Your Favorite 400 ISO B/W film

[kivis]

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What are your favorite 400 ISO B/W films?

Tri-X

Ilford XP2

Ultrafine eXtreme

Others?

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[Michael Hiles]

Ilford XP2 (rated a 200ASA for best shadow rendering)

[250swb]

Tri-X is a shadow of what it used to be and I haven't used it for many years, so I'll say HP5 or Delta 400 depending on your style and what you want to use as a developer.

[madNbad]

It's a little expensive but a fun film to try is Kodak 5222 XX film. It's cheap in the 400' rolls but if you just want a a couple of respooled rolls it's eight or ten dollars a roll. The film is rated at ISO 250 and has a wide latitude. Here's an example using my M4 with a Voigtlander 35 Ultron ASPH, 022 filter at ISO 125.

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Edited November 25, 2021 by madNbad

[Sailronin]

Right now I'm using Ilford HP5+, on my first 100 foot roll so still working out best combinations.  I was pleasantly surprised at how well it worked at ISO 1600 with Rodinal 1:25, really the first time I've ever pushed a film over one stop. I develop in Rodinal 1:25 at 8 minutes at ISO 400 and 11 minutes for ISO 1600, both at 20C.

[stray cat]

I've used Tri-X since the 1970s and find nothing wrong with it in its present incarnation. Am I missing something? I also like XP2 Super a lot, very forgiving in the meterless M2.

[dbeids]

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I haven’t shot film regularly since the early 90’s, and then I used Tri-X and Plus-X for BW and Kodachrome or one of the Fuji chromes for color. That was a long time ago.

 

[madNbad]

I'm currently working my way to only using TMax 400. Having tried a number of other B&W emultions, TMax has been the best fit and the most versitile for me.

M4 Voigtlander 35 Ultron ASPH 022 filter, TMY at ISO 200, HC-110B

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[a.noctilux]

I found my best 400 ISO film : Neopan 400 which Fujifilm discontinued so many years ago.

I purchased so many I could but I wanted some replacements now available.

HP5 + is not bad and Tmax 400 can be "better" for some situations (finer grain than Neopan lovely grain).

 

I think the best film is better learned to use/adapt to our tastes.

 

Edited November 26, 2021 by a.noctilux

[analogM]

Tri-x

[logan2z]

I've used Tri-X exclusively for the last few years, but I recently shot a roll of HP5+ and really liked what I saw.  Given where Kodak's prices seem to be heading I might make the jump to Ilford films permanently. 

[Danner]

HP5 Plus.  A film for all seasons, IMHO.

[Danner]

4 hours ago, a.noctilux said:

I found my best 400 ISO film : Neopan 400 which Fujifilm discontinued so many years ago.

I purchased so many I could but I wanted some replacements now available.

HP5 + is not bad and Tmax 400 can be "better" for some situations (finer grain than Neopan lovely grain).

 

I think the best film is better learned to use/adapt to our tastes.

 

Agree about Neopan, and wish Fuji would bring it back.  That *was* the best 400 film...

[Kriehuber]

I only shoot Trix and XX / 5222  in BW and thats for a reason

[a.noctilux]

4 hours ago, Danner said:

Agree about Neopan, and wish Fuji would bring it back.  That *was* the best 400 film...

Happily, I still have some rolls of Neopan 400 and 1600 (of course expired ! ).

I use them sparsely for some years now.

Processing 'right' is a challenge though, 6 to 7 minutes (or very short 4-5 for N 1600) for N 400 with T-Max dev. 1+4 .

[Aryel]

In no particular order:

delta 400 in dd-x

hp5 in id11

trix in id11

rollei retro 400 in id11 

currently experimenting with rodinal so everything may change   !

 

[Ouroboros]

I'd love to say Delta 400 for medium format because I do like it but I've had far too many rolls destroyed by backing paper 'measels' and I won't use it again until the problem has been eradicated, so I'll say HP5+ or Delta 400 for mf.  No such problem with 35mm Delta 400, though.

 

[madNbad]

I wanted to try Ilfords' T grain film so I bought several rolls of Delta 400. I liked it, just like the TMax better.

M4, 35 Ultron ASPH, Delta 400 at ISO 400, Ilfotec HC:

 

 

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[BradS]

I've been using Kodak Tri-X for 45 years. I've exposed and developed more rolls of Tri-X than all others combined...by very large margin. 

I also like Kodak TMY-2. It is better than all other 400 speed films but I still prefer Tri-X.

[oldwino]

I generally like Delta 400 in Xtol. But recently HP5 in Rodinal is looking good to me. I shoot it at 200 and slightly overdevelop it. I like the contrast that way (at box speed and "normal" development I find it to be rather "flat"). Both 135 and 120. Delta 100 is nice in 120 if conditions allow. 

I am also surprised how much I like Kentmere 100 in 135. Very sharp.