B&w Film Of Choice?

[Alar70]

I have been using 4x5 transparencies but want to do some B&W work and just have not had enough experience with B&W film to have an opinion so I thought that I would turn to the experts and ask what is your favorite B&W film(s) and why?

I would be interested to know in what environments you use them as well whether portrait, landscape, etc.

Landscape photography is where I will be interested in using the film(s).

Thanks everyone!!

[Robert Hughes]

I don't want to be mysterious, but - what choices do you favor? Day versus night? Indoor versus outdoor? Negative or transparency? Modern or old-style emulsions? Film speed versus grain? Price? Favored developer? There are lots of good films available from Kodak, Ilford, Fuji, Efke, Foma, and various other East Euro and Asian brands. Just about anything made works fine, if you take the time to learn how to work with it.

For starters, try Ilford FP4+ , ISO 100, a great film, easy to process, hard to scratch. Do your processing with D-76 developer 1+0 (straight, no dilution), 7 1/2 minutes at 20 C in a tray; after a couple tries you'll be cranking out negatives like a pro!

[theBDT]

Ilford HP5+ 400 is very forgiving and is what newbies at the local CC program use in LF...

[healyzh]

I'm using my 4x5 for B&W portrait and landscape work. I love the Ilford FP4+ 125. I'm still learning, and it seems very forgiving. I've been getting a lab to develop it, but am getting ready to start doing my own.

[Capocheny]

I really like FP4+ when there's lots of available light.

HP5+ for those situations where lighting is a bit lower.

Cheers

[jim kitchen]

Dear Henry,

Do you use FP4+ with Perceptol?

I could never park that film and developer combination, where I still dabble with it periodically...

jim k

[mikebarger]

Since there isn't a tri-x 400 in 4x5, I too use HP5

Mike

[Capocheny]

Hi Jim,

No, I've not had my FP4+ processed in Perceptol... a local lab does my processing.

Gone are the days where I have my own darkroom.

Cheers

[MIke Sherck]

The question is a lot like asking someone's favorite breakfast cereal.

Personally, I go for Tmax 100 (Fruit Loops) in D76 (whole milk).

[jeroldharter]

TMY2 in Xtol 1:1. Fast film, essentially grainless, good reciprocity characteristics.