GrahamR
journeyman
Reged: 13/11/2006
Posts: 77
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Hi,
I am new to B&W film.
Can anyone recommend a good B&W film for action pictures. I am looking for a film, probably 400asa for steam railway photography.
I recently used Delta 400.
Any preferences?
Many thanks
Graham
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Ambler
newbie
Reged: 22/04/2007
Posts: 27
Loc: UK
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In truth almost all the ISO 400 B&W films which remain on the market (& there are quite a few) would all be perfectly suitable. The exception perhaps is the Chinese Lucky 400 film which many people claim can have halation problems so maybe best avoided.
The main difference is between the majority which require conventional black & white processing, and the handful of others which are designed for developing with the same process (C41) as colour print films. The Ilford Delta 400 you have used is an excellent film with fine grain, the HP5 is often fractionally cheaper but is slightly grainier and I also like Fuji's Neopan 400. For a C41 type film you could try Ilford XP2 Super. Kodak has excellent equivalents to all of these and if you want to save some money you can try Foma Fomapan 400 which is well thought of. It has to be got mail order - try Silverprint & Retro Photographic.
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Mojo_66
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 25/05/2006
Posts: 3137
Loc: Lancs
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Tri-X gives wonderful contrast but is a little grainier that Delta 400.
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/mojo_black/
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taxor
Reged: 09/07/2004
Posts: 552
Loc: Lancaster, UK
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HP5 is a very good film. Perhaps a tad grainier than Delta, but more flexible should you want to push your film in low light.
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"I wanna hold your gland". Lemming & McCartney
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bagpuss
Prolific Pam
Reged: 08/04/2006
Posts: 8834
Loc: Camulodunum
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The Rollei Retro 400 is also very nice, and fine-grained. 
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I wish I could be elegant - Robert Mapplethorpe
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Neal
member
Reged: 19/06/2006
Posts: 149
Loc: Oxfordshire, UK
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There is not real "best", only what you prefer and give you the results that suit your style.
I use Kodak Tri-X 90% of the time (with Ilford Delta 100 for something slower and delta 3200 for low light). It's got great latitude and i can use it anywhere from 200-1600 iso quite happily, and can even be pushed to 3200 if really called upon.
I like the grain as it suits me style, not too over-the-top if you use the correct developer.
7dayshop do great prices too...like £2 and well in date.
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NorthernMonkey
enthusiast
Reged: 01/05/2007
Posts: 270
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I prefer HP5+, it's currently only £36 for 20 rolls at 7dayshop.com, thats only £1.80 a roll
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yellowballoon
newbie
Reged: 23/07/2007
Posts: 2
Loc: Oxfordshire
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I would recommend Ilford XP2 super ISO400. It can be C-41 processed (just like colour negative film) and reproduces very good detail and contrast. Its quite well suited to high-speed photography too, if the conditions are right, otherwise you may want to use something of ISO800.
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Yellow Balloon Photography
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Neal
member
Reged: 19/06/2006
Posts: 149
Loc: Oxfordshire, UK
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I'd say Tri-X too.......good at 400 but can be pushed two or three stops without too many problems if light gets low or you want to freeze the action. Seems to work nicely in XTOL developer too (I use it at a dilution of 1+1)
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OneTen
'Two Breakfasts'
Reged: 23/06/2003
Posts: 2252
Loc: Hartland, Devon
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My preference is for Neopan 400 developed in Rodinol.
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Richard .......... My Website - My Flickr
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