I've recently started shooting B&W again and run a few test rolls of different films. I was hoping some of you could add some insights. My subject matter is semi-formal, natural light, portraits of children, some to be hand colored.

My first tests were using Ilford HP5+ printed on warm tone paper. I was really pleased with the results. The only down side is they seem a bit graining at 8x12 (from 35mm negs). From reading some of the comments on other questions in this forum, and the rms values from the film tech. sheets I'm guessing that TMAX 3200 shot at ISO 800 would produce similar results grain-wise (and give me one or two more stops in low light). Is this true? Would I lose midrange tonality on the skin tones? (The HP5+ had nice soft tonality.) (I'm assuming too from other answers given in this forum that Tri-X and HP5+ are very similar, so I've lumped them together for convienence sake.)

I've also shot a roll of Kodak T400CN and been very impressed. I was going to compare this to TMAX 400. From what I've read though I suspect the TMAX would be less forgiving and likely to lose mid range tonality. Any advice on comparing TMAX 400 to the chromogenics? (Ilford and Kodak) Would Ilford XP2 Super be better for portraits than T400CN? (I'll be printing on warm tone B&W paper.)

Also, any info on archival quality of chromogenics. Yes it is a dye process, but without colors to shift what types of changes over time will you see in chromogenic negs?

-- Jay Johnson (jay_johnson@deneb.com), June 21, 1999

Answers

I really like Ilford's Delta 100. I develop in PMK, so everything is a bit slower. You might want to try Delta 400 as well. If you're worried about grain in HP5+, the T-grain emulsions (Delta, TMax) should be much better. You'll probably find Delta 400 a little more forgiving than TMax, especially of development inconsistancies or common developers.

Since I don't shoot B&W in small format, I can't offer an opinion on the chromogenic films. I've read that they're as archival as color films. If you get any feedback or impressions of the dye versus traditional B&W film, I'd love to see them, as it might prompt me to carry some when I haul the 35mm around.

Delta 3200 is a true ISO 1000 film designed to pushed to 3200. Developer times and types affect it a great deal. In PMK it's an ei 800 film. Ilford claims it really likes Microphen.

I've not shot Tech Pan, but the Ilford PanF I shot was very fine grained if you can deal with an ISO 50 (32 in PMK) film.

The only thing I *don't* like about Delta 100 is that it isn't available in 5x7 sheets. I suspect I'm about to become much more familiar with HP5+ - though grain really won't be an issue there.

Hope some of this helps,

Paul

-- Paul D. Robertson (proberts@clark.net), June 24, 1999.