Ilford XP2 thoughts

[cesc]

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Hi all! I have been shooting and developing bw film myself for a long time. I normally use HC110, rodinal for low speed films and xtol when I am planning to shoot 10 to 20 rolls per month.

But the other day I wanted to try ilford XP2 because I was curious how a c-41 bw film would render. First thing my lab told me was that I could rate it in different ISO in the same roll... I was so confused! It means I can rate it at 50 ISO when It was sunny so I could use wider apertures and then  once I got home I could keep shooting indoors rating it at 800 to have enough shutter speed to freeze my kids movements...

 

How is that possible! I mean I've received the scans and they look great. Any ideas?

Is it ilford XP2 a favourite film from anybody? And why is not that popular ? Or I am missing something.

 

Any help or comments are welcome!

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[spydrxx]

I used it for several years and liked the convenience of its seeming flexibility in exposure. However with the demise of photo processing stations where I live, it no longer made sense to use it. I still have a few rolls in the freezer, which I'll probably try out with home processing, but I'm not expecting particularly good results vis-a-vis other films.

[cesc]

Thanks for your reply, I have read that you can also develop them using traditional bw developers and get decent results. 

[oldwino]

I’ve processed a couple of rolls of XP2 in Diafine, and it turned out…fine. 

[johnwolf]

I really like XP2, but it's too expensive for me to shoot. If I could afford it I would maybe standardize on it. I like it that much, and appreciate the exposure latitude.

I have processed it in HC-110 with very nice result, although the look is quite different from C-41 processing. 

There's a member here - chrism, I think - who has done extensive testing with BW chemistry. He has an article about it on Ilford's site: https://www.ilfordphoto.com/ilford-xp2-super-in-black-and-white-chemistry/

John

Edited May 3, 2022 by johnwolf

[250swb]

Like any C-41 film XP2 has wide ISO range to get acceptable results, but the film characteristics change with each choice, so it is not a 'get out of gaol free' card for using any ISO you like on the same roll. 

[Doug A]

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I used XP2 extensively until Superstorm Sandy destroyed the two nearby  C-41 processors and they never reopened. I was too impatient to send film away for processing so I gave away my few remaining rolls of of XP2 and switched to developing HP5 myself. It never occurred to me to try developing XP2 with a conventional B&W developer. My C-41 developed XP2 negatives scan easily and people seem to like the prints. 

Edited May 3, 2022 by Doug A

[Guest]

I am picking up my first XP2 later this week. I bought a 10 pack after I found out that a framing shop in my neighborhood offers C41 processing.

[johnwolf]

2 hours ago, Doug A said:

I used XP2 extensively until Superstorm Sandy destroyed the two nearby  C-41 processors and they never reopened. I was too impatient to send film away for processing so I gave away my few remaining rolls of of XP2 and switched to developing HP5 myself. It never occurred to me to try developing XP2 with a conventional B&W developer. My C-41 developed XP2 negatives scan easily and people seem to like the prints. 

BW chemistry works pretty well. I can't share here because I didn't use Leica gear, but here's a link to an example with an Olympus XA2 processed in HC-110.

https://johnwolf-filmjournal.tumblr.com/post/683273261038108672/art-institute-chicago

John

Edited May 4, 2022 by johnwolf

[250swb]

If you already process your own B&W film it's just as easy to use a home C-41 kit (Tetenal etc.) instead of compromising, and who knows but you could put your XP-2 into a tank along with a roll of Ektar, all C-41 times and temperatures are the same for any film.

[LocalHero1953]

I’ve just bought some XP2. I plan to develop some at home in black and white chemistry and some sent off for C41 processing. I’m also interested to see how they scan at home compared to traditional black and white negatives. 

[4r36]

I've home developed (C-41) my very first roll just two days ago and I love the results! It's just a pity this film is a little pricey...

 

Here a picture from the roll, portraying the dean of my university during his speech at the graduate students proclamation. It was taken with a M3 mounting an old Summarit 50mm 1.5 (here at either 2 or 2.8)

 

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Edited May 4, 2022 by 4r36

[albertospa]

XP2 is a very good film. If you have the possibility of having a C41 development service, this film is very good in case you use to treat photos digitally. Scanning is easy and is the only BW film with which the application can be used for removing dust and scratches.
The optimal sensitivity in my opinion is 200 iso (50/400 iso), very fine grain, excellent tonal scale.

Edited May 4, 2022 by albertospa

[Fotoklaus]

vor einer Stunde schrieb 4r36:

I've home developed (C-41) my very first roll just two days ago and I love the results! It's just a pity this film is a little pricey...

 

Here a picture from the roll, portraying the dean of my university during his speech at the graduate students proclamation. It was taken with a M3 mounting an old Summarit 50mm 1.5 (here at either 2 or 2.8)

 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

So where is the benefit of using a C41-BW film and processing it at home? I think using a TMax 400 in D76 would be an improvement looking at your picture ( I´m a bit direct,

no evil intent...)

 

C41 processing is a bit exhausting doing it at home, in my opinion. The reason for a BW C41-film was the possibility to throw them at your lab with other films and

to avoid the processing.

[4r36]

vor 1 Minute schrieb Fotoklaus:

So where is the benefit of using a C41-BW film and processing it at home? I think using a TMax 400 in D76 would be an improvement looking at your picture ( I´m a bit direct,

no evil intent...)

 

C41 processing is a bit exhausting doing it at home, in my opinion. The reason for a BW C41-film was the possibility to throw them at your lab with other films and

to avoid the processing.

Well, the benefit is that I developed it with other 10 rolls of color negatives. Way more economical than sending them to a lab. Under what respect exactly do you think Tmax 400 would be an improvement?  (genuinely interested, no polemic question)

[Pintpot]

This is 1/4 of a 24x36 frame commercially processed & scanned by Advanced Photo Service in Manchester it's the bottom left hand corner so there is slight distortion. Click on the image and open in new tab and you can zoom in,  judge the quality of the film (not my photography 😊) for yourself. - 400iso. R7 28-70 Vario Elmar

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[Fotoklaus]

vor 2 Stunden schrieb 4r36:

Well, the benefit is that I developed it with other 10 rolls of color negatives. Way more economical than sending them to a lab. Under what respect exactly do you think Tmax 400 would be an improvement?  (genuinely interested, no polemic question)

Ok, that is something different, then. Tmax 400... Grain? Sharpness, Tonality? But that always depends on developing and exposure (so with every other film)

 

Example Tmax 400/ D76:

 

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Cut out:

Edited May 4, 2022 by Fotoklaus

[bags27]

This is by "our own" Chris, over on the "I like film" forum

https://www.ilfordphoto.com/ilford-xp2-super-in-black-and-white-chemistry/

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Hallo,

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[250swb]

On 5/4/2022 at 10:31 AM, Fotoklaus said:

So where is the benefit of using a C41-BW film and processing it at home? I think using a TMax 400 in D76 would be an improvement looking at your picture ( I´m a bit direct,

no evil intent...)

 

C41 processing is a bit exhausting doing it at home, in my opinion. The reason for a BW C41-film was the possibility to throw them at your lab with other films and

to avoid the processing.

XP-2 has a very wide exposure latitude, so it's an ideal film for difficult lighting, such as a dark room with daylight streaming in, or just leaving in the camera as a general everyday film. Processing it at home takes the same amount of time as regular B&W, it can be done at 30C, and while as always instructions should be followed even you mis-time it, or too hot or too cold (I should know) you'll still get a nice negative, even if it's not the negative you aimed for 😉 So it's not difficult, all you need is a Paterson tank and something like a Tetenal C-41 kit, nothing special.

[ejg1890]

I haven’t read all the message in this string so it may have been addressed. I know Ilford XP2 Super is designed for C-41 development. However, can this film also be developed using B&W development solutions and processes? The Massive Dev Chart has development times using D-76, HC-110, Atomal, Rodinal and Xtol.  However, never seen comments else where on B&W development.  Thanks