Fujifilm Acros 100, 4" x 5" Cut Sheet Black-and-White Film, ISO 100
4. Ilford FP4 Plus Fine Grain ISO 125

Are there major difference between these? Why choose one over the other? If you had to choose which one would you choose?

Thank you!

- Wil

[memorris]

Different films have different characteristics. And the developer you use influences the look as well. I have shot mostly TMax 100 but also shoot TMax 400. I have used Adox CHS for doing alternative process prints. TMax seems to have UV filters built in to the substrate so is a poor choice for alt. process.

All 3 of those films have a different look and feel. So the best way to find out what you like is to try each one and see if you can get what you want from it.

[Bob McCarthy]

wIL,

I'VE USED 1), 3), AND 4).

hmm cap lock on, not yelling.

The differences are subtile and as much about the subject and lighting than about one film better than an other.

Grain doesn't really exist in 4x5 and larger so don't think slow speed film is going to give you a significantly less grainy negative. You can always find grain if you pixel peep a scan, but on paper, no issue.

TMax 400 is very nice too as is the HP5 you started with.

Don't think films... but film/developer combos.

bob

[Gary L. Quay]

I'm also learning to like Adox CHS Art 100, developed in PMK.

--Gary

[Wallace_Billingham]

I much prefer Efke 100 if I am shooting a 100 speed film, however I much prefer 400 speed films such as Ilford HP5

I like grain and I am not really worried about what little grain you get with faster films. Faster films offer much more flexibily in use and exposures. You can always slow down a faster film with ND filters you can really speed up a slower film

[SamReeves]

Arista EDU 100 (aka Fomapan 100). It's cheap, it develops great, so why pay more? ;)

[csant]

Fomapan 100. Cheap, nice and fine grain (and you'll learn to handle its reciprocity…).

[Gem Singer]

The T-Max, Delta, and Fuji Acros are fabricated grain films.

Ilford FP-4+ is a conventional grained film (as is HP-5+).

What is your reason for wanting to use a 100 speed film?

[D. Bryant]

I currently only have some Ilford HP5+ 400 ASA film. I would like to purchase some ASA 100 film (4x5"). Here are the three I found on Adorama:

1. Kodak Professional T-MAX 100 - TMX 405
2. Ilford Delta Pro 100 Fine Grain Medium Speed
3. Fujifilm Acros 100, 4" x 5" Cut Sheet Black-and-White Film, ISO 100
4. Ilford FP4 Plus Fine Grain ISO 125

Are there major difference between these? Why choose one over the other? If you had to choose which one would you choose?

Thank you!

- Wil

For B&W work, TMAX 400. You didn't ask about color but in case you do Ektar 100 or Fuji NPS 160 (assuming that it survives).

Don Bryant

[Pete Watkins]

I'm getting the hang of Foma. The right price and a generally good film to use.
Pete.

[Robert Hughes]

If you want to try out some of the Chinese films, both Era and Shanghai are good ASA 100 stocks.

[Filmnut]

Lately I have used Delta 100, processed in Rodinal, for the extra sharpness. I love the fine grain and sharp detail. I have also shot most of the other choices, including Acros, but not yet in 4X5, but it is nice on the smaller formats I use. Kodak Tmax 400, although not on the poll, is nice if you want or need the extra speed.
I think that all films can used to make great images, it mainly depends on your preferences and techniques.
Keith

[Brian Stein]

cheap, reasonable, but a somewhat fragile emulsion when wet, shanghai
for great reciprocity and a general all round lovely film acros

[Lachlan 717]

Velvia.

I don't like to discriminate based on colour...

[J Ney]

If the availability was greater then it would definitely be Acros for me due to reciprocity characteristics and the fact that it seems to forgive my development screw-ups.

After Acros would be FP4+ for me... mainly b/c it seems Ilford films are much cheaper than Kodak films when you get to 8x10 (at least through B&H) and it is not as finicky as T-Max

[Tom Monego]

I'm a fan of TMax, if it is developed in TMax developer it looses some of its finikiness. Mostly a TMax 400 user though.

Tom

[Ginette]

I bought recently a large batch of Shanghai 100 in 4x5, 5x7 and 8x10 but still not test it. Available only in ISO 100.
Bought it for the low price and as I'm located in Canada, it is easy to buy it on *Bay.
I used Kodak TriX and TMAX 400 in the past but it is very hard to find it here at reasonnable price.

[CarstenW]

Adox CHS 100, so far with D-76, but I will also try the ATM49 recommended for this film. Once I am totally comfortable with this, I will possibly experiment with other developers.

[Bill_1856]

EFKE 100, (but my favorite medium speed film of all time was Agfa/Ansco Isopan with a true speed of about 64).

[Mark Sawyer]

You'll get varying opinions, of course, but I've found the FP4 is the nicest film in the 100 ASA range. The Ilford just seems to have a bit richer tonal scale than the tabular grained films or the Fuji.

I also use the Arista.edu film at school because of the price, but find it drops the shadow detail and has occassional (but rare) flaws in the emulsion.

[Ari]

I've been using Shanghai for over a year now, and I find it quite beautiful, especially for portrait/skin tones. Processed in HC-110 it gives a look not unlike the old FP4.
I have had exactly zero problems with it and the price can't be beat.
If only they would make a 400 ISO...

[Jay DeFehr]

Acros, for its recip and general excellence, but I only use non- TMY-2 for reasons unrelated to quality.

[Wade D]

I've been using the Arista Premium 100 for about a year. It is the same as Kodak Plus-X and I've been very happy with it.

[mcfactor]

I love Delta 100, its is really sharp in rodinal and I like the way it looks. To me, it looks more simliar to a traditional-grained film than Tmax or Acros (whose look I dont really like). I recently moved up to 8x10 and Delta 100 negs (in rodinal 1:100) look incredible.

[CarstenW]

Adox CHS 100, so far with D-76, but I will also try the ATM49 recommended for this film. Once I am totally comfortable with this, I will possibly experiment with other developers.

Wow, I must have been tired when I wrote this; I use D-76 only for Tri-X. I develop the CHS 100 in Rodinal at the moment.

[Colin Corneau]

I've had wonderful results in Rollei Retro 100 in Rodinal. Similarly with Acros and Delta 100 although I've only shot a few rolls of those.

I shot TMX a lot more simply because it was more readily available -- results are fine but results with those other films are noticeably better (to me) and more distinctive, also.

[Andre Noble]

Kodak 125 Plus X is the best pyro compatible film I have ever used. Roll film back, of course.