The quest for speed

[Mark Sampson]

A question for workers in b&w:
What film/process combination gives you the highest ISO speed?
I'm looking for methods you actually find useful, not theoretical ones. I suppose the hand-held 4x5 shooters will have the edge here...

[Ron Marshall]

HP5 will give you an EI of 640 in Ilford DD-X or about 800 in Paterson fx-50.

[PaulRicciardi]

Personally I really like diafine for my pushing, I don't have any LF examples on my computer but I'm sure someone here does. HP5 can be shot at 640 in diafine. Tri-x Pan Pro (TXP/TXT) in diafine comes out to be 1000 or 1200. The diafine box says 1200 for sheet but I've shot it at both speeds and it looks fine either way. I've also pushed HP5 to 3200 but it was only in a pinch, and I wouldn't do it again.

I'd say your best bet is either HP5 or Tri-X pushed. Both have a fairly high native film speed and can easily handle a one or two stop push without getting too contrasty or grainy even in a mundane developer like D76.

Just my two cents, good luck

[David A. Goldfarb]

My usual combo for handheld LF is TXP/Acufine EI 640.

[Mark Sampson]

Thanks everyone. I'm contemplating a project where my usual EI 160 won't be enough. I haven't used Acufine or Diafine since the '70s or I might have remembered them.

[Guillaume B]

there are some alternativ technics for pushing Trix400. I often push Trix to 800 or 1600 ISO without problem. But I combine it with Rodinal at 1+100 for 1600 Iso (2 Hours develloppment), or 1+50 for 800 Iso, 2 or 3 reversal and no shake. Keep it at 20° with a continue temp control and it's fine.
Sometine when i want it become not to grainy i use Emofin (2 bath develloppers, the best i ever used) or Microphen.

When you need speed don't be afraid, push it!
It's better to have a little grainy photograph than not taking the photo.

[bsimison]

TMY pushed to 1600 and developed in Xtol 1:1 works pretty well, too.

[Ron Marshall]

TMY pushed to 1600 and developed in Xtol 1:1 works pretty well, too.

The shadow detail is good and the grain as well. Nice shot.

What was your dev. time and temp?

[Marko]

Thanks everyone. I'm contemplating a project where my usual EI 160 won't be enough. I haven't used Acufine or Diafine since the '70s or I might have remembered them.

Speaking of times past, I used to push HP4/5 to 800 or even 1600 in Microphen back in the '70s and '80s.

800 was great, 1600 produced thin shadows - depending on the subject matter and the need, it may or may not be acceptable. That was mostly 35mm and some 120, no LF at that time.

[bsimison]

The shadow detail is good and the grain as well. Nice shot.

What was your dev. time and temp?

Thanks! I believe I souped that in 1:1 Xtol for 12:30 at 20 degrees C.