What's the best????????????????

[ignatiusjk]

I know it's personal preference but what do you think is the best B&W 4x5 film and why? I would love to see a professional photo service do a check on Tmax,Ilford FP4,Ilford Delta,and Fuji Neopan films and rate them. Developers also matter,but who's the best to you?

[Ron Marshall]

I know it's personal preference but what do you think is the best B&W 4x5 film and why? I would love to see a professional photo service do a check on Tmax,Ilford FP4,Ilford Delta,and Fuji Neopan films and rate them. Developers also matter,but who's the best to you?

Best in what sense: price, tonal rendition, reciprocity, exposure latitude, grain structure, acutance...?

My preference is TMY, because it has most of the things I am looking for and involves the fewest compromises.

[Gem Singer]

i have been using the combination of Ilford HP-5+ film and Pyrocat-HD developer during the past few years.

Works great for 645, 6x7, 6x9, 4x5, 5x7, and 8x10 formats developed in roll film tanks, dip-and dunk tanks, and trays.

Haven't tried it in 35mm, however.

[Darren H]

Fuji Astia converted in Photoshop :-)

At least it works for me.

I think they all have value and are just different. Not sure there is a best. In color it was Velvia hands down. But B+W is more open.

Go experiment!

[Heroique]

One of my beloved combos is TMax100 in TMax RS developer.

Love the silky-fine smoothness, when I’m not looking for razor-sharp acutance.

Haven’t used it in a while, but here’s an old favorite…

Toyo 45c
Schneider XL 110mm/5.6
1/2 sec. @ f/22
TMax 100 (in TMax RS)
Epson 4990/Epson Scan

[Bruce Watson]

The best for me is TMY-2 in XTOL. It's now the only B&W film I use.

Will it be the best for you? I have no idea. Neither do you -- until you do the work and make the tests and come to your own conclusions.

[theBDT]

My Arista EDU Ultra 100 (nee Foma) is less than $.50/sheet. It has some quirks, like reciprocity issues, but at that price it is this student's current favorite film

[Filmnut]

Again, there are those that won't agree with me, but my current favourite for 4X5 is Ilford Delta 100 developed with Xtol, or Rodinal for extra acutance.
Keith

[jmcd]

Though I use others, the best for me is FP4+. It works well in many developers, and works very nicely at normal, minus, plus, and super plus—all this in a wide variety of formats. Also, it is somewhat forgiving in that you do not have to have the precision of a fine lab technician to bend it to your will.

Even a 35mm negative enlarges well to make a handsome print.

[Robert Skeoch]

I like Delta 100 in ID-11 for 8x10.
-Rob Skeoch