Your favourite B&W portrait film

[Dean Williams]

Inside with umbrella flash I shoot Plus-X or FP4 for 35mm, either one in D76. With 35mm in natural light it's FP4 and D76 or PC-TEA. For 645 or 6x6 natural or flash I use J&C 400 and APX 400, all in PC-TEA. If there's plenty of light outside, I also use Maco or EFKE 100 (same thing) for MF and D76. I'm sure PC-TEA will work well with this last one, but I haven't got around to it yet. Tri-X is good in D76 for any portrait situation I can think of too, but I don't use as much of it as I used to.

[TPPhotog]

Hi Morten, Thinks I'll have to get a rubber stamp for this next reply but depending on the light and effect I'm after either FP4+ (rated 100) or HP5+ (rated between 200 and 1600). All souped in the sacred Rodinal but I have used DD-X for 800 and above in the past.

[djklmnop]

I know I posted this image a while back as an attachment, but I'm thinking the attachment was too small to give a good feel for what the film can do.

You can view a larger scan here: Copy and paste it to a new browser if it doesn't load up properly. Ilford Pan F+ in Microdol-X 1:3 @ 75F ISO 20

http://djklmnop.tripod.com/temp/tiffybwbig.jpg

Andy

[waynecrider]

Isn't the film and developer just half the equation?

[VoidoidRamone]

APX100 and Rodinal 1:50 and my other favorite is PanF+ in Rodinal 1:50... I think these two are pretty much my favorites for any type of shooting. And I like to print on Oriental VC, my portarits are generally around grade 2.5-3.5.
-Grant

[raucousimages]

It was plus-x in HC-110 dil. b but as that is gone in sheet film I am shooting FP4 in ID-11 and 100-T-Max in Tmax RS.

[modafoto]

Originally Posted by waynecrider

Isn't the film and developer just half the equation?

What are you thinking of? The other half is the photographer? If so, I totally agree. I ask this question to get inspiration for my own film/dev testing.

Morten

[Nephilim]

I use PlusX and TriX for most of my work in 135 and 120-formats
In studio portraiture PlusX is used in 135 and 120
And outdoor and or on location I let the overall lightning condition and or the use of artifical light decide whichever works best.

For Large format I use only TriX.


My main developer is currently XTol which has replaced Rodinal since the tragic dissapearance of Agfa. I'm considering evaluating R09 (original Rodinal) but as of now and due to conveniance issues I find that the characteristic curve of XTol works fine.

[arigram]

Handheld I use FP4+ and HP5+ or TriX.
In the studio I will try PanF.
(all in 120)

[JohnArs]

I show you mine:
For woman with clean skin I use Delta 100 in 35 mm up to 4x5
For woman with not so good skin I use HP5 or TMY 400 from 35 mm up to 8x10
For the male I use TMAX 100 if I will show you everything a bit on the harsh side!
Includes also the lighting!
And as always just soup it in XTOL undiluted almost!
It gives me wonderfull smooth midtones good sharpness finest grain!