What's a good B&W negative for M6?

-- James L. (sigpe57@yahoo.com), April 26, 2001

Answers

Wrotn question. The right question is, what's a good B&W negative for YOU?

I like Tri-X and HP5+, but that's just because I shoot what I do. I've seen good results from all of them - Delta, Tmax, XP2, Neopan etc. etc. etc. What do you want to do with it?

-- Paul Chefurka (paul_chefurka@PMC-sierra.com), April 26, 2001.

That should have read "Wrong question", of course.

-- Paul Chefurka (paul_chefurka@PMC-sierra.com), April 26, 2001.

Before I give my opinion, I'll say that my advice is to pick one film and get to know it well before you diversify with more emulsions. Learn to expose, develop, and print it well. For a single film solution, 400 speed is an obvious choice because it can be shot from daylight to night life with an M6 (that means between 1/1000 second and f2).

If you go with a single film and 400 speed, you have the conventional emulsions like Tri-X and HP5+, or the tabular gain films like Tmax 400 and Delta 400. I like finer grain, so I suggest the latter films. I like Delta films better than Tmax films. So, my answer to you is:

Delta 400.

-- Dan Brown (brpatent@swbell.net), April 26, 2001.

Super Double X -- an outdated film for an outdated camera.

-- Bill Mitchell (bmitch@home.com), April 26, 2001.

But Bill, I think you can only get Super Double X in 70mm? Which means you have to split it, and then you only have sprocket holes down one side. So, you have to grind the drive sprocket teeth off one side of the M's sprocket shaft.

This is a little much for me, I'd say go with a slightly more 'modern' emulsion.

;-)

-- Dan Brown (brpatent@swbell.net), April 26, 2001.

I wish I could get some double X.

-- John Fleetwood (johnfleetwood@hotmail.com), April 26, 2001.

I prefer Delta 400, followed by Tmax 400 and then Tri-X. Delta 400 developed in Xtol 1:1 or 1:2 (I prefer 1:1) is very nice to my eyes.

-- sam smith (ssmith@hotmail.com), April 26, 2001.

Delta 100 in XTOL 1:1 at EI200 is my current favorite.

Godfrey

-- Godfrey DiGiorgi (ramarren@bayarea.net), April 26, 2001.

this is what this forum is meant to be about!

-- Paul Nelson (clrfarm@comswest.net.au), April 26, 2001.

I'm Inclined to agree with Godfrey. Without knowing what you do, what you shoot, the first thing that comes to mind is Delta 100 in XTOL 1:1. I love the architectural cityscapes I get with it. Really nice 11x14's. Blows TMAX 100 away for pictorial quality. For 400 speed, Delta 400, TMAX 400, and Tri-X all have their uses.

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), April 27, 2001.

who makes Delta film?, I can see is a very favourite film, wish I could get some of that in my home town in Mazatlán, I can only get Tri-X, and Plus-X, I like TX in HC-110-B, I still live in the last century, Can I get some delta film in bulk in USA?.

-- R Watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), April 27, 2001.

R Watson:

Ilford makes the "Delta" emulsions, and they are widely available almost anywhere in the States, and much of europe. There are 100, 400, and 3200 speed emulsions. I find the 400 outstanding as an all around film. The 100 is exceptional and almost grainless, and the 3200 shot at 1600 and developed normally has a contrast/grain look very much like standard tri-X.

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), April 27, 2001.

Jack: Now I know what to ask to my mother when she goes to Tijuana, at the border to USA, wich developer do you recomend me to try?

-- R . Watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), April 27, 2001.

A slight twist to the concept that the question opens up is that since I've dumped my darkroom and doing all digital printing I find that I like a completely different type of negative from what I previously liked. I suspect that when I was in the darkroom, I liked a different negative from what many others liked, and then there was my "ex-David Vestal workshop" period when I wanted something completely different again. Lots of possible answers to this question--even for one single person! I have never liked making B&W prints from color negs, however, no matter what the medium, so maybe the specific answer to the question is contained in the question: B&W film for B&W :-)

Well, that's the answer for me, at least :-)

-- Michael Darnton (mdarnton@hotmail.com), April 27, 2001.

I use a custom lab that processes it in XTOL (1:2, I believe) according to Ilford's specs --

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), April 27, 2001.

I mainly shoot the photograph of my children with my M6 + 50mm 2.0 summicron. What's a good suitable B&W negative? I hope that's a better question. Can I still use the same built-in light meter in the M6?

Thanks,

James Lin

-- James Lin (sigpe57@yahoo.com), April 27, 2001.

Watson,

Xtol is a fine choice to use with Ilford Delta film. Xtol is made by Kodak and is available in powder form in 1 liter or 5 liter packs. You mix it up yourself.

-- sam smith (ssmith@hotmail.com), April 27, 2001.

James, the classic film for people shots is Plus-X, though nobody seems to use it much these days. Recently, I've been shooting it in my IIf, and developing it in Diafine (EI 400!) with great results. Lots of tone, smooth highlights, and tons of shadow detail. It's quite different from my usual contrasty and grainy combo of Tri-X in Rodinal 1-50.

-- John Fleetwood (johnfleetwood@hotmail.com), April 29, 2001.

I like Agfa 400, rated at 320, also i used a Polaroid B/W positive film on a few occasions, its got a great look but its quite delicate. Not sure if the Polar. is still available. The thing i like about the Agfa film is that it has a charcoal-ish look to the print, tri-x is also great for a snappy, contrasty look. Developer D76 or Rodinol as per instructions, add extra agitation for more contrast. I do like Leitz enlargers, i had a very simple Focomat which i passed on, i miss it. FP 4 is good with strobe flash for product/commercial work, but i dont like it, i find it bland. Good luck James its not the arrival, but the journey thats the lesson. Regards John B.

-- john billington (jbillington@xtra.co.nz), May 02, 2001.